Dr. Young Jin Bahng organized and hosted the 2026 UH Retail Business Plan Competition at RISE on April 24, in collaboration with the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE). Five finalists presented professional business plans that they had developed in the Fall 2024 FDM 437 Entrepreneurship in Retail course (Instructor: Mark Oandasan). The final judges were Dave Erdman (Director, Retail Merchants of Hawaii), Haruka Yamaguchi (Director, ExecHawaiʻi), Kristin Lencz (Owner, Aroma by K), and Dr. Andy Reilly (Professor, FDM).
This year, CTAHR (Dean Parwinder Grewal) provided $3,000, the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (Chair Rajesh Jha) contributed $2,000 in cash prizes and two iPads, PACE (Director Sandra Fujiyama) provided $1,000 for venue and refreshments, and Exec Hawaiʻi (CEO Kathy Fujiwara) contributed $300 for the Exec Hawaiʻi Award. Congratulations to the 2026 Winners!
• 1st Place – Skylar Conley: DARACK (Mobile Vintage + Local Pop-up) — $3,000
• 2nd Place – Deanella Ramos: VUELA CAPSULE (Travel Outfit Planning App) — $1,500
• 3rd Place – Camryn Ketchum: AUGUST (Organic Café + Local Marketplace) — $500
• 4th Place (tie) – Victoria Mincho: MADE FOR YOU (Inclusive Ethical Basics Brand) — iPad
• 4th Place (tie) + Exec Hawaiʻi Award – Violet Bishop-Young: MOMENTUM (Gym- to-Life Wellness Kit) — iPad + $300
We sincerely appreciate all of the support from the judges, sponsors, and FDM staff, students, and faculty. Congrats to all the achievers!
By Dr Young Jin Bahng