8,000 People Expected at 1st Made in Maui Festival

Made in Maui featured products. Courtesy image.

By Wendy Osher

An estimated 8,000 individuals are expected to attend the first ever Made in Maui County Festival, which is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., this Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

The event features 130 vendors, plus 7 food trucks, on-stage demonstrations, prize drawings and a fashion show.

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.

Parking is free and entry is $3.  Kids 12 and under get in for free.

The first 2,000 attendees will also receive a free event tote bag.

The event is presented by the Maui Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor’s office of Economic Development.

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

Products include: food, produce, art, crafts, jewelry, fashions, gifts, and collectibles.

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 actually begins on Friday, Nov. 7, with an invitation-only reception for wholesale buyers, retailers and distributors from 2 to 6 p.m.

Locally grown. File photo by Wendy Osher.

“This Festival was created to help grow our islands’ businesses,” said County of Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa in an earlier 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 also commented saying, “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.

For more information, please visit: www.madeinmauicountyfestival.com.