Maui Business

Maui County hotels continued to be impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires. Maui County hotels achieved RevPAR of $253 (-24.9% vs. 2023, -1.7% vs. 2019), with ADR at $462 (-8.7% vs. 2023, +36.9% vs. 2019) and occupancy of 54.9% (-11.8 percentage points vs. 2023, -21.5 percentage points vs. 2019). 

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center is excited to host a series of local pop-up shops this holiday season.

The West Maui Temporary School Facility Project has been awarded the prestigious Project of the Year by the Construction Management Association of America. The Project of the Year Awards honor exceptional achievement and showcase the finest in construction and project management across the country.

The state Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) has hired its first Communications Officer. Diane Ako, most recently of KITV4 (Hawaiʻi ABC affiliate), came on board in November. Ako brings 25 years of newscasting experience and four years of public relations background to this job. State Comptroller Keith Regan (formerly of Maui) leads DAGS.

Hawaiian Airlines celebrated the return of its seasonal Auckland-Honolulu route on Saturday, welcoming over 200 travelers on a nonstop flight between Hawai‘i and New Zealand. The seasonal service will continue to operate three flights per week on its 278-seat Airbus A330 through April 30, 2025.

Hawaiian Airlines today began welcoming Hawai‘i residents to Huaka‘i by Hawaiian, a free program that offers kama‘āina guests greater value when flying with the carrier. Members will enjoy a free checked bag – inclusive of surfboards, golf bags, and other sports equipment – on Neighbor Island flights, 10 or 20% off one Neighbor Island booking per quarter, and network-wide deals monthly.

Vivia by Ho‘okele Home Care, a locally owned provider of home health care services, announced on Tuesday that Tracy Hart will serve as vice president of client navigation and Mary Lester will serve as vice president of operations for Vivia by Ho‘okele Home Care.

The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association has announced that Selawe Tau, hotel manager of the Westin Maui Resort & Spa — Kāʻanapali, will chair the 2025 Maui County Charity Walk.

The Maui County Office of Economic Development is launching the first “Season of Giving” campaign, aimed at supporting and promoting small businesses across Maui Nui during the upcoming holiday season.

This year, 23 businesses raised more than $8,800 and 1,761 pounds of food through the end of October, which combined will provide 50,710 meals to individuals and families across the Maui Food Bank’s network.  

Dwight Young has been named the commissioner of financial institutions for the State of Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Division of Financial Institutions, effective Nov. 1.

Skechers officially opened its new Maui store Friday with a ribbon-cutting event at its Dairy Road location. The national shoe store retail chain contributed $75,000 to help with Maui recovery after the August 2023 wildfires.

The LahainaTown Action Committee, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, hosts a special holiday edition of the Kōkua for Maui Shop Local and Show Aloha event, taking place on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. This event invites the community and visitors to come together in support of Lahaina’s resilient local businesses in time for holiday shopping.

Honolulu Cookie Company has opened a store at Whalers Village in Kāʻanapali.

The state Department of Accounting and General Services and the Stadium Authority announced the approval of Aloha Halawa District Partners as the preferred offeror for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and that the NASED process is on track to open the new Aloha Stadium for the 2028 University of Hawaiʻi football season.

Nathaniel Kinney is the new executive director of the Pacific Resource Partnership, a nonprofit representing the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters, the largest construction union in the state with about 6,000 members.

Joshua Gately has been appointed as vice president of development for the James Campbell Company LLC, a $5 billion private, Hawai‘i-based real estate investment company with origins that date back to 1860.

In its 13th annual Share the Love event, Subaru Hawaiʻi will donate $350 to a local nonprofit for every Subaru purchased in Hawaiʻi. The promotion began Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 31.

Maui Federal Credit Union has a new trade name, “MauiFed.” The move to simplify the financial institution’s name and avoid confusion comes after 86 years of serving the Maui community.

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center welcomes the popular Aloha wear brand Lexbreezy Hawaiʻi to the center for an exclusive pop-up, Nov. 8-11, 2024.