 Hello, everyone. We're with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii. Today, I'm going to be your host, Barbara DeLuca, President and Marisol, our Vice President. So just me and you today, Marisol. Hello. So we want to start out by sending our love and aloha to our brothers and sisters on Maui. As an Indigenous people, we feel the plight of the Kanaka Maui, the Kapuna and the Keiki, that call Lahaina their home. Our thoughts go out to the local residents that call Maui their home too. We're saddened by the tragedy. And we want to share how our communities are affected and how we're contributing where we can. So with that, we're going to be discussing who's been reaching out to us behind the scenes and what we're doing on our part. So I'm going to start by just discussing my conversation with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Romero Cavazos. He reached out to us last week to offer his condolences and he offered to share our 501c3 fundraising campaign with his 60,000 business members and 260 chambers nationwide. So 100% of our proceeds will be donated to the relief efforts on Maui. Through our Hawaii Disaster, through our Hawaii Disaster Business Relief Fund. To find it, you can go to our website, hcchawaii.org. Today, Almy Vermejo, she's our regional administrator with the Small Business Association, sorry, Small Business Administration. She's a regional administrator, so she contacted us to offer resources. And I shared with her that there's a lot of Spanish speaking, foreign nationals visiting and that they're in shelters. They've lost their passports and their visas. I also shared with her that the Consulate General of Mexico, San Francisco, was on Maui on the 13th and 14th, and the Philippine Consulate General of Honolulu was on Maui on the 15th and 16th. Our Treasurer of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii, Dr. Ruben Fuarez, he's coordinating efforts with our HCCH member and immigration attorney, Kevin Block. He's also a resident of Maui on relief efforts. So Kevin is able to share with us what resources are necessary and how we can help out on the ground. Kevin Block is also providing pro bono assistance. For anybody who lost their green card, our DACA cards that were destroyed. So we got boots on ground with Kevin Block and our PR director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii, she is also a Red Cross PR communications director. Her name is Ziomara Guevara, and she has, she's at the War Memorial last week, the shelter, speaking with the immigrant population. There's a lot of Spanish speaking community there. So she was able to talk to them and, you know, our people are working in the tourism industry, cooks, hotels, hotel workers. So, you know, we're doing what we can in Maui. We also have a board member on the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Lisa Sanchez Johnson. She's also on the board of directors for the Hawaii Psychological Association, and she's talking to the Hispanic population at Enlase Hispano Programming. Hope I said that right. She also visited the War Memorial Shelter to provide psychological support for things that, you know, they may be going through like anxiety or depression. So we, we're doing our part and we feel your pain and we want to contribute and give back in any way we can. Marisol, yes. That our board members and the communities coming together in times like this, but there's also not necessarily just our board members, but members, right? So can you share a little bit about what Madan is doing as well from straight out of husk, right? I would love to. So, Madan and Sam, her husband, they flew to Maui. They make tamales, so she used all of her food. Tamale has masa everything to prepare tamales and flew over to Maui like the day after it happened and they were driving around Maui and found people that were just displaced and didn't have shelter. So they went out and bought tents and blankets and just gave it to them so they could have somewhere to sleep for the night. And some of the Maui, they have friends there that that help them, you know, provide a place for them to stay so they were able to go travel and do that. Rip Fitness. The valve and hip Rivera. Yep, hip was on a show last week. They put together a fundraising drive at their gym, which is a warehouse in my Pahu and they were able to collect donations to send to Maui and the owners of Mercado de la Raza. Alex, you know, and Megan Chan also had a fundraising efforts. So they were collecting items at the store and also at Walmart, I believe, to send to Maui. So, yes, thank you for making that point that we, you know, the chambers doing their part members of our chamber are doing their part. I love the fact that, you know, through this all. We're showing Aloha and and it's not what you do. It's how you do it. It's a way of life and it's good to see our community, you know, getting together and contributing where they can. Right. And we'll continue to send text messages, emails, put on our HCCH website, our Facebook or Instagram personal accounts business accounts will be putting out there where they can click on the link to donate to the relief fund for sure. So today's show that we had planned before this tragedy occurred was to discuss our Latino business expo. So that is happening Saturday, October 7 and it's during Hispanic Heritage Month. So we're very excited about this signature event and it's just going to get bigger and better every year. We have planned a panel discussion to talk to our Latino business leaders. The ones that we just discussed some of them will be on the panel, including Alex Villarino and Megan Chun, owners of Mercado de la Raza. There's their cute little boy. And hip Rivera and Val, his wife from RIP Fitness will also be on the panel. I believe it's just going to be hip though. Hector Garcia Gomez, owner of the taqueria El Ranchero, there's why he was and couple a locations will be on our panel and Dominic ask him, the owner of H and la ex of the barber shop with two locations on Pearl Ridge and what Kelly so we have some, you know, leaders in our community out there doing different things and representing different