Maui Business

Volunteers with the Hawaiian Airlines’ community outreach group, Team Kōkua, will be on Maui this month, working on projects to freshen up the King Kamehameha III Elementary campus and prepare it for the new school year.

The company has been creating Hawaiian Lavender Hand Cleansing Sprays for many years—and in response to COVID-19, they have boosted their original, natural ingredients to include 63 percent alcohol. 

The resorts will host drive-through food distribution events in South and West Maui on Friday, July 10, where employee volunteers will organize and distribute approximately 2,000 care packages.

The new Lahaina store at 335 Keawe Street, Space B114 is open Mondays through Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.

Hawaiian is offering students registered for fall classes at Chaminade University, Hawai‘i Pacific University and the University of Hawai‘i a five percent fare discount on its transpacific flights, two complimentary checked bags and a flexible booking policy on all flights.

HB2502, HD1 SD2 authorizes the state Department of Health to screen, test, and monitor travelers for COVID-19 upon declaration by the Governor that such actions are required. The bill also provides funding to hotels to conduct testing for employees, and establishes a travelers screening special fund utilizing funds from the Transient Accommodations Tax.

Governor David Ige today outlines how COVID-19 has impacted the state’s finances.  Joining him are Lieutenant Governor Josh Green with an update on the state’s healthcare system capacity and Dr. Bruce Anderson from the state Department of Health with an update on the latest case numbers.

Imua Family Services, Maui’s early childhood development agency, announced plans to purchase the Yokouchi Estate in Wailuku to create a community space for outdoor, nature based learning for island keiki.

Yesterday’s 2,813 passenger total increased again from the day before, marking the highest number of out-of-state arrivals to Hawai‘i since the quarantine began.

Maui Kuʻia Estate Chocolate Inc. has reopened with a sweet opportunity for Hawaiʻi residents. The chocolate company is offering kama’āina and their families deals for in-person tastings at its retail store in Lahaina.

On Maui, there were 226 passengers arriving on three trans-Pacific flights.  This included 79 visitors, 82 returning residents, 38 individuals seeking to relocate to Hawai‘i, nine military members and 18 crew members.  

Hawaiian Airlines confirmed that eight employees who recently attended flight attendant training at the company’s Honolulu headquarters tested positive for COVID-19 this week after feeling ill.

Maui United Way raised a total of nearly $800,000 this year which will go toward 31 health and human services programs in Maui County.

Mayor Michael Victorino issued a statement last night, strongly opposing two proposed amendments by the County Council’s Governance, Ethics and Transparency Committee, calling the items “reckless.” Meantime, council members defended their proposals with one member calling the Mayor’s statements “overly dramatic.”

The state’s mandatory interisland travel and health form can now be submitted online within 24 hours of flight departure. State officials say this upgrade adds efficiency to the passenger verification process, helps save travelers time and allows information to enter the database in real-time. The form includes health and contact information needed to trace close contacts should a passenger become ill.

Hawaiian Airlines today announced it will resume a reduced schedule between Hawaiʻi and most of its US mainland gateway cities on Aug. 1, when the state of Hawai‘i begins welcoming travelers who choose to participate in a pre-travel COVID-19 testing program being developed.

The Expeditions Lānaʻi Ferry announced updated COVID-19 rules and changes that take effect immediately, limiting the amount of unescorted freight that will be allowed on each trip from Lahaina and Lānaʻi.

Hawaiʻi residents who are turning 65 and be eligible for Medicare or people who are 65+ and about to retire or lose employer medical coverage, or anyone planning for early retirement and want to learn more about how Medicare works, what it covers, when to enroll and how to avoid late enrollment penalties can benefit from these exclusive “Medicare 101” workshops.

Hawaiian Electric will extend the moratorium on disconnections for nonpayment through Sept. 1, and urges customers who are having difficulty paying their bill to contact the company well before September to consider payment options.

The Department of Housing and Human Concerns is reminding the public that Kaunoa Senior Services is continuing to provide Assisted Transportation and Home Delivered Meals services to eligible seniors, despite COVID-19.