Maui Business

Hawai‘i-based businesses have until Feb. 19 to apply for Mana Up’s 10th cohort of emerging entrepreneurs in a program designed to infuse local product companies with resources, training, sales channels and more to increase revenue and jobs for residents.

This no-cost event is presented by the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Pāʻoihana Entrepreneur MBDA Program. The hands-on workshop is designed to give entrepreneurs the tools, resources and strategies to thrive in their business.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to attend the Feb. 13 Maui TechOhana with guest speaker, Stefan Kuhne, a Google software architect based on Maui. Presented by Maui Economic Development Board, Inc., and supported by the County of Maui, the meeting will be held in-person in Kīhei and also offer livestream viewing.

US Sen. Mazie Hirono has joined fellow lawmakers in introducing the Veterans Member Business Loan Act, a bipartisan and bicameral bill aimed at exempting US veterans from the government-imposed lending cap, a federal limit restricting how much credit unions can lend to small businesses.

More than 75 individuals interested in the new round of Maui County Agricultural Micro Grants, which offer up to $25,000, gathered in-person recently at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku and via Zoom. A video of the gathering can now be found online.

The nonprofit Common Ground Collective is calling on all members of the Maui community involved in food production, preparation, distribution and grocery shoppers to share their input by participating in its surveys. Feedback will be used to create agricultural infrastructure and to improve access to locally grown food on the island.

Mokulele Airlines has temporarily paused all of its flights this morning, according to an announcement on the company’s website. The airline says the pause is due to maintenance and is being done out of an abundance of caution.

Hawaiian Electric plans to deploy new technology, fortify infrastructure, minimize fire hazards and expand community partnerships to significantly reduce the risk of a wildfire started by its equipment, actions detailed in a new Wildfire Safety Strategy.

Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. announced that Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina will soon open their second location at Kapalua Resort after the 2023 wildfires claimed its original Front Street location.

American Savings Bank reached its 100th year of services to Hawaiʻi residents this year, and celebrated by announcing its new ASB Charitable Foundation and a $100,000 donation to local nonprofits, according to an announcement.

Hawaiian Electric will close its Shift and Save time-of-use rates program to new enrollments as of Feb. 1, 2025, following the completion of a one-year pilot. Customers enrolled in Shift and Save before that date will be allowed to continue in the program with the ability to opt out at any time.

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center is seeking vendors for the return of the Baby Expo, happening on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Maui native Jarrett A. Dempsey has been promoted to partner at Cades Schutte LLP, the firm announced Tuesday, alongside two other promotions in its Honolulu office’s Litigation and Trusts & Estates departments.

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union has introduced two new loan programs this month to help address the growing affordability challenges in Hawaiʻi’s housing market.

A dedicated wine bar, deVine Wine Lounge, is opening on Maui. Designed as a sophisticated yet inviting space, deVine is a destination for wine lovers and casual sippers alike. The business offers an extensive selection of wines by the glass and bottle, alongside a curated menu of specialty cocktails, craft beers and non-alcoholic beverages.

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union has released its schedule of free financial education webinars through March 2025, covering a wide range of topics, including goal setting, credit health, home buying, and wealth building.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce announced the date of the 4th Annual BizMixx Maui event on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Grand Wailea Resort Maui. This is the signature fundraiser to benefit the chamber’s work.

The Core Four business  planning first series of 2025, presented by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center, starts Tuesday, Jan. 7, and runs twice weekly through Thursday, Feb. 6.

Applications for the popular Agricultural Micro Grant Program 5.0 – which offers up to $25,000 in grants to Maui County small farmers and ranchers – will be available starting Jan. 9, 2025.

Fifteen months after the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires, there were 197,622 visitors to Maui in November 2024, according to preliminary statistics from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. This marks a 21.6% increase—or approximately 35,000 more visitors—compared to November 2023, though it remains about 15% below the visitor count recorded in November 2019, prior to the pandemic and wildfires.