How Hanahou works
What we do, what we don't.
A curated marketplace for Hawaiʻi event vendors — here's what we do, what we don't, and how to make a good call when you're booking someone for the day that matters.
How vetting works
Every vendor gets a founder review before they go live.
We look for legitimate Hawaiʻi-based businesses, real portfolios, and a fit for the marketplace. That's the bar a vendor clears before their listing surfaces in browse, in search, or anywhere else a planner might find them.
What that doesn't cover
- Insurance. We don't verify policies. Ask the vendor and your venue what's required for your event.
- Contract enforcement. Your booking is between you and the vendor. Hanahou is the introduction, not the adjudicator.
- Service quality on a specific day. That's the vendor's responsibility. Reviews and references are the planner-facing signal for what to expect.
Hanahou curates. You decide.
How to vet further
A few things that help when you're deciding whether to book someone.
- Read the reviews, especially recent ones. Pay attention to the specifics planners called out — what worked, what surprised them, what they'd watch for.
- Check their Instagram, website, or portfolio for current work. Vendors who stay active tend to keep current pages updated.
- Ask for references. Most vendors are happy to connect you with past clients. If they push back hard on a reasonable ask, that's its own signal.
- Request proof of insurance if your venue requires it. The venue can usually tell you exactly what they need.
- Keep your booking thread on Hanahou. Questions in writing keep everyone aligned and give you something to point at if a conversation gets fuzzy later.
Have a question, or something didn't go the way it should have? . The founder reads every email.