Maui’s Flyin’ Hawaiian Zipline owner Duane Ting honored with Young Businessperson Award

By Wendy Osher

Duane Ting, owner of Flyin Hawaiian Zipline was honored Friday night with the Mayor’s award for Young Businessperson of the Year.  The award celebrates a businessperson 40-years-or-younger, but Ting is a mere 32-years-old, Hawaiian, and owner and operator of his own business.  The business focuses on keeping Maui natural, while sharing it with visitors.  Duane designed the business to leave the lightest footprint and care for the forestry, native habitat, and endangered species restoration.  Having the vision to restore the ‘aina, he was able to get the necessary federal permits to propogate the rare and endangered plants located on the Zipline property. 

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y05mtFV1WRI /]

Duane Ting (left) and Kapono'ai Molitau (right) were two of the finalists in the Young Businessperson of the Year category. Both take pride in the culural elements that drive their businesses.

Finalist in the Young Businessperson Category were:

• Duane Ting, Flyin Hawaiian Zipline (winner)
• Erin Brittin, Horses R Us
• Jason Evans, SilverShark Media
• Josh Jerman, The Wailea Group
• Kapono’ai Molitau, Native Intelligence

Customers participate in planting a rare endemic native Hawaiian plant, the yellow hibiscus, while on the tour.  From the main Honoapiilani Highway, the zipline is hidden from view.  The lines cross seven gulches over a distance of more than two miles.  Only three tours and a maximum of 40 people are allowed on the mountain daily.  The business was designed to combine fun and adventure with culture and kuleana.  Today, the company employs 22 people, and more than half of them are younger than the boss!

***** If you enjoyed this post, you may also like our story on The Hasegawa General Store and their honors for Lifetime Achievement or the award for Small Business of the Year with 11-50 employees.