Meet Michelle Horton | Owner & Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Horton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, what do you attribute your success to?
Our market is unique because in addition to being a place of commerce, we put a strong emphasis on creating positive social change. Our official Mission is to “Strengthen the communities of Hawai‘i, one market at a time.”

We do this in a variety of ways, but ‘lōkahi’ is always at the forefront. Lōkahi is the ‘ōlelo (Hawaiian word) for harmony, unity and balance.

We put a strong emphasis on the wide-variety of participants that come to Lōkahi Kailua Market each week. Just like the lōkahi wheel, which emphasizes harmony, unity & balance…each participant plays an equal role in helping to bring about more lōkahi (our vendors, musicians, non-profits, workers, volunteers & customers/tourists included).

With the notion of lōkahi at the forefront, LKM strives to be a place where we leave our differences aside & come together to build relationships & connections that lead to more harmony, unity and balance.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Unlike other markets, we host special events at Lōkahi Kailua Market throughout the year.

Our most notable event is our Annual Easter Egg Hunt, which aims to raise funds for afterschool art & science programs for keiki in need.

We’ve also hosted donation drives, Halloween costume contests & Winter Wonderland (a night time roller skating event with a DJ during Christmas time).

Every year is different & we keep our options open based on creative ideas that come up.

Ultimately our goal is to use these events to give our market an edge & create a fun/positive environment that brings the community together. We’ve found that these special events are a great way to restore & bring about more lōkahi.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would without a doubt bring them to Lōkahi Kailua Market so they can experience firsthand “Lōkahi Vibes” — our term for the feeling people get when they visit our market and are welcomed with open arms by all of our participants.

We would also take them to some of our pristine beaches in Kailua (Lanikai beach is always one of the top rated beaches worldwide), gorgeous hikes in the Ko’olau Mountain Range & snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. All are a great way to gain an appreciation for environment & beautiful landscape that makes Hawai’i special.

Finally, we would take them to ‘Iolani Palace (home of Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarchs and served as the official royal residence of the Hawaiian Kingdom) the Bishop Museum (museum that captures the rich culture and heritage of Hawai‘i) & Pearl Harbor (historical site from WWII).

Hawai‘i is so much more than a tropical paradise. By visiting these sites, one can expect to gain a more profound understanding & appreciation for the rich history of Hawai‘i.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I was largely inspired by the work of Auntie Pilahi Paki, a renowned native Hawaiian educator, philosopher and poet. Her work titled “ALOHA” is esteemed by many all over the world due to its significance in capturing the essence of what it means to live with aloha, just as the native Hawaiians did.

It was her belief that, “The world will turn to Hawai‘i as they search for world peace, because Hawai‘i has the key…and that key is Aloha!” Broken down, it means living with:

Akahai – grace & kindness
Lōkahi – unity & harmony
‘Olu‘olu – being agreeable & pleasant
Ha‘aha‘a – humility & modesty
Ahonui – patience & perseverance

Website: https://lokahikailuamarket.com

Instagram: @lokahi_kailua_market

Facebook: @lokahi_kailua_market

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lōkahi-kailua-market-kailua

Image Credits
Michelle Horton