Maui Business

The Hawai‘i Agribusiness Development Corp. Board of Directors has elected Maui resident Jayson Watts as its new chair, signaling a renewed commitment to strategic leadership, critical infrastructure investment and long-term land stewardship. Watts, representing Maui County on the board, serves as director of environmental health and safety at Mahi Pono. Gov. Josh Green first appointed […]

American Savings Bank (ASB) is now accepting applications for its 2025 KeikiCo Business Plan Competition, a statewide challenge that invites Hawaiʻi public and charter school students in grades 3 through 12 to dream big, solve real-world problems and compete for up to $25,000 for their school – plus bonus cash for individual winners.

To foster meaningful cultural experiences in Hawaiʻi’s visitor hubs, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is investing $397,000 in seven Hawaiian cultural programs and practitioners through its Hoʻokipa Malihini Initiative.

Twenty-three months after devastating wildfires struck West Maui and Upcountry, visitors are returning to the island, although not yet at levels seen before the disaster. “As we approach the two-year anniversary of the Maui wildfires, tourism on the island continues to improve, but the pace has been slow,” said James Kunane Tokioka, director of the […]

DXD Capital, a private equity firm specializing in data-driven self storage development, announced the grand opening of a new storage option for residents and businesses in South Maui. This 355-unit self storage facility in Kīhei, provides secure, drive-up storage in the Līpoa Community.

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center has introduced two new locally owned businesses to its shopping center, The Beauty Backbar Academy and Hustle Gear Maui.

Eleven students graduated from the Hawaiʻi Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund’s Career Connections summer internship program at the HCATF facility in Kapolei.  

After a multi-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 2023 wildfires, the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce will relaunch its signature conference and awards gala this fall under a new name: Holomua 2025.

Hawai‘i is gearing up to host the Fourth Annual Hawai‘i AI and Cloud Innovation Summit: Presented by Google from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on Oʻahu. The event is being hosted by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism in partnership with Google Public Sector and the TRUE Initiative. […]

In support of the upcoming school year, Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union announced it has awarded $23,000 in grants to 47 public school teachers statewide through its 2025 Investing in Education grant program. The grants, each up to $500, will help teachers purchase essential classroom supplies and fund educational projects that enhance student learning.

Brittany Thompson has been appointed West Coast leisure sales manager for Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi and Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort.

Maui Business Brainstormers will host its next Maui SmallBiz Think Tank on Thursday, July 24, from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pono Center in Wailuku Town.

Irish Mahoney’s Umani Farms Maui business plan was judged the top entry and winner of a $15,000 grant in the fourth Best Business Plan contest, staged by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center.

Kahului’s average gas price is holding steady near its lowest point of the year, despite a small recent increase. According to the latest AAA Hawaiʻi Weekend Gas Watch, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Kahului is now $4.51. That’s 3 cents more than last week, but it remains 22 cents lower […]

A new partnership between Maui Gold Pineapple and Amazon Air is being called a “game-changer” for Hawaiʻi’s agricultural industry, providing a direct, fast and cost-effective shipping solution to the continental United States. Beginning with a test shipment early this month, the collaboration has already slashed freight costs by up to 60% and opened up new markets for the product.

Maui County’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment was 3.6% in June, according to data released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The rate remains well below the 4.8% unemployment recorded one year before, in June 2024, but higher than the rate reported the month before of 2.9% in May.

For the first time since 2022, the County of Maui is planning to offer approximately $301.8 million in General Obligation (GO) bonds for public sale to fund key projects. The planned sale reflects the County’s excellent financial standing, according to the County Department of Finance.

Walmart has launched its Open Call 2025, offering entrepreneurs the chance to pitch products made, grown, or assembled in the US. The open call provides selected entrepreneurs with a shot at getting their shelf-ready product in stores or online, and in front of millions of customers.

The Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) has reached a milestone in its Kamaʻāina Special Offers Program, now featuring 200 discounts for Hawai‘i residents — the program’s largest collection to date.

Fifteen nonprofits have been awarded a spot in Maui United Way’s first-ever Kahua Grants Initiative cohort.