Kerilyn Kam launched her unique Edamame Candles business six months ago and has done modest sales through her Web site.

But Kam decided she wanted to expand her home-based company and secured a booth at this weekend's Made In Hawaii Festival at the Neal Blaisdell Center. Kam is one of more than 420 businesses of all sizes that are hoping the festival will boost their exposure and increase sales.

"I figured it would be good for a small business like mine that's just starting out," said Kam, who paid $560 for her booth. "I learned that there were about 35,000 people that came last year. I figured it would be good to get my product out."

Kam's candles are made of wax from soybeans, and she manufactures her products at home. She said she has attended one craft fair since starting her company and wanted to attract the attention of potential retailers to carry her line of candles.

Soon after the festival opened its doors yesterday morning, hundreds of people flocked into the exhibition hall, as well as the adjacent arena, to sample and purchase products. Kam said she was encouraged by the number of people who stopped by her booth.

"They had a lot of questions. A lot of people have never seen or heard of soy wax candles," Kam said.

Businessman Erick Cabal knows the value of having his products on display at the festival. Cabal and his wife, Nanako, own Waggin' Bakery, which makes baked treats and apparel for dogs.

The two have appeared at the festival since 2002 and said it has definitely helped their business.

"It gives us exposure to the larger retailers, like Star Market and Longs Drug Store, and we get picked up by those companies," Erick Cabal said. "Now, we're carried throughout Longs Drug Stores and we recently were picked up by Food Pantry. It helps us to expand our market."

The Cabals paid $625 for a prime corner spot in the arena and said the location has helped draw customers.

"We do pretty well," Erick Cabal said. "I don't know what the figures are, but we make at least four times the minimum that we want to make here."

Festival veteran Blossom Poepoe of Moloka'i's Kanemitsu Bakery said she attends the event more as a favor to the organizers than to attract customers to her business. Poepoe said Kanemitsu Bakery, which has been at every festival, has a solid customer base and is a favorite among Moloka'i residents and visitors.

Poepoe said she brought more than 1,000 loaves of various baked products to the show yesterday and expected to sell out before evening. She said she doesn't particularly enjoy going to the festival, but does it as a favor to its organizers.

"People are going to be disappointed if I don't come," she said. "Every year they ask me if I'm coming back. They ask, 'Are you coming to other shows?' I tell them no, I just come to this one."

This is the 13th year that the festival has been held. The event is produced by the Hawaii Food Industry Association and sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank.

Organizers said last year's festival generated about $1.5 million in sales and an estimated $10 million in residual sales in the 12 months after the event.

One person who has seen the festival grow is U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, who has attended every Made In Hawaii Festival. Yesterday, Inouye stopped at several booths during a brief visit.

"If you're looking for hope, this is the place. If you can gather this many small businesses, Hawai'i has a great future," Inouye said. "The economy is bad, but this demonstrates the people of Hawai'i's resilience, determination and just guts."

MADE IN HAWAII FESTIVAL

When: today, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow.

Where: Blaisdell Center arena and exhibition hall

Admission: $3; children under 6 free

On display: More than 420 business from across the state