University of Hawai’i Maui College held a grand opening and blessing of its new Maui Food and Innovation Center commercial kitchen and education center Nov. 6 at the Kahului campus.

The MFIC offers classes to assist entrepreneurs with their startup businesses, concept to consumer, food manufacturing and pitch presentations, according to UH. Use of the commercial research and development kitchen is an integral part of bringing the value-added food products to the marketplace.

The state-of-the-art equipment includes a freeze dehydrator, Baxter rotating oven, bottling line with labels and 35- and 65-gallon mixing kettles.

Until the new $8.5-million MFIC kitchen opened in December of 2022, students worked in an older facility in the Laulima building.

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke (in red) and UH President David Lassner (in yellow) were among the guests at the center’s grand opening and blessing on Nov. 6.

The MFIC is Hawaii’s first college-based business incubator that serves to foster and accelerate the growth and education of agribusinesses and food entrepreneurs, according to UH.

ìWe strive to increase the profitability of Maui’s food industry by supporting the entrepreneurs and development of new value-added food products in our commercial research and development kitchen,î said MFIC Instructor Angela Gannon. ìWe also aim to reduce our islands’ dependence on imports, contribute to the sustainability of island-based agriculture and create job opportunities.

MFIC student Katy Tsark launched her Maui Cocktail Kits at the Made in Maui Festival just days before the Nov. 6 opening.

ìThe UH Maui Food Innovation Center has been a game changer for our new business,î Tsark said. ìThe commercial kitchen equipment available to us as well as instructor guidance has been pivotal in our launch. Our company can now grow without investing blindly.

Tsark’s kits come in flavors such as Pa’ia Sangria (dragonfruit, starfruit, lemon, orange and lilikoi) and Paniolo Pineapple (slow roasted pineapple, orange and bitters).

Tsark served a pineapple, hibiscus lemonade at the grand opening brunch on Nov. 6.

Another student Len Gonzales used to be a technologist who worked in Silicon Valley designing financial software. Now as CEO and founder of Galleon Chocolates, he crafts bold innovative confections inspired by Pacific Rim cultures, with a focus on Filipino and Hawaiian flavors, a news release said.

ìThe faculty and staff of the MFIC were super supportive, always available and willing to answer questions, problem solve collaboratively and unblock hurdles,î Gonzales said. ìThey also connected me with key business partners to accelerate my product from concept to reality, and scale production.

Gonzales shared some of his confections at the grand opening event. Galleon’s Bonbon Bars feature flavors such as Ube Royale, Dark Chocolate Calamansi and Passion Fruit Cheesecake.

For more information about MFIC classes and services, email [email protected] or call (808) 984-3850.

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