The Maker’s Market
With a reimagined Waikīkī flagship, the House of Mana Up! celebrates Hawai‘i’s makers through an immersive blend of retail and craft.
TEXT BY EUNICA ESCALANTE
IMAGES BY JOHN HOOK
TRANSLATION BY YUMI OZAKI
The House of Mana Up! returns to Royal Hawaiian Center with a spirited new approach. Situated at their original location in Building A, Level 1, the newly renovated space presents a multi-sensory showcase of the islands’ entrepreneurial talent, bringing together more than 70 Hawai‘i-based brands across food, fashion, home, beauty, and wellness. At its core, the space operates as both storefront and storytelling platform. Products are contextualized through their makers, many of whom have passed through Mana Up’s accelerator program, which has supported over 100 local companies in scaling globally while remaining rooted in Hawai‘i. The reopening builds on that mission, foregrounding not just goods, but process and provenance.
A floor-to-ceiling installation by local glassmaker Arlie Pemberton greets one upon entering the space, the overhead lights refracting off outsized iterations of her signature glass puakenikeni lei. Across one wall is a mouthwatering array of Mānoa Chocolate’s award-winning products, including their new line of coffee roasted right here on the islands. Then there is, of course, the Kō Hana Rum tasting bar. The bar serves as the centerpiece of the store’s experiential retail approach, unique to its Royal Hawaiian Center location. At the bar, visitors can engage in guided tastings that pair Kō Hana Rum’s selection of agricole rum and cocktails with Mānoa Chocolate’s cacao confections. The result is less a traditional shop than an introduction to Hawai‘i’s most exciting local makers, positioning the islands not just as a place for leisure, but also a wellspring of innovation, craft, and contemporary design.
House of Mana Up! is located on Building A, Level 1.
Building B, Level 1
