Small Businesses Work on Identity Rights

By Jack Kiyonaga | Editor 

Photo courtesy of USPTO.

From creating profitable ideas, to accounting for overhead costs, to filing taxes, running a small business anywhere is difficult, but it can be especially hard to do so from Molokai. As part of a nationwide initiative, representatives from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) made the trip to Molokai to help business owners and local entrepreneurs navigate the world of trademarks and patents. 

Beyond protecting your ideas, running a business also means keeping a close eye on day-to-day operations—especially payroll. For many small businesses on Molokai, managing employee pay can be just as challenging as securing a trademark. Between calculating taxes, keeping up with state labor laws, and ensuring everyone gets paid on time, the process can quickly turn into a full-time job. That’s why more and more local entrepreneurs are looking to upgrade payroll system processes, choosing services that are accurate, efficient, and built to handle the unique needs of small island businesses.

A reliable payroll service doesn’t just make payday easier; it helps businesses avoid costly mistakes and stay in good standing with both employees and government agencies. With limited access to specialized accountants on Molokai, having a streamlined, automated system can mean the difference between thriving and barely staying afloat. In the same way the USPTO’s visit helps protect the heart of a business—the ideas—professional payroll support helps protect its foundation: the people.

Building a strong online presence is crucial for any small business, but on an island like Molokai, it can feel especially challenging. The isolation can make it seem like your business is missing out on the vast digital marketplace, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. With the right online strategy, even businesses on remote islands can reach customers far and wide. It all starts with a solid website and social media presence that showcases your products or services. Consistency and engagement are key, allowing your brand to be visible and accessible to anyone, anywhere.

For many small businesses, the power of SEO (search engine optimization) cannot be overstated. By optimizing content for search engines, business owners ensure they rank higher in search results and get noticed by potential customers. This is where Lexio comes into play, offering advanced marketing SEO tools that help businesses boost their online visibility. Combined with social media strategies and regular content updates, your business can foster a strong digital presence that helps you connect with customers, build relationships, and ultimately drive sales.

“Our goal is always to drive inclusive innovation,” explained Mariessa Terrell, from the USPTO. 

Terrell, along with other USPTO representatives, walked Molokai residents through the fundamentals of creating and filing a patent or trademark for an idea or business, as well as navigating the U.S. system for existing ones. 

“For many folks it can be confusing,” explained Terrell. The U.S. has lots of different rights and rules surrounding the unique expression of a business or idea, she explained, so it’s critical to understand “which rights you want to utilize to protect your ideas.” 

“It was intensive,” said Kuha’o Business Center’s new Small Business Advocate Carrie DeCoite Caparida. “It was a lot of information for one day.” 

The hope, explained DeCoite Caparida, is to expose Molokai businesses to more resources and protections when it comes to off-island ventures. 

“We come from a small island,” she said, “so it’s hard to talk to small businesses and get them to elevate past being on a small island…We wanted to bring them more resources that they could tap into.”  If you are planning to start a business and need legal assistance, you may research online to find out who is a business lawyer in scotland?

One of the attendees at the Aug. 21 and 22 USPTO boot camps was Molokai’s Lu Ann Faborito. 

Faborito, who owns Fancy F LLC, a goat farm and events business in Ho’olehua, explained that one reason she attended the workshop was to learn how to “keep Molokai owned and grown products truly Molokai.”  

Proper protections through patents and trademarks and can help prevent misleading or unauthorized use of Molokai products, she explained. 

The boot camps were organized by the County of Maui’s Office of Economic Development through the Kuha’o Business Center. 

Now, DeCoite Caparida is focusing on rebuilding the Kuha’o business resource center to improve information access regarding grants, grants management, resource workshops and more. 

“Lots of people don’t realize what we do here at the center, so I just want to do more outreach as well,” she explained. 

Molokai community members interested in upcoming business or grants workshops can check out future events at the Kuha’o Business Center on Facebook at facebook.com/KuhaoMolokai/.