DReam Ideation Workshop
Before our youth launched their brands, built their products, or sold at a market, they started with a question:
What do I care about enough to build something around it?
That question was at the heart of our 2-Day Dream Ideation Workshop, the kickoff to the Dream Incubator Program at Vivistop Honolulu. Designed specifically for kids who were curious about starting something — but didn’t yet have a clear idea, or had too many ideas and didn’t know where to begin — this workshop helped make the creative leap from “I’m interested” to “I’m ready.”
Day 1: Digging into Passion and Possibility
The first day focused on design thinking and exploring what matters to each participant. Through group discussions, creative exercises, and presenting our ideas, youth uncovered their interests and a potential spark of what excites them and why.
Day 2: From Ideas to Direction
On the second day, participants began narrowing in on what their business or project could actually look like. Some discovered clarity for the first time, while others trimmed down a list of ideas to the one that felt most exciting.
They sketched out early logos, brainstormed brand names, explored product types, and imagined how their ideas could show up in the world. The day wrapped with informal “pitch circles” where youth shared their concepts and offered each other feedback and encouragement.
For many, it was their first time talking about an idea as if it were real. And that moment made all the difference.
A Soft Start with Real Impact
The Dream Ideation Workshop wasn’t about launching the perfect business but it was about creating space for discovery, confidence, and direction. For the youth who didn’t know where to start, or had a hundred ideas bouncing around in their heads, this was their jumping-off point.
Many of the participants went on to launch real brands through the Dream Incubator Program, and eventually showcased their work at our Future is Keiki Market. But it all started here. With a safe space to be curious, messy, and brave.
