SWEET YET TOUGH: A sugar scrub business journey with heart for community

Satoko's journey begins in the picturesque town of Waihee, where she and her family nurture a variety of fruits like lilikoi, pineapples, and mangoes on their property. It's from this fertile ground, as well as other local farms on Maui, that the ingredients for her handmade sugar scrubs are sourced, creating a connection between the land, the community, and her business.

What makes Satoko’s sugar scrubs unique is that she doesn’t use any artificial ingredients or colors. Maui Sugar Babe products are all handmade with love and care - with her signature enzyme fermentation process that naturally exfoliates dry and sensitive skin without acid or any chemicals. And they smell amazing!

But we know the flavors of business aren’t necessarily sweet as sugar at all times, in fact, the wildfires that happened on Maui last year hit really close to Satoko’s heart.

Having lived in Lahaina for 13 years and Napili for 3, Satoko witnessed the devastation of her old neighborhoods and the loss suffered by friends, including those she considered as her Maui parents, Rev. and Mrs. Gensho Hara of Japanese church Lahaina Jodo Mission, which has now turned to ashes. She recalls trying to find answers in panic about their safety amidst the challenges with communication on the onset of the fires.

The safety and welfare of her community became the number priority as news prompted immediate action, with Satoko and her husband, Will. They volunteered at shelters, donated essential items, and contributed to various organizations such as the Maui Humane Society and Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation. She often dreamed of an endless source of financial resource to give and help out many families that suffered tremendous loss.

The wildfires took a toll on Satoko's business, affecting some wholesale accounts in Lahaina and causing temporary closures from stores that carry her products in Kihei, Wailuku, Puunene, and Wailea. 

But Satoko knew this was only a minor setback in her journey, as she continued to participate in local markets and at the Made in Maui County Festival, among other opportunities. Maui Sugar Babe also found unexpected support from customers across the mainland and other Hawaiian islands. The outpouring of online orders showcased a love for Maui and its local businesses.

Many around the world understood that supporting small businesses on Maui is supporting the heart of the community’s local economy and its people.

Despite personal and business challenges, Satoko’s determination and spirit of aloha prevailed. She is ready to expand and acquire new wholesale accounts. Satoko's journey from starting her business in 2018 to proudly declaring herself the owner of Maui Sugar Babe is a testament to unwavering belief in her products and a commitment to continuing despite the challenges.

In the midst of a pandemic that saw the rise and fall of many businesses, and with the new challenges brought about by the fires, Satoko offers words of encouragement to fellow Wahine entrepreneurs, urging them to be confident, patient, and persistent. Her journey exemplifies the strength of community support and the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. 

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