More ‘Made in Maui’ Festival Information Sessions Planned

Made In Maui County Festival organizers will be assisting interested vendors during upcoming Informational Sessions in July. Courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

Festival organizers will host another series of informational sessions in July for local businesses interested in participating as vendors in the first-ever Made in Maui County Festival, scheduled to take place in November.

A limited number of vendor slots are available, with information sessions scheduled to take place from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8 and 15, at the Cameron Center in Wailuku.

The festival is planned for Nov. 7 and 8 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, and will feature products from vendors based in Maui County that sell merchandise with a minimum of 51%, value-added in Hawaiʻi.

Organizers say booth space is being assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, “upon meeting the definition of Made in Hawaiʻi in terms of compatibility, desirability, uniqueness of product.”

Locally grown. File photo by Wendy Osher.

“To date, a number of local business owners have taken advantage of these informational sessions,” said Teena Rasmussen, director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development in a press release announcement. “Our festival organizers are available to answer questions and to provide assistance to owners wanting to complete their vendor application,” she said.

Organizers say an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 people are expected to attend the event, which is sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Vendor applications are available for downloaded from the festival website under the “Vendor” tab.

The event includes the following highlights:

• Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, 2-6 p.m.: Wholesale Buyers and Distributors Event and Reception (by invitation only).
• Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Festival opens with approximately 100 vendors offering Maui products, food, and demonstrations. Admission is $3; children 12 and under are admitted for free.