Made In Hawaii vendor Mala Mama Farm grown from the ground up

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The 30th Annual Made in Hawaii Festival gets underway this weekend, featuring hundreds of local vendors from across the Hawaiian Islands.

One vendor, Native Hawaiian-owned Mala Mama Farm, offers a variety of locally-grown Mamaki Tea, immunity syrups and healing salves. Owner Natasha Gourlay stopped by Wake Up 2Day to share more about the successful business she’s grown.

“Mala Mama farm started literally in our backyard,” Gourlay said. “We have an urban farm here in Kailua Oahu where we focus on growing products that have a purpose to heal. Mamaki being one of our main staples from Olena to Lemongrass to Comfrey to all kinds of different healing plants. Basically with my passion of really creating these healing products and getting back to simple processes and getting making it available to the community and easy to use.”

Gourlay is no stranger to healing. She’s putting herself through nursing school while raising two kids and running her business. While school starts this week she’s excited to take on the extra challenge of her second appearance at the Made In Hawaii Festival.

“This is our second time being at Made In Hawaii and it’s such a cool event,” she said. “Just talking to everybody, meeting people, connecting with others. Actually it’s connecting with the other local businesses as well. There’s so many of us in one place, so the connections that you make really last forever. I’ve talked to people in Made In Hawaii last year and we’ve become really close and good friends. So it’s really huge but it’s also small you create this small community for yourself.”

The Made In Hawaii Festival will run from Aug. 23 to Aug. 25 at the Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Halls I,II and III. Times are Friday 10 a.m. through 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. through 8 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. through 5 p.m.