businesses and we have a grocery store, a gym, a restaurant and a barber shop. So it's going to be a great discussion, moderated by Maria Arieta. Hi, we also have SBA the small business administration. Hazel Beck is the deputy district director she'll be doing a presentation boots to business for our military. So it's a basically an exit strategy conversation, you know how you can start a small business after exiting the military. Let's talk a little bit about why our first Latino business expo is so special. Right. We're known for parties and having a good time and showing up, you know, with good music and good food and we'll have all of those things for sure. It is so much more than that right. For those of us that, you know, are thought about starting a business or maybe you already have, you know, a business in the works or you don't know what you want to do but you have these amazing ideas. You know, this is a space to come and gather because there's going to be entrepreneurs people that have been in business for over 25 years. Starting those that have ideas we have the small business administration they're right to give us hands on information on starting a business right so you're going to get the entertainment. All of your favorite vendors from around the island are going to be there so you're going to get the food and have music they'll be dancing. But above all things this is our very first Latino business expo we're so excited because we're planning on expanding and growing and each year adding more and more vendors right because what we want to do is showcase them right we want to celebrate them we want to highlight them and promote each other's businesses right and the only way we can do that is by providing this space for them. And this what is a Latino business expo and we're excited because this is just the beginning so we really appreciate it we want to come out support one another because that's really what we're here to do is is highlight and support one. Yeah, great point you know the Latino business expose for Latinos and those who love us and like I said who doesn't love our food and our culture and our dance and our music we're going to have a great time at on October 7. At Aloha Tower marketplace outdoors will have the stage and the peer available with all our great food vendors. If you want to find out more information, visit our website and click on signature events. So, once you click on that you'll see our flyer. And I'm going to scroll down. So, some of our business partners that have already committed to participate is Eva La Salsa she makes wonderful salsa and guacamole. They are going to be making these wonderful jalapeno popper cheese popper tamales. And oysters Hawaii. You guys got to check them out and other amazing sisters and a partner right and they were Miss Latina and Miss USA so they have a great network and even better oysters and they walk around and get the party started with oysters. Cook to their waist. And we have a food truck El Gallo. This is Peruvian and straight out of husk, they are going to be making four different tamales for us and some more chata right East or the as he makes handmade or the as very good. They're amazing those ideas are so delicious. Right. They make sweet dessert treats by cookies. And we also have tacos mean which I see that she'll be making barrier tacos so we have a good mix of different food. Please join us if you want to be a vendor you can also go to the same link and join up. We also have some other participants soldier to soldier. Actually, it's commissioned with the mission with soldier to soldier will be present eight and h and lax and one more. Let's see. We have dynamic stretch therapy. So some great vendors there and promoting our event is for entertainment. And, and what else so so sorry guys, Bell a political would be there for entertainment they're coming out from Phoenix, Arizona to dance. So you don't want to miss that they're going to be on stage from 12 to one so try to get there before 12 it starts at 11. And we also want to give a thank you to patino designs for creating this wonderful flyer and marketing campaign. Mario patino is awesome thank you. We have a lot of work with the Hawaiian community. So come on out and check out the Latino Business Expo like we said the Latinos and those who love us we're also going to have a VIP on the lawn. Yes, there's tickets available for that you want to talk about that money so Yeah, it's just really exciting gives people an opportunity you can purchase a VIP ticket to for those of us that are you know pretty serious about leveling up and taking maybe your existing business to the next level or just meeting people on a one on one basis really to talk about your business. What did you do, you know how did you raise funds how'd you get alone. Just bounce off ideas from one another it's really important to really surround yourself with like minded people so this is an opportunity for those to really get in a space with many entrepreneurs and business owners and talk about talk about business and and take it take it to that next level which is really exciting. It's gonna be a wonderful event. And you know those of you that are thinking or you might know somebody that's like hey come out promote your business it's not it's not just food guys like Barbara said it's services. Right, maybe you have marketing or we have we found one right. That does a daycare right Spanish speaking daycare. Yeah, yeah, I like a key. I think that's what I like a key huh. Okay, we're going to reach out to her like so there's, there's a lot of Latino and businesses out there that we'd love to to promote and just get everyone to connect with one another. Yes, I contacted 15 yesterday, Mike and I contacted 15 different. There's over 170 so we have a lot more work to do but we're going to get as many people out there as we can get the community united lift the Latino business owner voice provide a platform, foster connections, it's going to be a great event. And we also have Duke's car club participating so when you pull up you'll, we'll have all our low riders out front, the low right to get a factory. Yeah. So we have to share