HONOLULU, HI | February 20, 2020 – As part of its commitment to helping small businesses in Hawaiʻi, Central Pacific Bank (CPB) is leading a discovery mission to Tokyo, Japan with Mana Up and the Hawaiʻi Food Manufacturers Association at the end of February. The discovery mission includes meetings with national retailers, restaurateurs, and potential investors, with introductions to Japanese media and celebrity influencers via experts in the field of Japanese marketing and public relations.

“Our goal is to explore opportunities for Hawaiʻi entrepreneurs to expand their businesses into the Japan market,” said Meli James, cofounder of Mana Up. “By identifying the opportunities and establishing relationships with Japanese companies, we hope to guide future Mana Up cohorts in promoting Hawaiʻi products in Japan.”

The discovery mission is aligned with CPB’s commitment to strengthening Hawaiʻi’s small business community by building relationships and expanding networks for its partners—even in the international arena.

Follow Meli James and Brittany Heyd, cofounders of Mana Up, and Jimmy Chan, president of Hawaiʻi Food Manufacturers Association, on their discovery mission in Tokyo, Japan, by connecting with CPB on social media for the exclusive, behind-the-scenes access.

Instagram: @CPB_hawaii
Facebook: Central Pacific Bank
Twitter: @CPBHawaii
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Mana Up is an initiative to build Hawaiʻi’s next 100 product companies earning $10 million or more in annual revenue. Mana Up has a 12-week accelerator program offered biannually to enable Hawaiʻi product entrepreneurs to scale their businesses.

The Hawaiʻi Food Manufacturers Association is a non-profit organization of approximately 150 members, that has been promoting Hawaiian grown or manufactured products since 1977. The HFMA works to increase the understanding and appreciation of the unique flavors, quality, and care that go into the production of Hawaiʻi’s fine foods and beverages represented by our membership.