Kauaʻi High School students have transformed ideas into action through the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation’s Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP), a hands-on learning experience for students interested in running a real, agriculture-based business.
The program provides high school students from across the state with the opportunity to turn their ideas into action. From developing products to building a brand that can be sold online and at farmers markets, students gain entrepreneurial skills while supporting Hawai‘i’s local food system.
“The program began in 2018 as a way for students to learn about entrepreneurship through their own experiences,” said Jennie Kaʻahui, education manager at the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation. “Many students have expressed the desire to stay near their families after high school, but job opportunities are not always easy to come by, especially in more rural, agricultural areas.”
This year, students from 24 schools statewide have transformed more than 50 student-created products from ideas into action.
Each school year, students at participating schools are introduced to the program in the fall and choose to participate. They are tasked with developing an idea into a product sample.
“I ask the students to send me a sample of their product before proceeding to ensure it is a viable product that can reach the market by spring,” Kaʻahui said. “If it isn’t a product that would work for some reason, I give them guidance for their next idea. For many students, this is the first of several opportunities for problem-solving.”
Once the sample is approved, students develop a business plan outlining every step required to prepare a product for sale. They conduct market research, design branding and packaging, get products approved by the Department of Health, receive industry feedback, and advertise and sell the product.
The Kauaʻi students created Kipi ʻUlu — fresh and crispy ʻulu (breadfruit) chips with a salty and tangy flavor. The ʻulu is locally sourced and is fried, seasoned and bagged fresh.
“I have found that this program is perfect for students who perform better in alternative learning environments or for students who just don’t do well sitting at a desk and need to learn through action,” Kaʻahui said. “Entrepreneurship is not always easy to teach if students don’t have the opportunity to try it themselves, and these students are go-getters.”
In addition to testing creativity and learning problem-solving skills, students are gaining an education in financial literacy and leadership. They manage revenue, costs and profits, which are returned to their schools.
“It is truly so awesome to see students complete the program every year,” Kaʻahui said. “They take ownership of their products and you can tell they are proud when they figure everything out.”
While Kauaʻi High School is the only current participant in the program, Kaʻahui hopes to expand to Waimea High School soon. For those interested in getting a school involved in the program, visit the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation website.
Online sales of this year’s youth products are available online only in March, so shoppers have until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, to purchase products from local students.
Participants in the YEP will also sell their products in person at the Kapiʻolani Community College Farmers Market in Oʻahu from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 11.
