The American Logistics Association is a voluntary, nonprofit organization of manufacturers, manufacturer's representatives, brokers, distributors, publishers, and other companies that sell or provide products and services to the military resale systems and MWR/Services.

ALA uses the term "military resale systems" as a broad term that includes all military exchanges and commissaries, Department of State stores, Veterans Canteen Services, as well as all of the armed forces' Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) activities.

Over 80 local companies will meet one-on-one with key Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and military exchange buyers, pitching their Hawaii made / unique to Hawaii products for possible sale in the military commissary system.

This is a buyers’ only event – not open to the public – with tremendous participation from small scale operations to some of Hawaii’s larger companies.

The Defense Commissary Agency and Exchange buyers will smell, taste and touch products grown, produced or distributed in Hawaii during the eleventh annual American Logistics Association Pacific Basin Expo. At the 2007 show 187 items were selected for placement in military commissaries.

The American Logistics Association and ALA Hawaii will donate $5,000 (from the conference and expo) to the Post Traumatic Residential Rehab Program at Tripler Army Medical Center.

The program treats soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

The first Hawaii American Logistics Food Show eleven years ago attracted a dozen companies. The 2008 show will attract 81 local companies showcasing over 1,000 local products. Many new companies who have never before exhibited at the Expo will be on hand. Some of the new companies include: Island Cookie Company, CTPI Sushi Chef, Lava Sports, Inc., Total Advantage Beverage Asian Teas, etc.

Hawaii Commissaries routinely stock 130 varieties of locally grown fruits and vegetables and a total of more than 2,000 grocery items. The value of these local products – items like coffee, chocolates, nuts, juices, etc. – exceeds $13 million. Since the first ALA Hawaii Food Show in 1998, the Defense Commissary System has added more than 1,000 Hawaiian items from local manufacturers and vendors to the commissary system. Some of those products are now sold in commissaries worldwide.

August 21, 2008 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) – 9 a.m.
(Senator Akaka will untie the lei to open the show).
Hawaii Prince Hotel Mauna Kea Ballroom