Squeezing the competition at Lemonade Alley
Photo Credit: Brittany Amano
Pucker Power's lemonade was a hit at Lemonade Alley on July 8.
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Brittany Amano, Sports Editor
September 14, 2012
Filed under Top Stories
The competition for sweet victory was fierce at the second annual Lemonade Alley, but none were left feeling sour. Teams of students ranging from kindergarten to high school participated in this “kid-biz” competition on July 8 at ING Café in Waikiki. These young entrepreneurs were required to submit a business plan, design and build their booth, create delicious lemonade recipes, give entertaining oral pitches to a panel of judges, promote their teams through Facebook, and raise money for charities of their choice. A whopping $4000 was raised for charities in our community, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Hawaii’s Future isn’t Hungry, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Hawaii Humane Society, and Bizgym Foundation.
Teams were represented from schools all across Oahu, including one from ‘Iolani. “Pucker Power,” a team comprised of sophomores Brittany Amano and Matthew Motooka, participated in this competition as a fun project to do over the summer while simultaneously raising money for a great cause. The team chose to raise money for the charity Hawaii’s Future Isn’t Hungry, a nonprofit organization that works with various local organizations to provide food for those
without.
A preliminary practice round was held at the Eat The Street Garlic Festival, where Pucker Power had the opportunity to set up a table and sell their lemonade. The money made was counted toward their final score. Within two hours, Pucker Power had sold out of its signature li hing lemonade!
At the competition on July 8, the team set up early that morning, along a yellow carpet. During the competition, Pucker Power sold some 100 cups of li hing lemonade, sugar-free li hing lemonade, and a secret recipe called “Minion Mix,” a concoction made by Motooka’s cousin, who dressed as a life-sized minion from the movie Despicable Me.
After four hours of running the stand, the winners were finally announced. Of all the teams, Pucker Power received the Most Likeable Award; the team’s Facebook page had received the most “likes,” the reward of many nights of phone calls and emails to contacts. To the team’s surprise, Pucker Power also rose above all other high school teams, receiving first place in the high school division.
Lemonade Alley was a great learning experience for the team from ‘Iolani. In an even and fair playing field, participants learn how they stack up to others in business planning and execution. When life handed these young entrepreneurs lemons, they made lemonade, and lots of it.
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