HONOLULU (KHON2) – Pack your patience for a lot of shopping and a lot of people, but all for a good reason.
At the Hawaii Convention Center, the 31st annual Made in Hawaii Festival is bringing hundreds of vendors, small businesses and entrepreneurs from across the islands, and they are all bringing their unique products.
One vendor who is brand new here at the Made in Hawaii Festival, a very unique brand, the Da Sistah Marys with Co-Owner Nohea Breeden.
“So, we are Da Sistah Marys. We just hit one year in June. I am just one of the founders. I got two other sisters, it’s a team effort,” says Breeden.
“We specialize in our local style trucker hats so we do our pā’ina pāpale, which is you pick your pāpale, you pick your patches. We get a heat press and it is all special to you. All the kind portagee vides. That is pretty much it,” Breeden added.
It is like a truck hat bar, if I am not mistaken.
“Oh, yes. That is exactly what it is,” says Breeden.
So, people come here, they pick all the patches that fit perfectly for them and then you guys glue it on right here?
“Oh, yes. You have to leave representing you. This is the way to do it, yeah,” says Breeden.
First year at the Made in Hawaii Festival, congratulations. One year as a milestone in terms of your brand. How did this come about in the first place?
“I drew a papaya thing for my mom when I was young and she always wanted me to do something with it,” says Breeden.
“Now, it just came time. Everyone on board, yeah, okay, let’s go. Shoot in the dark, team Hawaii all the way, so this is the perfect opportunity.”
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But you mentioned your sisters. This is a family unit, not just a group?
“Yes. Uncles, cousins, everyone giving up their weekend just to grind it out, plan activities together. Yes, team effort. I take no responsibility. It’s a whole team effort,” says Breeden.
First year here at the Made In Hawaii Festival. How has it been so far?
“Oh, unreal. We were setting up last night, getting all the kind chicken skin,” says Breeden.
“Oh my gosh, looking around at all these vendors. Team Hawaii is so awesome, we are so blessed and so, so grateful.”
So, aside from this, where else can people find you?
“We just do pop-ups all over the place. Check out on Instagram @dasistahmarys and we will let you know where we are,” says Breeden.
So, let me just ask, all the different designs of the patches. Where do the designs come from?
“The first few, we only had six designs that I drew on my iPad. And then my aunty helped me draw. All the people come up, all the portagees come up and show up and what about this idea? I say ok, we get um,” says Breeden.
What booth are you and where can people find you?
“We are booth 2619 in the corner, baby. This is where it’s at,” says Breeden.
You also come from an entrepreneurial family. So, how has this been for you as a life lesson and continuing that mission?
“I am beyond blessed,” says Breeden. “I think if I was doing this without parents like mine, I would be asking what am I doing. All their experience has been guiding me. Dad and Mom, what do you think? Ok, or hey Mary, do it this way. It has been very helpful.”
This is a must-visit booth here at the Made in Hawaii Festival.
Again, booth number 2619 right here at the Hawaii Convention Center.
This is Da Sistah Marys, one of hundreds of vendors.
Tomorrow, Saturday, the festival hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information on the Made in Hawaii Festival, click here.
For more on Da Sistah Marys, click here.