Finally, I found the story about how the original Hana Marketplace that had so many in Hana excited and dreaming entrepreneurial thoughts, had taken a nose dive and become more of a nightmare. The article explains how the dreams of the marketplace died leaving a deteriorating monument to government incompetence in the heart of Hana for all to see.

I recall how excited I was when I heard the Hana Marketplace was going to be built for local Hana residents. Hundreds of tourists drive through Hana every day, in and then back out. It’s a long drive for most so they are ripe for stopping and relaxing at a pitstop. The Hana Marketplace would be the perfect solution. A place with a variety of interesting and local-owned businesses for tourists to get their shopping “fix” for the day despite being hours away from their tourist traps on the other side. The locals get a shot at working in the same town that they live in… a rarity unfortunately. A win-win.

It’s the reason I reserved the Hana Marketplace domain name. I hope that one day the marketplace in Hana will open for business. If/when it does then this domain and Website will help the local merchants reach out to the tourists that patronize their shops while on vacation long afterward via the internet. Maybe as absurd an idea as the original marketplace, but I refuse to let the dream die. Hana residents deserve better than they’ve received.

So how does such a good idea go so wrong? Here’s the best explanation I’ve found to date: In Hana Side News – Tiptoeing Around the Hana Village Marketplace

Finally, I should add that I’ve heard a variety of stories about the shenanigans that led to the demise of the marketplace and it’s not clear which stories are accurate and which ones are tales. No doubt there are politics involved that I’m unaware of and probably some folks in Hana that actually worked to stop the project in it’s tracks. But, until I hear a good explanation of why the marketplace should be stopped I’ll continue my efforts from the Washington DC area to keep the dream alive.

A hui hou

Kawika

Ellen with her Hawaii Chair

Click here to view the embedded video.

What makes this even more funny is that this is a real product someone is trying to sell! If you are one those people “born every minute” then visit ‘Hawaii Chair‘, it could be just what you need.

To John and his O’hana’s great credit they have survived and become one of the nicest Hana success stories I know of.

If you want to give a loved one a very special gift order them some flowers from Hana and they’ll remember the special treat forever. Tell John that Kawika (Pani’s brother) said aloha!

Napua Ohana Tropical Flowers

As you’ll read below a lot of money went into getting a marketplace built for Hana for all the right reasons:

Hana Marketplace Grant: (Excerpt is from 2002)

Overview The University of Hawaii – West Oahu Campus will receive a $599,875 Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities Program grant, which will augment its efforts to create the Hana Marketplace. Hana is a remote community of about 2,000 residents located on the western coast of Maui. Each year some 500,000 tourists visit the scenic town. Working with the Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, Lokahi Pacific, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Hina-malailena, the University of Hawaii – West Oahu will make the most its tourist population by creating this new marketplace. The Hana Marketplace will provide commercial space for resident-owned small business, create new job opportunities, offer training in entrepreneurial enterprises and computer applications to business management, and encourage the startup and incubation of local companies by getting their operations online through computer technology training.

I, for one, looked forward to this Marketplace getting built for years. It’s not clear to me why it didn’t come to life with the overwhelming support it had from the Hana community, government officials, and financially.

Rather then dwell on “woulda-coulda-shoulda” I figured it was time for a Plan B. The internet wasn’t a household word when the original Hana Marketplace was on the drawing board. But, it’s here now! Why not take advantage of the power of the net to try and accomplish some of the same things originally planned?

I hope you’ll help me in my cause to develop a Hana Marketplace that the Hana community can be proud of and perhaps even benefit from as it grows in popularity as a shopping destination for people who want Hawaiian products and gift items.

Mahalo

Kawika