Maui Business

The Maui County Small Business Week starts on Sunday, April 28 and ends on Saturday, May 4, 2024. The 2024 MauiSBW program includes four educational events designed for one-person, mom-and-pop, micro to small size of businesses.

Slim’s Power Tools, Hawaiʻi’s largest locally owned power tool distributor, presents the 31st Annual He-Man Competition, set to take place on Saturday, at the storeʻs Kalepa Place location in Kahului, Maui.

In honor of National Volunteer Month, American Savings Bank hosted its 14th community clean-up event to beautify and revitalize the Chinatown-Kalihi neighborhood on Oʻahu. The event was held on Saturday and drew participation of 140 volunteers from eight organizations.

O‘ahu’s Melanie Shim, MD, and Maui’s Felicitas Livaudais, MD, were both recognized for their outstanding volunteer activities that improve community health and wellness.

Hawaiʻi Gas, the state’s only franchised gas utility, announced that it has expanded its executive team by welcoming Manu Bermudes in the role of Vice President of Human Resources.

Maui County hotel performance remains affected by the aftermath of the August wildfires, reports the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, but the county still led the state in revenue per available room in March due to comparatively higher average daily rate. 

Fairmont Kea Lani celebrates Earth Day with specials at Pilina to benefit Skyline Conservation through the resortʻs Rooted in Aloha program.

Hawai‘i Energy, the state’s energy conservation program, last week announced the hiring of Dan Mestas as principal development engineer, and Travis Hiramoto and Melissa Onishi as energy advisors.

Wolfgang’s Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener made its long anticipated debut on Maui at The Shops at Wailea last week.

Maui-based nonprofit Oni Foundation Inc. opens its new Wonderful World of Aloha 4,000-square-foot multicultural dance and activities center at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in Kahului. The dance and activities center opens May 1, 2024, offering cultural dance and hands-on learning experiences for kamaʻāina and visitors. 

The Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association (NaHHA), with support from funds issued through a joint partnership between the Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED) and the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), has been awarded $50,000 in NATIVE Act funding to provide workforce development trainings based in the foundational values of the Hawaiian culture.

Hale Management, LLC has named Hawaiʻi banking industry veteran, Blenn A. Fujimoto as its CEO; and subsidiary, AEPAC has tapped Fujimoto as its new president. AEPAC supports the US Army Corps of Engineers cultural monitoring contract for debris-related Federal Emergency Management Agency missions in response to the Lahaina wildfires on Maui, for which AEPAC serves as the prime contractor. 

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui Island was 4.9% in March 2024, compared to 5.9% the previous month, and 3.0% at the same time in 2023. The data was included in a new report released today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. 

Following the impact of the Lahaina wildfires in August 2023, Maui Chocolate Tour will reopen its immersive cacao farm experience this month. Guests can once again enjoy a journey through the Maui Kuʻia Estate cacao farm and the largest chocolate factory in Hawaiʻi where tours are available daily.

Home Maid Bakery will officially shut down wholesale operations and its Lower Main Street location in Wailuku, effective April 29, the Kozuki family has announced on social media.

The president of solar energy company Independent Energy, Desta Rudolph, has donated $50,000 to Project Empower, a nonprofit that has focused on helping Maui recover from deadly wildfires that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, displacing thousands of residents. The donation will bolster the collective efforts of a number of organizations to build 88 units of emergency housing at the 10-acre ʻOhana Hope Village.

SSFM International announced the promotion of five individuals within the firm. Promotions include: John Uno, PE, SE: Manager, Structural Engineering Group; Renee Ishisaka, PE, SE, LEED AP: Deputy Manager, Structural Engineering Group; Wendy McLain, PE, LEED AP: Deputy Manager, Civil Engineering Group; Daniel Kaiawe: Deputy Manager, Highways CM Group; and Lana Barrett, PMP: Deputy Manager, Project Management Group.

The Maui Food Technology Center is actively seeking Maui County businesses interested in participating in the prestigious Tokyo International Gift Show. Scheduled to be held at Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo International Exhibition Center on Sept. 4-6, 2024, TIGS presents a prime opportunity for local businesses to gain exposure in the international market.

Central Pacific Bank is accepting applications for the WE by Rising Tide program, a free initiative empowering women entrepreneurs to thrive.

Mayor Richard Bissen has appointed Maria Zielinski as director of the Maui County Department of Finance, and her appointment has been submitted for approval to the Maui County Council.