#Small Business

Two Maui-based businesses — a longtime Kahului beauty brand and a Haʻikū kava beverage company — are among 11 Hawaiʻi product companies selected for Cohort 11 of the Mana Up business accelerator program.

An online information workshop will be held Thursday,  May 14, 2026, for potential applicants for the County of Maui’s new Small Grants Program, which opened today, May 1, to offer community-level funding to nonprofit organizations and community groups for projects and activities serving Maui County.

“Cybersecurity Risk Management and Vulnerability Assessments for Small Businesses” is a free Zoom meeting presented by the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College for sole proprietors and registered businesses in Hawai‘i. It will take place on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 12–1 p.m. via Zoom. This is the third and final session in a series.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) Small Business Regulatory Review Board will conduct its next monthly meeting on Maui on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. at the Kalana O Maui Building, 200 S. High St., Ninth Floor, in Wailuku. It will also be available on Zoom. This […]

US Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaiʻi joined colleagues in introducing the Strengthening Place-based Access, Resources, and Knowledge (SPARK) Act to spur entrepreneurship and increase access for underserved entrepreneurs nationwide.

Small business owners looking to work with government agencies can attend a free workshop in Kīhei on April 7 hosted by state and federal transportation officials.

Maui County Federal Credit Union will host its second annual Holiday Fair, a festive community event that celebrates small local businesses and spreads holiday cheer across Maui. The fair will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 224 Kehalani Village Drive in Wailuku.

Mayor Richard Bissen appointed Jade P. Rojas-Letisi as the Director of the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, which is tasked with strengthening kama‘āina industries, supporting small businesses and advancing economic diversification across Maui Nui.

Melanie Dwyer, CEO of Hospice Maui, was honored with the Mayor’s Small Business Award for Outstanding Nonprofit, recognizing the organization’s excellence in compassionate care, workforce leadership, and community service across Maui County.

These businesses continue to shine through their outstanding service, innovation, team building, job creation, and commitment to the community. This award honors those who truly go above and beyond, exemplifying the Aloha Spirit and the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of Maui.

The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization has released the comprehensive report “Investigating and Tackling Barriers and Needs for Small Business Success in Honolulu” on Feb. 3. The report offers critical insights into the challenges faced by small business owners and opportunities for targeted support.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to attend the Feb. 13 Maui TechOhana with guest speaker, Stefan Kuhne, a Google software architect based on Maui. Presented by Maui Economic Development Board, Inc., and supported by the County of Maui, the meeting will be held in-person in Kīhei and also offer livestream viewing.

In 2024, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) helped secure more than $6 billion in federal funding for Hawai‘i as he led efforts to deliver resources to support Maui’s recovery from last year’s fires and advance a range of other priorities for the state.

Lorrie Betsill Nielson is an active and committed member of the West Maui community and a passionate entrepreneur focused on revitalizing the local small business economy.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the Annual Mayor’s Small Business Awards in 2024. All nominees and winners will be honored during an event on Sept. 19, 2024.

The State Legislature closed on May 3 passing several of bills supported by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi to tackle cost of living challenges, support growth in the technology sector, boost entrepreneurship, increase access to childcare and add affordable housing for our workforce.

With National Small Business Week (April 29-May 3) coming up, a number of workshops and programs are available to small businesses of Maui to build skills and connections. Co-presented by Maui Economic Development Board, workshops include helping sub-contractors to work with government; teaching how to use Quickbooks for business; building a capability statement; and exploring the work of the Maui Food Innovation Center.

The Maui County Small Business Week starts on Sunday, April 28 and ends on Saturday, May 4, 2024. The 2024 MauiSBW program includes four educational events designed for one-person, mom-and-pop, micro to small size of businesses.

Maui Mompreneur celebrates its 11th year supporting the local community of shoppers and vendors during a spring event at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College on April 26-28, 2024.  

Central Pacific Bank announced a new initiative called Meals 4 Maui, which partners with Chef Hui to provide locally sourced nutritious meals to residents impacted by the Maui wildfires, while supporting local small businesses and farmers.