Help the Pacific Gateway Center continue our work by contributing to our agency.  Your tax deductible donation will help provide our services and assist the low income and immigrant populations  of Hawaii. Thank you for your kokua!

Mission

The purpose of the Pacific Gateway Center is to help immigrants, refugees and low-income residents of Hawaii gain access to opportunities and services through the building of skills that lead to self-sufficiency while respecting the integrity of diverse cultural heritages. Pacific Gateway Center’s values include: Food, Diversity, Spirit of Aloha, Humor, Creativity, Integrity, Mutual Respect, and Teamwork.

Message From Our Executive Director

This fall, the PGC is looking forward to the completion of its Chinatown building.  Although the restaurant and office space have had their “soft” openings and are currently in operation, we look forward to the formal "Grand Opening" of the Lemongrass Café restaurant.  We are also excited about our upcoming "First Friday" events and growth of our e-commerce website, "Gifts From Paradise." The process of funding projects to continue our mission of serving the immigrants and low-income residents of Hawaii remains challenging. However, with the support from various grantors and the staff, we are able to grow and continue the good work that we have been providing to the Hawaii community. We would like to say "Mahalo" to you for your support throughout this year. May our relationships continue to help individuals and businesses achieve their self-sufficiency. 

The Culinary Business Incubator

Pacific Gateway Center's "Culinary Business Incubator" officially opened in 2000 and is designed to assist entrepreneurs interested in operating a catering business, lunchwagon, or food product lines.  The site is located at 723C Umi Street in Kalihi and features a State of Hawaii Health Department certified kitchen.  The "Culinary Business Incubator" has various baking, prep, and kitchen spaces, available at reasonable rental rates.  For more information, please visit or contact us via the information below:  

• Address:  723C Umi Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
• ( Turn left after the "Basic Auto Collision" sign)
  
• Phone #:  (808) 851-7000
• Fax #:  (808) 851-7007

Visit the videos below to see more about the incubator on OC16's "Career Changers" TV show:  

The "Gifts From Paradise" Website

The "Gifts From Paradise" website provides a powerful vehicle for low-income entrepreneurs to market their products by providing virtual shelf space.  "Gifts From Paradise" www.giftsfromparadise.com includes popular cultural creations from Hawaii, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and the Marshall Islands.  Popular items include Hawaii's Best Ever Nut Brittle, Kau Coffee, Aunty Nani's Hawaiian Cookies, designer clothing, and more.  Keep up with the site's latest developments by visiting the GFP's Facebook and Blogger sites.  Aloha!!

Pacific Gateway Center Awards 2011

Photo by JOHN BERGER|JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM  - Sunday, November 13, 2011

MANDARIN BALL HONORS ORGANIZER | Tin Myaing Thein, center, was the guest of honor Nov. 5 at the Hawaii Chinese Civic Association's 2011 Mandarin Ball at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. She received the group's Mandarin Award for her work as a community organizer and researcher, and for her success in directing and expanding the community-based programs of the Pacific Gateway Center. http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/onthescene/20111113_on_the_scene.html

Ho'okela Award Winner 2011 - "Best New Retail Business of the Year"  

Pacific Gateway Center dba Paradise Enterprise Center was awarded the "Best New Retail Business of the Year" on October 20, 2011 at the RMH Annual Conference & Ho'okela Awards ceremony, held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa.  Established in 1985, the Ho'okela recognizes and honors retailers and retail businesses in Hawaii for exemplary performance in the industry and contribution to the community.  Congratulations! 

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CURRENT PGC EVENTS & NEWS:

First Friday - February 3, 2012 (5:30 PM - 9:30 PM)

Lemongrass Cafe - 83 North King Street

The Pacific Gateway Center is celebrating "First Friday" at its downtown Lemongrass Cafe location on February 3, 2012.  There will be free food (while supplies last), drinks, and local crafts on sale.  Drop by, bring your friends, and join the fun!  

For more information, call (808) 851-7010 or visit www.firstfridayhawaii.com

Hungry for local food? Wednesdays from 4 PM to 7 PM, drop by the Honolulu Farmer's Market at Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall Lawn to sample onolicious foods from some of Pacific Gateway Center's clients.  Enjoy the Pastele Stew and Guava Chicken from Stacy's Laulau, Spicy Blackened Ahi or Teriyaki Sirloin from Grandma G's, Macadamia Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies from Aunty Nani's Hawaii Cookies, and much more!  For more details, visit http://hfbf.org/markets/markets/honolulu/

Finding Your Way into the Food Business

6 Steps to to getting your food product to market

by Shara Enay - Hawaii Business - SmallBiz - December 2011

Just about everyone has a family recipe or talk-of-the-town potluck dish they think is ono enough to be a grocery-store bestseller.

These are our six steps to take your product from concept to consumer. (More...)

Social Wire For Small Businesses: Kaohu Cupcakes

by KITV4News

Posted: August 17, 2011

Learn how PGC's Kitchen Incubator client, Kaohu Cupcakes, expanded its business outreach (More...)

Andy's fashion journey at First Friday

by Nadine Kam - Fashion Tribe - Hawaii News - Staradvertiser.com

Posted: August 10, 2011

Pacific Gateway Center welcomed designer Andy South at one of the first of its monthly First Friday festivities, celebrating “Andy South’s Fashion Journey,” from his humble childhood to  “Project Runway” success. (More...)

Refugee's pain replaced with pride

by Michael Tsai - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

POSTED: Jul 30, 2011

Photo by JAMM AQUINO

John Nyunt figures he'll have three to five minutes to tell his story, 10 if he's really lucky.

He could be afforded an entire afternoon and it wouldn't be enough to convey to his Capitol Hill audience just the reasons why he so boldly stood up to the military government in Myanmar all those years ago, or the fortitude it took to survive the seven dehumanizing years he spent as a political prisoner, or the joy he now feels as a full-fledged American citizen. (More...)