Made in Maui County Festival Off to Solid Start

More than 140 vendors from Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi kicked off this year’s Made in Maui County Festival with an Exclusive Shopping Day and Wholesale Buyers Event on Friday at the open air A&B Amphitheater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Today, the second half of the event takes place with a Big Festival Day from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Today’s festivities include live entertainment by Marty Dread; Pat Simmons Jr.; George Kahumoku Jr., Kau‘i & Kamaunu Kahaiali‘i; and fashion and talk shows with MC Malika Dudley on the Hawaiian Airlines Presentation Stage; 15 food trucks in the Pasha Hawai‘i Food Court.

Shoppers also have a chance to win 120,000 HawaiianMiles, a Pasha Hawai‘i Certificate of Passage good for shipping one personal vehicle to/from San Diego and Maui, as well as a myriad of products from this year’s festival vendors; and the first 2,000 attendees will receive a free festival tote.

Complimentary shuttles are available to/from War Memorial Gym and the MACC. Free parking will also be available at the UH Maui College’s grass parking lot.

Public admission: $5 (purchase that day only at MACC Box Office), children 12 and under are free.

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

“While the annual festival is only a two-day event, preparations for this major product show is a year-round effort with many of our event committee, staff, volunteers, and festival vendors putting in countless hours to make sure attendees have a wonderful shopping experience and that participating vendors reap the benefits through product sales,” said Pamela Tumpap, President of the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Teena Rasmussen, Director of the County of Maui Office of Economic Development called the event an incredible festival that benefits local entrepreneurs.  Rasmussen led opening day events on Friday in a ceremony sponsored by Alaska Airlines.

This annual festival is the most sought-after products show in Maui County offering a springboard for local companies to take their business to the next level by being able to unveil new products, meet with prospective wholesalers and connect with new customers. The event is also a showcase of the islands’ entrepreneurial spirit and a representation of the diverse microcosm of Maui County’s niche manufacturing industry.

The festival is presented by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce. Event sponsors are: Hawaiian Airlines; Pasha Hawaiʻi; Alaska Airlines; Minit Stop; HAWAIʻI Magazine; KAOI Radio Group; The Maui News; Maui Nō Ka ʻOi Magazine; Pacific Media Group; Paradise Television Network; Maui Visitors Bureau; American Savings Bank; HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union; HHawaii Media; Maui Printing Company; Nā Koa Brand; Bank of Hawaiʻi; Central Pacific Bank; First Hawaiian Bank; Matson; Maui Electric Company; Maui Hotel & Lodging Association; Queen Kaʻahumanu Center; and the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

Humbowl acai bowls at the Made in Maui County Festival 2018. Photo by Wendy Osher

Humbowl acai bowls at the Made in Maui County Festival 2018. Photo by Wendy Osher

Humbowl acai bowls at the Made in Maui County Festival 2018. Photo by Wendy Osher

Opihi Maui, handmade signs at the Made in Maui County Festival 2018. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Koholā Brewing Co. at the Made in Maui County Festival 2018. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Mele Ukulele at the 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Made in Maui County Festival 2018 jewelry booth. Photo by Wendy Osher. 

Kanemitsu Bakery at the 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Kanilehua at the 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Kūlua at the 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher.

More than 140 vendors are signed up to participate in the 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Grandpa Joe’s at 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Made in Maui County Festival opening festivities, 2018. Photo by Wendy Osher. 

Hawaiian Kombucha at 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Food trucks at 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher

More than 140 vendors are signed up to participate in the 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Kim Chi at the 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Mill House Roasting Company at the 2018 Made in Maui County Festival. Photo by Wendy Osher.