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🌱 Leeward CC Leads the Way in Safe Food Innovation with First-Ever HPP Summit
Pearl City & Wahiawā, Hawaiʻi — Food entrepreneurs across the islands are getting a powerful boost this month as Leeward Community College’s Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC) hosts the state’s first High Pressure Processing (HPP) Summit on Wednesday, July 17.
Presented in partnership with global HPP leader Hiperbaric, the summit will explore how this cutting-edge food technology can help Hawaiʻi producers extend shelf life, eliminate harmful pathogens, and create preservative-free products—all while meeting food safety regulations.
🌊 What Is High Pressure Processing?
High Pressure Processing (HPP) is a cold pasteurization method that uses extremely high pressure (instead of heat or chemicals) to kill bacteria in packaged food. The result? Safer, longer-lasting, and cleaner-label products.
This technology is gaining popularity worldwide—and WVAPDC is home to the only HPP machine in the entire state.
🏭 Empowering Local Entrepreneurs with Real Tools and Support
The summit will feature live demos of the HPP machine, expert-led discussions on packaging, and success stories from Hawaiʻi-based food brands that have grown their businesses using WVAPDC’s resources.
Participants will also get a behind-the-scenes tour of the 33,000-square-foot food manufacturing facility in Wahiawā, which has already supported over 1,000 local farmers, students, and small businesses since it opened in 2024.
Speakers include:
Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz
Loren Shoop, CEO, ʻUlu Mana
Ethan West, CEO, Piko Provisions
Mario González-Angulo & Daniela Soto Castro from Hiperbaric
Patrick Lau, CEO of Savor Brands
And more local and national industry leaders
🛡️ Food Safety First: Guidance from the Department of Health
A key focus of the summit will be helping local producers navigate Hawaiʻi’s food safety laws. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) is partnering with WVAPDC and Hiperbaric to walk attendees through the regulatory steps and lab testing needed to safely scale HPP food production.
A dedicated session titled “Navigating Hawaiʻi’s Food Safety Regulations” will provide practical advice, featuring input from Cornell AgriTech, a national leader in HPP validation.
💡 A Community Investment in Food Innovation
According to Leeward CC Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza, the summit reflects a wider effort to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s food system through education, innovation, and economic growth. Funded in part by the state legislature, the HPP machine and WVAPDC serve as a launchpad for local businesses to reach new markets with safe, high-quality products.
“This model of collaboration between education, industry and the state is exactly what regional economic development looks like,” said Sen. Dela Cruz.
📅 Want to Attend?
The summit is open to anyone interested in food production, preservation, or entrepreneurship. Whether you're a small-scale farmer, a startup owner, or just curious about how local foods are made safer and better, you’ll walk away with new knowledge—and inspiration.
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, July 17
📍 Location: Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center
🕓 Time: All day event with live demos, panel discussions, and facility tours
💻 Register by: Tuesday, July 16 at www.leeward.hawaii.edu/hppsummit
🧪 About the WVAPDC
Located in Wahiawā and run by Leeward Community College, the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center is Hawaiʻi’s only public facility offering high-tech food production equipment, including:
The Hiperbaric 55 HPP machine for small-batch production
Commercial kitchens
Product development labs
Packaging and labeling stations
An event loft and demonstration kitchen
This resource-rich space was built to help local growers and makers turn Hawaiʻi-grown ingredients into high-quality, market-ready food products.
📢 Final Thoughts
With a focus on food safety, sustainability, and local innovation, the HPP Summit is more than just a one-day event—it’s part of a bigger vision for building a stronger, more self-sufficient food economy in Hawaiʻi.
If you live in Pearl City, Wahiawā, or anywhere on the Leeward side, this is a unique opportunity to see the future of food up close—and be part of shaping it.
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