Maui Business

FESTPAC Hawaiʻi Commissioners announced today that the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FESTPAC) is rescheduled for June 18-27, 2021.

When the 936 ft. long Eurodam pulled into Kahului Harbor this morning, it came as an unexpected sight for area residents, especially since it doesn’t usually make a port call at the location. The ship put in a request this weekend to come to Kahului instead of Lahaina because of weather on the West side where the ship typically stops and tenders passengers.  

Representatives say the mall will remain open throughout construction.

Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami will deliver his second State of the County Address via video, which will be uploaded to the County of Kaua‘i website and Facebook page by noon on Friday, March 13.

Hawai’i Attorney General Clare E. Connors joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general, led by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, calling on the Trump Administration to delay its “public charge” rule while the COVID-19 outbreak and response is ongoing.

Effective March 28 through April 29, the airline will temporarily suspend flights that operate three-times-weekly between Kona International Airport on the Island of Hawai‘i and Haneda, and four-times-weekly between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Haneda. At the same time, Hawaiian will launch an additional daily nonstop service between HNL and HND as announced in November of last year.

It’s basically the same $99/way fares on Tuesday/Wednesday flights that were offered earlier this week, on mostly all of the airline’s routes between Hawai‘i and the West Coast, but the booking date has been extended to Saturday, March 7.

Maui Matsuri organizers today announced the cancellation of their annual celebration which was set for May 2020. “Out of an abundance of caution, and out of respect for the many entertainers, vendors and sponsors, the planning committee felt it was important to make this decision early in order to prevent future fiscal and travel difficulties,” organizers said in an email announcement.

The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea will be offering Hawaiʻi residents special Kamaʻāina Spring Special nightly rates start at $399 plus tax, with no resort fee and complimentary overnight parking.

Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige today issued an emergency proclamation that allows the state to work quickly and efficiently to prevent, contain and mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19, and to provide disaster relief if necessary.

Dr. Bruce Anderson, Director of Health in Hawaiʻi also spoke at the press conference saying, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not identified any specific risk for Hawaiʻi and we will continue to work with them to determine if there is a potential threat, but again, at this time there’s no threat to anyone in Hawaiʻi.”

Three new businesses have opened at Azeka Shopping Center in Kīhei, Maui, including: Ekolu Kitchen1279, Studio 151 and O’Reilly’s Auto Parts.

The headliners of this year’s summit are Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist Matthew Gardner and local economist and TZ Economics Principal Paul Brewbaker.

The purpose of the program is to provide cost reimbursement to farmers and ranchers on Molokaʻi to help them meet the costs of compliance with the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration, the Food Safety Modernization Act and state food safety laws.

Alaska Airlines announced a $99 one-way fare sale taking place March 3 to March 5 for travel between Hawai‘i and California. The fare sale continues until 10 p.m. HST on March 5 and is good for travel between April 21, 2020 and May 20, 2020 for flights on Tues/Wed only on most of the airline’s HI-CA routes.

Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel, and sister property, The Plantation Inn, were recognized in HAWAIʻI Magazine’s 8th annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

Marvin DeCastro is the 2019 Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. Driver of the Year.

Pacific Media Group has acquired the Paradise Television Network in a transaction that took effect on March 1, 2020.

Paul Mattfeld is the new Administrator of Hale Makua Wailuku, a skilled and intermediate nursing and rehabilitation center and adult residential care home on Maui.

Visitor spending on Maui increased 7.7 percent to $510.7 million in January 2020, year-over-year, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.