We take care of growing your reach - so you can focus on the things that matter most to you.
Our Origins
-
Born and raised in ‘Āina Haina, Colby’s mission in life is to help perpetuate and preserve Hawaiʻi’s land, people, and culture. Currently, this manifests itself in the form of helping local businesses and students thrive.
After attending Tufts University in Boston, Colby joined Endeavor Global where she helped entrepreneurs in emerging markets scale against all odds. She was constantly inspired by the wealth these entrepreneurs brought to their communities – from Buenos Aires and Cape Town, to Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. Over time, she felt compelled to bring what she learned back home to Hawaiʻi.
She joined local accelerator Mana Up as Portfolio Manager (and Employee #2!), building many new initiatives from scratch that still thrive today. In her free time, you can find her in the mauka or the kai, teaching/dancing Hip-Hop, or learning the art of Uhau Humu Pōhaku under Kumu Kimeona Kane.
-
Originally from Massachusetts, Tatum graduated from Dartmouth College with a BA in Classics and Geography, and a Minor in Digital Arts. During college, she joined local accelerator Mana Up as a Marketing intern, where she worked on various projects, including the opening of their retail business, House of Mana Up. While at Mana Up, Tatum discovered her passion for working with local businesses, and she is grateful to join Colby at Lauaʻe Consulting, where she can continue to learn about Hawaiʻi’s amazing land, people, and culture.
Our Approach
-
Throughout our careers, we’ve worked with 250+ companies from a range of industries – from food and beauty, to apparel and tech – so we understand that no two businesses are the same. We know each business requires a unique strategy that honors its brand, vision, and values. We take the time to understand your goals and help you develop a strategy accordingly.
-
We understand that this business is not just your livelihood, it’s your baby! At the end of the day, we want to grow your business while honoring it. We develop and deliver a specific strategy, but make sure to build in check-ins and room for adaptation. We approach each partnership as an ongoing relationship, not a transaction.
-
We know firsthand the pain, sacrifice, and dedication that goes into building a business. And we know that in addition to being an amazing business owner, you are also a parent, sibling, aunty, uncle etc. – with an ‘ohana of your own to care for. So we don’t take pricing lightly. We make sure to take the time to develop a fair pricing model, and encourage honest negotiation to ensure accountability and growth on both ends.
Our Values
-
Water with care.
Growth is important. But so is the way in which one grows. We know there is more to life than upward trajectories at all costs. We aim not to just grow our clients, our team, and our local economy but to truly foster and nourish them. We always water with care.
-
One forest.
In the midst of individual routines, it’s easy to overlook our collective power. But in the big picture, we’re all in this together. We are planted in the same earth, breathe in the same air, and live under the same sun. We weave this “One Forest” philosophy into every fiber of our work.
-
Stay rooted.
It’s easy to be distracted by shiny new opportunities, trends, and external influences – that may not always align with our goals and our purpose. We always look to our roots to guide us, remembering that our core mission – to help local companies, first and foremost – must guide all of our decisions.
Let’s lauaʻe to enrich our community.
Lauaʻe (lau.aʻe) - To gather together
Also the name of two different local ferns – one ubiquitous and non-native, the other very rare and native. Countless vibrant lauaʻe graced the yard of my childhood home. Our hope is that working with us makes you feel in community, right at home.