Maui Business

Maui Ocean Center is once again hosting twice weekly Aquari-Om yoga classes, with a portion of proceeds supporting sea turtle rescue and coral restoration efforts on Maui.

More than 7,500 Hawaiian Electric customers received a record $8.1 million in federal credits to reduce their energy bills, about $2.5 million more than last year.

The County of Maui Department of Liquor Control will begin accepting liquor license renewal applications starting April 1. Applications can be submitted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the department’s office at 110 Alaʻihi St., Room 212, in Kahului.

Hawaiʻi workforce development nonprofit ClimbHI partnered with dozens of Maui businesses and organizations to host its Leadership, Exploration, Inspiration (LEI) program on Maui today. The free daylong program was held at the Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui, with participation from all major hotels in the Wailea-Mākena area, providing exposure to a variety of careers.

Louis Vuitton unveiled its newly renovated store at The Shops at Wailea, Friday following a Hawaiian blessing ceremony.

Maui Economic Opportunity named Loretta Webby its Driver of the Year. Web who has been working with MEO Transportation for 20 years, was selected for her spotless record on the road for the last nine years and exceptional customer service, according to organization leaders.

Khloella’s Garden, an outdoor furniture and decor shop in Lahaina, will launch with a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 31 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 1. Located in the Lahaina Gateway shopping center next to Ross, the shop will offer artisan goods, along with free entertainment, pupus and giveaways during the celebration, according to a news release.

Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union (Hawaiʻi State FCU) has announced its schedule of free financial education offerings from April to June. The webinars are free and open to the public and range in topics from navigating auto buying in today’s market to leveraging home equity.

The proposed budget totals $1.227 billion and represents an increase of $15.6 million or 1.3% compared to the Council’s adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2023 of $1.211 billion.

While gains were realized in month-over-month data, Maui’s vacation rental supply, unit demand and occupancy in February remained down double-digits from pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Maui County’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 3.2%, down from 3.1% in January, and down from 3.5% at the same time last year.

Maui Food Technology Center is seeking local businesses interested in showcasing their products during Japan’s largest B2B lifestyle and gift trade show, the Tokyo International Gift Show. This year’s event will be held in Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo International Exhibition Center Tokyo, Sept. 6-8, 2023.

Maui County hotels led the rest of the counties throughout the state in the February 2023 Hawaiʻi Hotel Performance Report published by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority with a RevPAR of $465, ADR of $655, and occupancy of 71%.

Twenty-three award winners will be honored during this event for their achievements and contributions to the vitality of Hawaiʻi’s local economy.

Maui Land & Pineapple announced today the appointment of Race Randle as CEO and Scot Sellers as Chairman, effective April 1, 2023. Warren Haruki, who led the company for the past 14 years, will continue to serve as a senior advisor, assisting Race and Scot as they assume their new roles.

Hawaiian Telcom and its employees donated more than $1.2 million to local nonprofits and organizations, and tripled employee volunteer hours in community service last year.

The Native Hawaiian farmer is one of three female entrepreneurs who recently won a $10,000 grant from Dove Chocolate, a news release said. The grant will help fund the Polipoli Farms food hub, and the project is seeking public support through Indiegogo crowdfunding. 

Cades Schutte LLP law firm announced that Keola R. Whittaker has joined the firm’s Kahului office as Counsel in the Finance, Real Estate, and Corporate Department.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism hosts its first-ever Made in Hawai‘i Branding Workshop at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

When it comes to Momona Bakery and Coffee Shop, customers must decide what they desire more: Sleep — or flaky, doughy, sweet croissants stuffed with lilikoʻi and other flavors. Judging from long early-morning lines over the last week, people are choosing the latter.