Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 7, 1 July 2003 — Hale Kū'ai holds conference to discuss marketing of Native Hawaiian- made products and trademark [ARTICLE]

Hale Kū'ai holds conference to discuss marketing of Native Hawaiianmade products and trademark

By Derek Ferrar Hale Kū'ai, a consumer cooperative specializing in Hawaiian handcrafted products, will hold a confer-

enee designed to help Hawaiian artists, crafters and food producers enhanee their marketing strategies. One of the main topics of discussion at the 2003 Native Hawaiian Producers Conference, scheduled for Fri. July 25 and Sat.

July 26 at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, will be the need to establish a special Native Hawaiian Made trademark. "The idea of distinguishing between nativeand non-native-made products is nothing new," explains Hale Kū'ai Executive Director Carol Matsuzaki. "Māori and Native American groups already have their own marks. The idea is to pro-

vide added value for Native Hawaiian producers while promoting cultural awareness for eonsumers." Other marketing topics to be covered at the conference include advertising, Internet sales, packaging design and more.

With a store in Hau'ula, an online shopping site, an outlet in the downtown Nā Mea Hawai'i store and a "mohile store" that travels to craft fairs and other locations, Hale Ku'ai is dedicated to encouraging Hawaiian entrepreneurship by finding markets for quality products made primarily by Native Hawaiians, as

well as helping to promote self-sufficiency and self-determination for Hawai'i's indigenous people. One percent of all Hale Kū'ai sales helps support the sovereignty efforts of Ka Lāhui Hawai'i. For more information, eall 239-8430, or visit halekuai.com. (See conference ad and registration form on the facing page.) n

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