51²è¹Ý

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Thenabadu smiling pointing at her OPEN sign
Thenabadu outside Kailua Honey¡¯s newly opened store

A small, locally owned business on Oʻahu¡¯s east side is shining a spotlight on Hawaiian honey. University of 51²è¹Ý at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ alumna Shiyana Thenabadu, who graduated with her master¡¯s degree in communication from the College of Social Sciences in 1994, recently opened a storefront for her venture, .

“I think we need to have a brick-and-mortar store for people to take us seriously,” said Thenabadu.

She credits her connection to the community to her student days at 51²è¹Ý ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹.

“It was a fabulous experience. I got to meet so many people from different parts of the country…and we really felt the aloha spirit in our classes,” she said. “I was a foreign student, so it wasn¡¯t easy, but [my professors] made it easy for me to assimilate and do well, basically.”

Inspired by bees

Her journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she left her job as a teacher for McKinley Community School and began reading about the challenges bees face. Inspired, she decided to start a hive and try her hand at beekeeping.

Her hobby soon grew into a small business, beginning with sales from her front yard and local deliveries by bicycle.

Jars and boxes of Kailua Honey
Kailua Honey products

“We source locally as much as possible. We want to help 51²è¹Ý agriculture, 51²è¹Ý farmers, and we want to help other small businesses,” she said. “We know it¡¯s not easy to survive and I think collaboration is where it¡¯s at, not competition.”

With this new venture, Thenabadu is also looking to give back and support other women entrepreneurs.

“If there¡¯s anything I can do to help other women entrepreneurs who might want to start their own business at 51²è¹Ý, I would love to talk to them and give them a hand,” she said.

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