EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™: Hawaiʻi

Social determinants – environmental and social factors into which people are born, live, work and age – include access to healthy food, quality education, health care, employment and housing. 

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities are increasingly empowered to take charge of their health. Still, many people here continue to be disproportionately affected by heart disease and stroke. 

In 2019, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people were four times more likely than other populations to die from cardiovascular disease, and three times more likely to die from stroke.   

Social determinants of health are especially significant in Hawaiʻi. The state ranks 46th in the U.S. for economic opportunity based on business environment, employment, and economic growth.
 

Partnering with Kamehameha Schools, the EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator Program assists entrepreneurs working to reduce adverse social determinants within their communities.

This program is for communities of Hawaiʻi, empowered by the people of Hawaiʻi.

Selected candidates will:

• Receive six weeks of MBA-style business training.
• Present their businesses to health, education, social justice and business leaders at the Hawaiʻi Expo and Showcase.
• Compete for first place, second place and fan favorite to receive $25,000, $10,000 and $5,000 grants, respectively.