Maui Business

The Hawaiʻi Employers Council has announced the launch of its inaugural Hawaiʻi Leadership Academy, a new leadership development program tailored for director-level and senior professionals across industries.

Tammy Mencel has joined Pacific Media Group (PMG) as the company’s new General Manager of Honolulu Radio Operations. Mencel is a resident of Oʻahu, calling Hawaiʻi Kai home for the past 10 years.

The company will be recognized during the Maui Matsuri Japanese Festival on Saturday, May 24, at the UH Maui College Entertainment Stage.

Hawaiʻi residents are reporting a decline in their own health outlook and face escalating barriers to care, according to a new statewide survey released today. The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization’s Rapid Health Survey reveals widening healthcare disparities are disproportionately affecting Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and low-income communities across the islands.

About 79,600 people were employed in Maui County in April, according to a report from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Lawmakers say the bill addresses rising concerns about Chinese influence in the region while supporting the long-term development goals of Pacific Island nations.

The collaboration includes locally made items ranging from surfwear and kitchen goods to art prints and baby clothing, each reflecting Kahanamoku’s legacy.

Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union announced the launch of its new monthly podcast, “Voices of Change – The HSFCU Podcast,” designed to spark meaningful conversations and inspire action around issues impacting Hawaiʻi residents. The first episode, featuring Micah Kāne, former president and CEO of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and current president and CEO of Parker Ranch, is now live.

Servco Pacific is Hawaiʻi’s largest private company with operations in the automotive and musical instruments industry.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce is reminding the community that product vendor applications for the 12th Annual 2025 Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival are being accepted until the deadline of June 2.

Bacon Universal will host a two-day Kubota Orange Days sales event at its Wailuku branch on Thursday and Friday, May 15–16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year’s conference aims to bring together food and beverage manufacturers and supply chain partners to learn from industry experts about who to sell to, which Hawaiʻi-made products perform best and effective strategies for promotion and sales—with the ultimate goal of expanding their businesses beyond Hawaiʻi.

Strategies 360 has hired veteran Hawaiʻi journalist and communications leader Marisa Yamane as vice president of communications for its Hawaiʻi office.

Bank of Hawaiʻi marked the grand opening of its new Lahaina Branch on Maui on Monday with a private blessing ceremony and a donation of $100,000 to provide support to Lahaina residents who are at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure. Its previous location on Papalaua Street was destroyed in the 2023 wildfires.

The Maui Nonprofit Directors Association invites community members to attend a Board Member Speed Networking Event on Wednesday, May 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 395 Dairy Road, Unit G, Kahului.

Hawaiʻi residents can now use a single login to access dozens of state and county services through a new digital platform called myHawaii, which officials say will make government more accessible, secure and efficient.

The 12th Annual Hawaiʻi Energy Conference will convene leaders in Maui later this month to offer solutions addressing the most pressing energy challenges of today.

Mana Up, the Hawai‘i-based accelerator dedicated to growing local product businesses, is expanding to Maui with “The Mana Up Market” at Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows. Set to open in May 2025, this new retail space will showcase products from entrepreneurs who have participated in Mana Up’s statewide accelerator program — bringing their locally made goods to both residents and visitors to Maui.

The UHERO second quarter forecast for 2025 reports: “sharp increases in US import tariffs, sweeping federal layoffs, and volatile fiscal and immigration policies are undermining consumer confidence, raising inflation expectations, and worsening the business outlook—both nationally and in Hawaiʻi’s visitor-dependent economy.”

ToolBank Disaster Services has officially launched operations on the island of Maui to support long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.