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Consumer Packaged Goods Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists

This award is presented to the entrepreneur whose company has consistently seen month over month growth in revenue and customers with a consumer band based out of Hawaiʻi. Our 2024 Consumer Packaged Goods Entrepreneur of the Year finalists are Ethan West of Piko Provisions, Sandra Gibson and Mel Kelekolio of Kona Salt Farm Sea Salts of Hawaiʻi and Leala Humbert and Blaine Kusler of Ua Body.

Hawaii food entrepreneurs named finalists in Mahiai Match-Up
Kamehameha Schools and investment firm Ulupono Initiative have teamed up to host the annual Mahiai Match-Up program, a business plan competition for food-focused entrepreneurs. This year, the program is focused on businesses that utilize Native Hawaiian crops.

The Clean Label Project Launches the Baby Coalition to Advocate for Stricter Legislation and Regulation of Harmful Contaminants and Chemicals in Packaged Products for Children
CEOs From 30+ Leading Baby, Child, and Maternal Health Brands Come Together to Standardize and Educate Consumers, Retailers, and Regulatory Organizations on the Health Risks of Contaminant Exposure

Mahi‘ai Match-Up awards $40,000 to indigenous crop entrepreneurs
Kamehameha Schools and Ulupono Initiative have announced the winners of the 2023 Mahi‘ai Match-Up, honoring entrepreneurs dedicated to cultivating native crops of Hawaii.

Three Hawaii entrepreneurs win agricultural business plan competition
Kamehameha Schools and Ulupono Initiative have awarded a total of $40,000 to three winners of a business plan competition for agricultural entrepreneurs: Ulu Mana, Piko Provisions and Hooulu Punaluu.

ʻAha ʻAina Pauahi 2023
It was a night of mea ʻai and mele! At this year's ʻAha ʻAina Pauahi event, nine Mahi‘ai Match-Up finalists were celebrated for their work toward a more healthy and sustainable food system in Hawaiʻi. Ulu Mana, Piko Provisions, and Hoʻoulu Punaluʻu were named as the competition winners.

imua - PUBLISHED FOR THE KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS ‘OHANA KUPULAU/SPRING 2022

With a company philosophy of being dedicated to future generations, Piko Provisions founder Ethan West (left) had no reservations in registering as a site coach for the Kāpili ‘Oihana internship program, which provided University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa student Kaihehau Goo KSK’20 (right) with professional experience in the marketing and communications field.

Pacific Business News - Startups To Watch

When Ethan West thinks back on why he created baby food company Piko Provisions, he said the origins are rooted in “a perfect storm of factors.”

“Having worked in agriculture and food production my entire life, I also became an uncle in 2019 while a national study revealed that 95% of baby food tested contained alarmingly high levels of toxic chemicals that can detrimentally impact the lifelong health, IQ, and wellbeing of our children,” said West, the company’s founder and CEO. “Hailing from six generations of family farmers and starting a family of my own, I knew we had to do better.

Hawaii Public Radio - Forget tech, these successful Hawaiʻi startups were founded on farming and fishing

For example, sixth-generation farmer Ethan West is the founder of Piko Provisions. His two-year-old company produces baby food by sourcing ingredients, such as taro, bananas and breadfruit directly from small Hawaiʻi farms. In just two years, it has gone from crowdfunding an idea to working with about 300 farm partners to produce products carried in more than 200 locations statewide, including a recent contract with Longs/CVS.

A Better Baby Food - VERT Kaka‘ako

Coming from six generations of farmers, Ethan West naturally developed a passion for agriculture and is using that drive and knowledge to grow a local eco-conscious baby food company.

As the co-founder and CEO of Piko Provisions, West brings a lot to the table. He not only grew up farming, fishing and hunting, but also furthered his knowledge professionally and educationally.

Pacific Business News - 40 Under 40 Honoree

The 2022 Class of 40 Under 40 by Pacific Business News is recognized and honored as the top 40 of Hawai'i's best and brightest young leaders.

In 2020, West founded Piko Provisions, a public benefit corporation that produces baby food using sustainable, Hawaii-grown ingredients. The company now supports more than 150 local farmers through partnerships with Kahumana Organic Farms & Food Hub and the Hawaii Ulu Cooperative. He also serves as vice president of the board of directors for the Oahu Resource Conservation Development Council.

Pacific Business News - Fire Award Recipient - Food Independence & Agriculture

PBN is pleased to introduce its Inno Fire awards, celebrating the startups and innovators driving progress in Hawaii. The honorees were selected from a combination of nominations PBN selected and innovators chosen by the newsroom based on our coverage and familiarity with their work.

Ethan West founded baby food company Piko Provisions with the goal of providing the best food possible to keiki in Hawaii and beyond.