Made in Maui County Festival Attracts 130 Vendors

The Made in Maui County Festival will offer local artists like Kenneth Hiraoka of Hawaiian Carvings the opportunity to showcase his work to thousands of visitors and residents. Courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

From Maui Macaroons to Pono Pies, and 808 Shells to Papala Designs, the very first Made in Maui County Festival has attracted a list of more than 100 vendors that elevates the idea of craft fair to a whole new level.

The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce announced a list of 130 vendors who make up the inaugural event.

Organizers say the festival was initially limited to 102 vendors, but was expanded to 130 to accommodate high demand.  Vendor space is now completely sold out for the Maui event, and there is a waiting list for those who have expressed interest in participating.

Considered the “largest product vendor show in Maui County,” the festival will offer items hand crafted, grown and produced on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.

In order to qualify for inclusion, vendors had to meet minimum requirements that they: be based in Maui County, and feature products that have at least 51%, value-added in Hawaiʻi.

The two-day event begins with an invitation-only reception for wholesale buyers, retailers and distributors from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7; and a public festival featuring food, products and demonstrations from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014.

Both events will be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.  Admission for the festival on Saturday is $3 for adults, and free for children 12 years of age or younger.

20-year Made in Hawaii veteran, Michael Kilinski of Maui Jelly Factory, hopes to broaden his market reach for his fresh gourmet food products during the inaugural Made in Maui County Festival this November. Courtesy photo.

“This Festival was created to help grow our islands’ businesses,” said County of Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa in a press release statement.

“There’s such incredible talent here at home and we’re hoping to open doors for these hard-working entrepreneurs by providing opportunities for them to meet with prospective retailers and wholesalers and connect with new customers. Our small businesses are the backbone of our islands’ economy and their success will ultimately benefit our community at-large,” he said.

Office of Economic Development director, Teena Rasmussen said she continues to receive “hundreds of emails and calls” from businesses, residents and visitors seeking information on attending the event.

“It’s been extremely gratifying to see the overwhelming response from our community ranging from event sponsors who make the event financially possible to local businesses and individuals wanting to encourage entrepreneurship in the islands.”

The Made in Maui County Festival was modeled after the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival on Oʻahu, which attracts an estimated 35,000 attendees annually, according to Maui organizers.

Organizers of the Maui event anticipate a crowd estimated at about 8,000 for the upcoming inaugural event.

Below is a list of just a few of the many vendors that will be featured: 808 Clothing; 808 Shells; Aloha Botanicals Maui; Aloha Honu; Aloha Letterpress; Aloha Spiced Cacao; Aloha Wizard’s Wands & Canes; ʻAlohi Images Maui; Amata Jewelry Studio; Angel Built Jewelry; Ark Ceramics; Art by Loyd, Inc.; Barking Deer Farm; BoxEleven; Chic Naturals; Color Your Own; Dennis Chamberlain Studios; Dog Hair Burning; exfolicare; Fresh Local Product; Giving Bracelets; Guzman; Haliʻi by Harriet; Hāna Herbs and Flowers; Hawaiʻi Fudge Company; Hawaiʻi Natural Products; Hawaiʻi Taro Company; Hawaiian Carvings; Hui Noʻeau Visual Center; Hulu Nani by Leonani; Island Girl Collection; Island Inspired Creativity; Island Style Bedding; Jennifer’s Gourds; Jill Painter; Jonerz and the Sparrow Seas; Joy’s Place LIVE!; Kaha Jewelry; Kalapaki Girl Dezigns; Kanemitsu’s Bakery; Kealopiko Inc.; Keaohulu; Koa Books; Kula Fields; Kula Herbs; Kula Jungle; Kupu Aʻe Molokaʻi; L.D. Made in Hawaiʻi; Lako Kula Designs; Lanakila Designs; Lauhala Ladies; Life Foods; Liquid Sunshine Jewelry; Lustrous Maui; Mad Hatter of Maui; Matsumoto Studio; Maui Aquaponics Workers Cooperative; Maui Brewing Company; Maui Ceramics; Maui Closet Company; Maui Coffee Association; Maui Coffee Roasters; Maui Crafts Guild; Maui Dirty Girl Art; Maui Dog Treats; Maui Film Works; Maui Fruit Jewels; Maui Gold Pineapple Company; Maui Gourmet Popcorn; Maui Homeopathy, LLC; Maui Island Love; Maui J&M; Maui Jelly Factory; Maui Lavender; Maui Macaroons; Maui Nui Wear; Maui Preserved; Maui Rainbow Tea; Maui’s Dee-Lites; MauiGrown Coffee / Maui Oma; MauiTiki; Misha Seelhoff; Moku Pua; Native Armor; No Ka Oi Nut Company; Nohea Island Images, Inc.; Ocean Vodka; Ono Nuts; P*sters; Pacifica Hawaii Fusion Corporation; Papala Designs; Paradise Now; Paradise Plumeria; Paradise Tropical Ice; Pilialoha Keiki; Poi by the Pound; Pono Pies; Pressed Flower Fantasies; Pualani O Molokaʻi Manaʻe Grown Farm; Pueo Coffee Company; Punawai Press; Queen Bee Productions; Robins Apparel Maui; Ron L Designs; Rosebuds; Saints of Hawaiʻi; Sarai Stricklin; Scott Mead Photography, Inc.; Seyana Jewelry; Shaka Pops; She Shells Maui; Snoops!; Something for Everybody; Surfing Goat Dairy; Sweet Paradise Chocolatiers; Te Hotu Mana Creations; Teas of Hawaiʻi; Two Chicks in a Hammock; ʻUlupalakua Vineyards, Maui’s Winery; Uncle Louie Sausage Co.; Upcountry Maui Favorites; Wow-Wee Maui; Wrappily; and Yasha Jewels.