Entrepreneur Hub · Puna Rising Ohana
Kulia I Ka Nuʻu
Reach for the Summit
Training, coaching and mentoring for Puna entrepreneurs
Aloha and welcome. The Entrepreneur Hub helps aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in Puna plan, launch and grow, with business training, coaching, mentoring and the resources to get from idea to opening day.
Why we’re here
Nobody reaches the top alone
Purpose
To boost the Puna economy and sustainability one entrepreneur at a time.
Mission
To design, develop and run a virtual entrepreneurial hub that gives aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners professional training, coaching, mentoring, business planning and resources through launch or relaunch.
Impact
99.9% of U.S. businesses are small businesses, and they employ nearly half of all U.S. workers. Launching and supporting small businesses in Puna creates jobs, raises incomes and serves the community’s economic needs.
Vision
The economy of Puna is thriving and providing abundance for all of its residents.
Kulia i ka nuʻu.
About the hub
What is the Puna Rising Entrepreneur Hub?
The Entrepreneur Hub is a community of Puna residents who are passionate about starting and growing their own businesses, whether you’re just starting out or ready to take an existing business to the next level.
Members get business development workshops, mentorship, and connections to funding sources, industry experts and advisors. By bringing entrepreneurs together, the hub gives everyone a place to share ideas, knowledge and resources, and to work through the challenges of building a business with people who understand them.
Who should apply
Open to aspiring entrepreneurs in Puna
This second program primarily serves Native Hawaiian and mixed Hawaiian heritage applicants. We’ll interview applicants and select 10 for the full program. Everyone who applies still gets something.
Selected cohort of 10
- Full program of business start-up training
- One-on-one coaching and mentoring sessions
- Business planning and launch support
- Commit to attending every Zoom training and in-person event
Every applicant
- Access to the program trainings
- Invitations to hub events and networking
- Self-help resources in the member area
- A community of local business owners
How the program works
Two phases, one summit
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Select the cohort
Sept 1 – Dec 31, 2025
Call for applicants, interviews and selection of 10 aspiring entrepreneurs, then onboarding, orientation and a first training and meet-and-greet.
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Train, build and launch
Jan 2 – June 30, 2026
Start-up training plus workshops on collaboration, leadership, communication and conflict resolution, team building, professional skills, and change and transitions. Includes coaching and mentoring, marketing and funding resources, networking, and business launch support.
Questions?
Talk story with us
Email Sylvia Dolena at [email protected] with the subject line “Entrepreneur Hub.”