Mayor’s TV Show to Highlight “Made in Maui County Festival”

Locally grown flowers. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

Products and foods to be showcased at the upcoming Made in Maui County Festival will be featured in the latest edition of Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa’s television show entitled “Your County with Mayor Arakawa.”

Guests will include Maui Economic Development Director Teena Rasmussen, and Maui Chamber of Commerce President Pamela Tumpap.

The mayor’s one-hour television show is set to air live at 7 p.m. on Wednesday June 4, on Akakū, Channel 54; and will re-air on Wednesdays June 11, 18, and 25 at 7 p.m. on the same channel.

The program will be moderated by County Communications Director Rod Antone. Viewers are also invited to call in during the live program to ask questions at (808) 873-3430.

Vendors of products made in Maui County are invited to attend an informational session to find out more about the first-ever Made In Maui County Festival, scheduled to take place Nov. 7 and 8 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.

The second of two sessions is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 11, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Cameron Center in Wailuku.

Event organizers say participating vendors must be based in Maui County and feature a minimum of 51%, value-added in Hawaiʻi to their products.

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

Department officials say an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 residents and visitors are expected to attend the event, which will showcase a variety of made-in-Maui County products, including food, produce, art, crafts, jewelry, fashion, gifts, and collectibles in one location.

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.

The event is being co-presented by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development in partnership with the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Applications can be downloaded on the event’s official website. More information is also available via email at: [email protected] or via phone at (808) 244-0081.