Unlocking the Hidden Gears of E-Commerce Growth
Curious about how to build, grow, and scale an ecommerce business from Hawaiʻi? Whether you’re serving local customers or expanding globally, this panel brings together four successful Hawaiʻi-based merchants who’ve cracked the code to online growth—with the help of their Shopify partner, Hidden Gears.
From overcoming shipping and logistics hurdles to scaling unique local products to the world, this session dives into real strategies, tools, and stories from merchants building impactful brands rooted in community and culture.
Featured Panelists:
Rob Barreca, Founder, Farm Link Hawaiʻi (Oʻahu)
How user experience design transformed Hawaiʻi’s online farmers market.Lehia Apana, Founder, Polipoli Farms (Maui)
Content marketing and partnerships—from Flamingo Estate to Four Seasons.Keiko Akamine, Founder, Yū|Mono Design (Oʻahu)
How strategic ads scaled her modern fine jewelry business.Will Lydgate, Founder, Lydgate Farms (Kauaʻi)
Using customer data to create deeper loyalty—from online sales to farm tours.Paolo Vidali, CEO & Co-Owner, Hidden Gears [Moderator]
What You’ll Learn:
How Hawaiʻi merchants are scaling online sales while staying rooted in local values
Practical insights into Shopify, UX, digital marketing, and logistics
How e-commerce success can power Hawaiʻi’s economy, jobs, and community resilience
This event is part of Honolulu Tech Week 2025 — a week of events connecting Hawaiʻi’s innovation ecosystem with global networks.
About Hidden Gears:
Hidden Gears is a Honolulu-based Shopify agency that empowers ecommerce businesses through innovative, tailor-made solutions that seamlessly blend technology, design and strategy. We are committed to fostering collaborative partnerships, delivering measurable results, and driving sustainable growth for our clients in the ever-evolving digital landscape.