BUSINESS BRIEFS
Poi supplies strong for now

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Supplies of poi appear stronger this year, but as the Islands head into a season filled with graduation parties, lu'au and holiday picnics, many devotees are still wary of a shortage.

Eric Enomoto, treasurer for HPC Foods, Oahu's largest poi producer, said this year's supply is much better than last year, when severe shortages caused the company to cut deliveries by 15 percent.

Rain is blamed for a continued decline in poi production in January and February, but production picked up in March, and the 1.2 million pounds of poi milled during the first quarter was about 4 percent higher than the same period last year.

Nonprofit ideas rewarded

The Wai'anae Organic Farmers Cooperative on O'ahu won first prize at the Hogan/Bank of Hawaii Nonprofit Business Plan Competition, receiving $15,000 and 40 hours of free consulting services.

The proposed venture by the Wai'anae Community Re-Development Corp. would train out-of-school, low-income youth to work in organic agriculture.

Second place went to Hawaiian Homestead Technology of Honolulu; third place, to Ka Hale Pomaika'I "The Blessed House" on Moloka'i.

The contest was sponsored by Chaminade University's Hogan Entrepreneurs program and Bank of Hawaii.