Leeward CC’s product development center opens to entrepreneurs, farmers

More than 300 people celebrated the opening of the Wahiawā Value Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC) in April. The 33,000-square-foot state-of-the-art educational facility is designed to assist students, entrepreneurs and farmers.

The center is part of Leeward Community College and is the University of Hawaiʻi’s second food-based business incubator. The Maui Food Innovation Center opened at UH Maui College in 2023.

WVAPDC aims to help small businesses take their agriculture elements and create value-added products using the kitchens and packaging equipment. Leeward CC students have also been able to take classes to teach farmers and others to take their products from fields to markets in the ʻĀina to Mākeke program.

“Here, our focus is on education. Priming mindsets and investing in our students with entrepreneurial vision, skills and providing resources our entrepreneurs lack, like equipment and subject matter experts to get their products noticed and on shelves,” Leeward CC Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza said. “We consulted with leaders of similar facilities in various states and countries around the world, to learn about what they could have done differently and built ours bigger and better…and right here in Central Oʻahu for our state.”

The new facility also has shipping and loading areas, demonstration kitchens and places to host events.

“All of UH is fully committed to playing an anchor role in strengthening and diversifying our economy. Our research, our education, our training—all create opportunity for local entrepreneurs of all ages and interests to establish small businesses and flourish—some growing into larger businesses,” UH President David Lassner said.

Those interested in working with WVAPDC can contact the center at vapdc@hawaii.edu or (808) 454-4750.