A High Tech Maui team traveled to Molokai on April 27 to assess interest in potential social media workshops on the island and provide related outreach to Molokai business and community leaders. The HTM contingent traveled around the island to conduct meetings and tour facilities. Among the agencies and offices visited were the Business Depot, Coffees of Hawaii, Hotel Molokai, Kamoi Snack-N-Go, the Kuhao Business Center, the Molokai Dispatch, Molokai Drugs, the Molokai Education Center, and Outpost Natural Foods.
Outpost Natural Foods in Kaunakakai was HTM’s choice for lunch.
At the end of the day, HTM hosted the island’s first “tweetup” (gathering of Twitter users) in Kaunakakai’s central business district, as reported by the Molokai Dispatch.
Molokai residents were appreciative of HTM’s interest in advancing the application of technology on their island, and it’s clear they want to work with HTM on economic development projects. Business and community leaders want to strengthen and diversify the island’s economy in ways that are consistent with the Molokai’s rural character and community values.
Molokai’s first tweetup was at Kamoi Snack-N-Go in Kaunakakai.
Molokai residents expressed a consensus of commitment to help each other overcome the challenges of life on the island. They want to forge a prosperous island economy that preserves agricultural land, respects the natural environment and host culture, and allows for innovation and growth by small businesses. The increased use of social media and other online marketing tools can level the playing field for Molokai businesses against their off-island competitors and help surmount some of the challenges they face (including geographic isolation and high cost of living).
Mahalo to Molokai for the hospitality. We’ll be back!
This is great. I think there is a lot of opportunity to bridge the channel between Moloka’i, Lanaʻi and Maui via social media.