At the heart of every memorable gift is a story — one that connects people, place, and purpose. For Susan Havens, Head of Corporate & Client Gifting at Mana Up, that story begins with Hawai‘i’s entrepreneurs. Drawing from her background in the hospitality industry, Susan has transformed the way companies and clients celebrate milestones, thank partners, and create lasting impressions.
In this Q&A, she shares her journey, inspirations, and some of the standout gifting moments that showcase why Mana Up is redefining what it means to give with aloha.
How did you get started with Mana Up and what attracted you to the organization?
Coming from the hospitality industry, I realized the need for authentic, curated gifting experiences in Hawai‘i’s visitor industry. Helping to develop client and corporate gifting through our many relationships feels impactful and valuable through Mana Up.
People are looking for something different from the age-old champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. That’s where Mana Up brings a new light to this experience.
What inspires you to help Hawai‘i businesses grow through Mana Up?
Hawai‘i businesses have amazing products and stories. These resonate with people searching for gifts, and it inspires me to connect them with potential customers worldwide.
What have been some of your favorite corporate gifting programs?
So many stand out! A conference on the mainland surprised winners with Mana Up boxes filled with Hawai‘i’s tastes and scents in their hotel rooms. On the Big Island, 600 attendees received “Mana Up Dollars” to shop a private marketplace after a CEO session about our accelerator program. And an orthodontist office sent mahalo boxes to dentist partners as thank-you gifts. These examples show how customization—not one-size-fits-all—creates memorable experiences.
What have been some of your favorite amenities you’ve created for hotels?
There are so many guests visiting Hawaii for special occasions, such as honeymoons, anniversaries, birthdays, babymoons and family reunions. Hotels have asked us to create themed boxes for these occasions, for guests to pre-purchase prior to arrival as a surprise to the other guest, or for outside purchases to surprise the lucky recipient in the room.
People are looking for something different from the age-old champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. That’s where Mana Up brings a new light to this experience. One romantic standout is the combination of Pono Potions Golden La’ie Vanilla Syrup, perfect for coffee, cocktails and mocktails, paired with Island Harvest chocolate covered macadamia nuts, To Be Organics floral bath salt tube, and a Jules + Gem pikake candle.
What kind of event-specific gifting options, like welcome packages, attendee swag, or VIP gifts have you offered that were unique?
We worked with a wedding couple hosting their destination wedding in Hawaii, but were unable to bring their precious pup to the ceremony. To incorporate this adorable Shiba Inu, her picture as a custom sticker was used to seal the gift box tissue.
A VIP group was hosting a catamaran snorkel trip for their group, and as an invitation to the excursion, a Nick Kuchar Vintage Island Tote Bag filled with a Tag Aloha waffle-weave quick dry towel, Little Hands mineral reef safe sunscreen and Island Harvest organic sea salt macadamia nuts for snacks was delivered to their room the night before with a custom card inviting them to the activity.
Explore Our Gift Sets
House of Mana Up is your go-to destination for gift sets that celebrate Hawai‘i. Each set is thoughtfully curated with products from local makers, showcasing the unique flavors, craftsmanship, and stories of our islands. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, saying mahalo, or sharing a touch of aloha “just because,” our gift sets make it easy to give something meaningful. By choosing House of Mana Up, you’re not only delighting your loved ones with authentic Hawai‘i-made goods — you’re also supporting local entrepreneurs and helping grow Hawai‘i’s economy.