Ono Queens LLC in Pahoa was recently announced as the winner of the HIplan Award and will be granted $25,000.
Ono Queens LLC in Pahoa was recently announced as the winner of the HIplan Award and will be granted $25,000.
Ono Queens is owned by third-generation beekeeper Chris Klepps and his wife, Wendy.
“There is a never-ending demand for new queen bees,” Chris Klepps said in a statement from the grant providers.
Ono Queens focuses on “producing top-quality queens” and then selling them to beekeepers on the mainland. The company received the most points in a tight competition of eight finalists.
The grant is intended to assist Hawaii Island entrepreneurs develop and implement successful business plans.
It also helps small companies learn how to better make venture capital proposals.
The HIplan competition, which started in September with 49 contestants, is hosted by the University of Hawaii at Hilo and sponsored by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce. The originators and organizers of the HIplan project are aquaculture entrepreneur Jim Wyban and Realtor Kelly Moran, president of Hilo Brokers.
“Our goal is to stimulate an entrepreneurial ecosystem here on Hawaii Island,” Moran previously said.
Another HIplan competition is being planned for 2017.
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.