a culture all of it right body. Yeah, absolutely. Yes, we do. And then did you talk about the by left for political. It's going to be out there dancing, showing their beautiful dresses. I'm not entirely sure how long are they performing for Barbara from 12 to one. Yeah, that's amazing. Right. So that's going to be, that's going to be beautiful thing to watch. So I'm really excited about that. Oh, guess what else we have giveaways. Oh, yes. Yes, let's talk about a tent so Hispanic Chamber of Commerce we're going to have Hawaii will have our own tent there with Miss Latina team. She'll be doing a meet and greet and we'll be doing random giveaways from time to time so far we've already gotten gift cards from Alejandro's and Sita and Waipahu. And there's more to come on the burrito kids going to give us some gift card to so if they can't participate, because maybe they're short staffed or they have a restaurant to run on the Saturday which is understandable. Then we have our business partners also offering gift cards to give away to help promote and elevate their business. So Marisol. Today I talked to Dr. Rudy Guevara. He is a professor. He lives in Phoenix where I'm from. So I told him we're basically going to meet in person when I fly home in September I'm so excited to meet him. He is an author of a book and the name of it is Hola Compadre, and it's about the Aloha Compadre. Yes, Aloha. Aloha Compadre. And it's similar to our show Hola y Aloha. How do you say you're Hispanic in Hawaii? So the name of his book is Aloha Compadre. Why don't you tell us what Compadre means? Compadre is like a friend, my counterpart, comrade, my homegirl, homeboy, my compadre, yes, my boy. Now over 20 years he's been putting together stories and they're all in this book about the Hispanic experience in Hawaii. So there's some people that live here that I knew that told me about the book and they're actually, you know, part of the stories that are in his book. So he's going to be our guest September 13th. It's going to be such a great conversation. Oh, that's exciting. Yeah, he'll be pretty fascinating and I'm excited about that. So Marisol, we, since it's Hispanic Heritage Month, and we have our Latino Business Expo on October 7, we also have a Hispanic Heritage Festival that we want to discuss. And that is produced by Alma Latina Entertainment. And that is going to be, it's the 31st Hispanic Heritage Festival and fair. And it's out at the Veterans Center. I'm sorry, I have to look at this October 14 and 15. So it's a two-day event. If you go to Eventbrite, you can get your tickets. I believe it's $10 a day or $15 for both days. And if you have children under a certain age, they're free. We're looking at having a booth out there. And some of the wonderful guests that'll be there for two days, one of them is Theta Puente Jr. Oh, that's fun. Isn't that awesome? So you want to share the great news? He's fabulous. And he's an amazing musician. And we are very fortunate enough to have him on as a future guest of our talk show, Olaya Loja. So stay tuned for that because we're really excited to let him talk about himself with us. I have so many questions. Yeah, absolutely. But yeah, that's Nancy's event at the Hispanic Heritage Festival. Super excited to support. Again, we're here to help each other, promote each other, collaborate. And there are, what other events are coming up, Barbara? Well, you and I are going to be traveling to Florida in September because the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has a conference, their annual conference. And this year it's in Orlando in September, the 23rd through the 27th, I believe. So Marisol and I get to travel up there on behalf of our local chamber here in Hawaii. And when we are, you know, everybody just loves anybody from Hawaii, right? We're going to bring ladies for everybody. Well, and not everybody, but you know. And work on those networking skills and getting the conference out here eventually. Right, that's our goal. Yeah, that's definitely one of our bucket lists is to get the national conference out here in Hawaii, which again, will help us help our industry. We're working on getting the conference here. So we will be submitting a RFP for that for 2026, I believe. So we have a lot of work to do and grow a lot of growth. So if you're interested in joining and participating and volunteering in any way, please contact us at hgcpawaii.org. And two weeks later, no, not two weeks later, I will be there for a week. So right after the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the conference is the 24th through the 27th in Orlando. After that, Marisol and I will be flying to Miami the 27th through the 30th. So that's going to be another great conference that is latitude. And it's also in connection with the NAWRAP, which stands for National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. So my trade, I'm a broker with soldier to soldier. Marisol is a lender with Edge Home Finance broker with Edge Home Finance. Wow, thanks Barbara. She's our secret lender. Just kidding. That's, that's her awesome hashtag. We love it. So we'll be there representing the real estate community here in Hawaii at the Hispanic Association of Real Estate Professionals. So that's going to be great. And latitude is actually a Latino conference on the industries for sports, entertainment, you know, acting where there's going to be a lot of star-studded events. So we'll be happy to bring you back a lot of material and facts, right? Absolutely, yes. We'll be sharing on social media about our trips. So follow us on Instagram and Facebook and LinkedIn. We're all over the place. If you go to a website, we'll find our social media links. And don't forget it's for, it's not just for Latinos. It's for Latinos and those who love us. Well, thank you, Marisol, for joining today. It was, you and I, it was a great conversation and lots of information to share. And thank you to our viewers. Thank you for watching our show. Hola, Yaloja, on Think Tech. Again, I'm Barbara DeLuca, president and co-founder with my lovely co-host, Marisol Ruiz, co-founder as well, vice president. So adios, Yaloja, everybody. Thank you. Adios.