At Mana Up, we believe in the power of women-led businesses to inspire, innovate, and uplift our local economy. As a female-founded company ourselves, co-founded by Meli James and Brittany Heyd, we are passionate about supporting and celebrating the incredible women entrepreneurs who are shaping Hawaii’s future.
At House of Mana Up, you’ll find a diverse lineup of female-founded brands that tell the unique stories of our islands through their products, craftsmanship, and dedication to community.
(Above) Honolulu-based artist Kris Goto graduated from Mana Up's accelerator program as part of Cohort 9, and has since displayed her art at Aloha Market LA and Tokyo, growing her brand with new audiences in major markets around the world.
Female Founders Making Waves
House of Mana Up is proud to showcase a variety of incredible women-led brands. From beauty to food to fashion, these founders are redefining what it means to build a business in Hawaii. Some of the inspiring women entrepreneurs featured at our store include:
Ashley Johnson, Mohala Eyewear – Redesigning eyewear to fit diverse face shapes while giving back by funding a day of school for every pair sold.
Leala Humbert, ua body – Embracing the natural beauty of Hawaii through thoughtfully crafted, all-natural body care products.
Jalene Kanani, NOHO Home – Elevating Hawaiian home decor with modern designs inspired by cultural storytelling.
Janice LaFontaine, Farm to Fudge Maui – Creating handcrafted fudge using locally and organically sourced ingredients selected with nutrient density in mind.
Amber Thibaut, Coco Moon — Bringing the art of aloha into keepsake items for keiki. They design buttery-soft baby essentials inspired by memories of a Hawai‘i childhood that are uniquely modern with island soul.
Melia Foster, Meli Wraps — Cutting back on plastic use with reusable and washable plastic-wrap alternatives made of cotton fabric and local Hawaiian beeswax.
Roselani Aiwohi, Waiwaolani — Hawai’i based clothing brand that hopes to share about the importance of native Hawaiian species through cool and comfy everyday wear for the family.
Karli Rose Wilson, To Be Hawaii — Handcrafting luxury, natural products for bath body & home, sourcing locally & organically, with eco-conscious packaging.
Kris Goto, Kris Goto — Representing all original artwork created by Kris Goto, inspired by the local lifestyle of Hawaii and her Japanese identity. clients.
Wrappily, Sara Smith — Hawai‘i-inspired recycled gift wrapping materials that address the global need for smarter, more sustainable gift wrap.
Sea Salts of Hawaii, Sandra Gibson — Harvesting Hawaiian salt from its Kona salt farm at Keahole Point on Hawai‘i Island and creating bathing salts, Hawai‘i deep ocean mineral spa baths and ocean magnesium mineral water drops to mineral-enhance filtered drinking water.
At House of Mana Up, you’ll find a diverse lineup of female-founded brands that tell the unique stories of our islands through their products, craftsmanship, and dedication to community.
(Above) Mana Up co-founder Meli James stops to chat with female entrepreneurs, including Janice LaFontaine (Farm to Fudge Maui), Kylie Matsuda-Lum (Kahuku Farms) and Miki Vericella (Pawniolo Pets) at the company's annual retreat at The Twin Fin Hotel.
(Below) NOHO Home-founder Jalene Kanani has been thriving, growing her home decor business since graduating from Mana Up's accelerator program as part of Cohort 3. Her products are featured in the business class sections of all Hawaiian Airlines flights, making sure travelers fly in comfort and style while also being connected to authentic Hawaiian culture.
Visit House of Mana Up today and celebrate the women shaping Hawaii’s future!
These are just a few of the many talented women we support at House of Mana Up, each bringing their vision, passion, and dedication to the global stage.
We invite you to stop by House of Mana Up to support these trailblazing female founders, discover their unique products, and be part of a movement that uplifts and empowers women in business. Together, we can continue to foster a thriving, locally-driven economy led by strong, creative, and passionate entrepreneurs.
Explore some of their products below, shop online or in-store at House of Mana Up.
