Pacific Business News: Taste of Hawaii event serves 1,600 attendees as delegation promotes local products in D.C.
June 11, 2026
By Nichole Villegas
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s 10th annual Hawaii on the Hill wrapped up on Wednesday with the Taste of Hawaii event at the U.S. Capitol.
Twenty-two Hawaii businesses served up local products to more than 1,600 attendees, including senators, representatives, congressional staffers and other federal employees.
The showcase capped a four-day visit that brought 250 Hawaii participants to Washington. The delegation represented 120 businesses and nonprofits from across the Islands, all aiming to highlight Hawaii‑made goods and strengthen federal relationships.
Organizers said this year’s turnout marked one of the event’s strongest showings, underscoring growing national interest in Hawaii’s small‑business community.
“We started off with 50 people, and 25 businesses represented 10 years ago,” Sherry Menor, president and CEO of the chamber, said in an interview with Pacific Business News. Menor created Hawaii on the Hill 10 years ago as a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Sen. Mazie Hirono.
“To see many of the businesses and policymakers return year after year, and going up, paying their own way, just shows and exemplifies the unique spirit that we have in Hawaii in ensuring that Hawaii stays in the forefront in our nation’s capital,” Menor said.
The Taste of Hawaii event is a time for Hawaii businesses to display their booths and showcase their products by giving out pre-packed food for attendees to take home. They also serve drinks or food during the event.
“Almost every table had some kind of taste of aloha that they gave away,” Menor said. “In addition to sampling great, local food, Hawaii on the Hill is a time for Hawaii business owners to talk with lawmakers and learn about opportunities for their business.”
The speakers at the Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit spoke about unique challenges to Hawaii businesses and programs that offer support. They focused on the state of agriculture, tourism, small businesses and tariffs under the Trump Administration.
“As Hawaii families continue to struggle under the Trump regime’s cost of living crisis, it’s critical we fight to boost our state’s economy. For 10 years, that’s what Hawaii on the Hill has been all about, bringing the best of Hawaii – our small businesses, local entrepreneurs and cultural ambassadors – to Washington, D.C.,” Hirono said. “From our policy summit with congressional leaders, to the flagship Taste of Hawaii, I am proud to carry on this tradition of partnering with the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii to support our small businesses and show the rest of the country what the aloha spirit is all about.”
Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill Exhibitors:
- Alaska Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines
- Department of Agriculture
- Expedia
- Hawaii County
- Hawaii Farm Bureau
- Hawaii Farm Project
- Hawaii Gas
- Hawaiian Chip Co.
- Hawaiian Telcom
- Kauai Chamber of Commerce
- Kauai Coffee
- Kauai County
- KKL
- Koloa Rum
- Lapperts
- Lydgate Farms
- Maui Chamber of Commerce
- Oceanit
- Ola Brew
- Pacific Marine
- Salty Wahine
- The Orchid Lei Co.