Maui Business

The County has committed $200,000 to support the ranching community, which includes the purchase of cattle from various independent ranchers. DeCoite Packing House will process the cattle into approximately 1,000 pounds of ground beef, per week. Feed My Sheep will receive the ground beef and distribute to qualified individuals, nonprofit agencies and community feeding programs.

Assistance through the County’s Kōkua Small Business Recovery & Relief Fund has been doubled with the addition of $3 million in CARES Act funds approved by Maui Mayor Michael Victorino on Tuesday.

Hāna-Maui Resort (formerly Travaasa Hāna) announced it will be joining the Hyatt family, with Hyatt assuming management under the Destination Hotels brand.

Governor David Ige announced today that state Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson and Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda will be retiring from their respective posts in September.

The Japanese Cultural Society of Maui is calling Maui high school students who graduated this year to apply for their 2020 cultural scholarships, including a new scholarship honoring its late president, Asa Ellison. Applicants will be awarded $1,000 scholarships for demonstrating their involvement in perpetuating Japanese culture and/or language in the community.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce announced a new trade council, the Professional Rental Management Association or PRMA.

Hawaiian Electric is extending its suspension of service disconnections for nonpayment through Dec. 31, 2020. The company advised customers challenged by the financial impacts of COVID-19 to seek utility bill assistance from government and nonprofits and set up a payment arrangement plan. 

A total of 62 Maui County students were selected as scholarship recipients of the Realtors Association of Maui Community Foundation Presidential Scholarship Fund. The academic scholarships were awarded to deserving high school seniors aspiring to pursue higher education.

Upon approval, Hawaiʻi will offer an additional unemployment compensation benefit of $300 per week to eligible unemployment recipients. To qualify for this benefit, recipients must be eligible for at least $100 in weekly benefit and must certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19. Payments would be retroactive to Aug. 1, 2020.

Governor David Ige this morning approved Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s request for a stay-at-home, work-at-home order for the island of Oʻahu.  Mayor Caldwell said the order goes into effect at midnight 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, and continues for two weeks. This does not impact the neighbor islands, which remain at their current levels of response.

Roselani Place, an assisted living community on Maui has identified 20 COVID-19 positive cases as of Monday.  The positive case count at the facility as of Sunday includes eight residents and 12 staff.

According to the company, the number of customers at the shop decreased to less than five per day since the the reinstatement of the 14-day quarantine for interisland travelers.  

Maui family-owned Miyake Concrete Accessories, Inc. is merging with Hilo family-founded, fifth generation HPM Building Supply. Miyake operates four building supply stores in Kīhei, Lahaina, Makawao and Wailuku and one truss manufacturing plant on Maui.

Imua Family Services in partnership with Ready4K and Hawaiʻi Community Foundation has launched a digital texting program to support parents and families dealing with the impacts of the pandemic.

“While we still have our escape rooms available for private game bookings, we are developing a series of online experiences to reach a broader online audience during the pandemic,” said Kit Furukawa, Mystery Maui owner who hosts Trivia Night with her husband Deron.

More than 750 produce boxes were distributed to the Maui community on Saturday, August 15 at the Kapalua Village Center. Hosted by The Plantation Estate Lot Owners Association and Hua Momona Farms, fresh produce boxes were distributed to those in need.

The governor’s latest supplementary emergency proclamation, which was signed today, includes a provision that empowers the counties to establish an Enhanced Movement Quarantine or EMQ through agreements with resort or hotel facilities.

Mayor Michael Victorino announced that production on the television show Temptation Island has been delayed due to current COVID-19 health and safety concerns in Maui County.

Maui’s Upcountry Rotary Club hosts its first bi-monthly virtual skills workshop on Wednesday, Aug. 26 with Mike Loque, demonstrating Gyrotonics – an innovative fitness workout. The virtual skills workshops feature the careers and skills of various members in all of the Rotary Clubs on Maui.

Electric vehicle drivers can now power up at a newly installed Hawaiian Electric fast charging station at the Pukalani Terrace Center in Upcountry Maui.