Maui Business

The US Department of Agriculture has announced awards for 17 Hawai‘i projects totaling $2.6 million under the Resilient Food System Infrastructure program. The RFSI program is aimed at strengthening middle-of-the-supply chain operations and local food systems by supporting processing, manufacturing, storing, transportation, wholesaling and distribution of agricultural products. The grants include $77,896 to Maui Breadfruit Co. and $59,058 to NH Properties, LLC dba Haʻikū Organic Farm on Maui.

First Hawaiian Bank today announced that bank employees and retirees have ushered in this year’s holiday giving season by contributing a donation of $873,987.53 to 36 charities in Hawai‘i, Guam, and Saipan as part of the bank’s annual Kōkua Mai employee giving campaign.

Visitors to Maui island lag behind by pre-pandemic arrivals in 2019, according to a fourth quarter 2024 Statistical and Economic Report released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Here on Maui, 14 months after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires, there were 180,609 visitors to Maui in October 2024, which was higher than October 2023 (134,493 visitors, +34.3%), but below October 2019 (238,043 visitors, -24.1%). Visitor spending increased to $388.5 million in October 2024, compared to $332.9 million (+16.7%) in October 2023 and $379.8 million (+2.3%) in October 2019.

Servco Pacific Inc. acquired Big Island Toyota’s Hilo and Kona locations today, Dec. 1, 2024.

Tetsuji “Tets” Yamazaki of Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa has become the first Maui hotel general manager to be awarded “General Manager of the Year – Resort Property” by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Maui Health announced the selection of Penny Koval, MSN RN, NHA, as the health system’s new Administrator of Critical Access Hospitals. The appointment took effect on Nov. 1, 2024.  As CAH Administrator, Koval oversees all hospital and long-term care operations for both Kula Hospital and Lānaʻi Community Hospital.

Maui United Way allocated over $12.7 million to individuals and organizations across Maui County. It also focused on long-term resilience, providing resources for mental health, education and recovery.

Maui County Federal Credit Union has announced its first-ever Holiday Fair, a community event celebrating local businesses and bringing holiday cheer to the Maui community. The event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 224 Kehalani Village Drive in Wailuku.

During the months of November and December, the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, becomes home to a range of specialty pop-ups, collaboration and activations designed to bring the holiday spirit alive to its guests from both near and far.

A pre-fabricated, fire-resistant building material known as mass timber can be shipped to Maui from the Pacific Northwest and reduce on-site construction by at least half, compared with traditional stick-built homes, according to Haʻikū architect David Sellers.

Catholic Charities Hawai‘i has named Denise Iseri-Matsubara as executive director of Catholic Charities Housing Development Corp.

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center invites the public to gear up for the holidays on Black Friday, Nov. 29, with giveaways, performances, and exclusive shopping opportunities.

After years of operating once a week under tents in a parking lot, the Nāpili Farmers Market now has a 3,200-square-foot marketplace for vendors and customers and some brick-and-mortar shops for shelter from rain showers.

Maui Mompreneur will celebrate its final event from Dec. 13-15 at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. For 11 years, it has supported mom-led businesses on Maui.

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.