Maui Business

Maui County Council members approved on second-and-final reading Tuesday land use measures to pave the way for redevelopment of Queen Kaʻahumanu Center as it struggles amid a nationwide decline in brick-and-mortar shopping malls. Bills 67 and 68 advance to Mayor Richard Bissen for final action.

The LahainaTown Action Committee, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development will host their next Kōkua for Maui Shop Local and Show Aloha event on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. This special event brings together the community and visitors in support of Lahaina’s resilient local businesses.

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resorts has announced the appointment of Richard Elliott as the resort’s general manager. With a career spanning over two decades with Hyatt, Elliott brings experience and passion for hospitality to his new role.

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its Life Matters Collective, an inaugural partnership showcasing both long-standing business partnerships and valued community partners of Hawaiʻi’s largest credit union.

Jon Gersonde has been named general manager at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. He brings three decades of distinguished experience and leadership expertise to this important role at one of Maui’s most iconic resorts.

Flight disruptions have worsened following a series of events that include the groundings of Mokulele’s larger-capacity Saab last month and a portion of its fleet over the weekend. The airline also determined earlier this year that the aircraft it brought in to provide backup service are not a good fit for Hawai’i.

Seafood City Supermarket is scheduled to open at the Maui Marketplace on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 at 9 a.m.  This popular Filipino supermarket chain is making its grand debut with a full service 37,000-square-foot market complete with an authentic Filipino specialty bakery and a Filipino Grill/Restaurant.  An in-store blessing was held on Tuesday.

Bacon Universal, a dealer of construction and agricultural equipment in Hawaiʻi, announced the launch of its dedicated used equipment website.

The 2023 edition of the “State of Hawai‘i Data Book,” released Thursday by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) serves as Hawaiʻi’s most comprehensive statistical resource.

Dr. Aaron J. Salā was selected as the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau’s new President and CEO, effective Sept. 1.

Pediatric Therapies Hawaiʻi is holding grand openings for its new outpatient clinics in Wailuku and Lahaina, announced PTH.

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center welcomes Linx Hawaiʻi, a unique jewelry boutique founded by local entrepreneur Nicole Ibarra. Linx Hawaiʻi offers the ultimate permanent jewelry experience, specializing in custom-designed pieces that cater to individual style and preference.

Hale Mahaolu, a nonprofit affordable housing provider, today announced that Anders Lyons has been appointed executive director of the organization. Lyons previously served as the nonprofit’s board president. Hale Mahaolu, which has a portfolio of 13 properties with more than 1,000 units of affordable housing, also announced that its executive director, Grant Chun, will retire and that Trevor Tokishi has been named board president.

Following a comprehensive search, Maui Food Bank has named Lisa Paulson as chief executive officer, effective Aug. 19, 2024. The appointment comes at a critical time as the organization addresses a 65% surge in food insecurity needs due to the recent Maui wildfires.

On Friday, Central Pacific Bank introduced the newest participants of its “WE by Rising Tide” program in co-sponsorship with the aio Foundation, and in partnership with the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership.

The KūHana Accelerator is now recruiting for Cohort 14. The accelerator program is for highly motivated entrepreneurs looking to take their company to the next level. KūHana will take participants through the business planning process where members can solidify goals, identify costs to implement, and determine how that investment will positively impact their company. KūHana graduates have gone on to acquire over $3.5 million in funding from traditional bank loans to private equity. 

Nearly a year after wildfire overwhelmed Lahaina Small Boat Harbor, exploding fuel tanks and incinerating vessels moored dockside, a quiet Hawaiian blessing ceremony was held Monday for the harbor’s repaired fuel dock, now ready for business.

Premier Restoration Hawai‘i, one of Hawai‘i’s largest locally owned restoration and reconstruction companies, announced that Herb Tedebjork has joined the Maui team as business development manager. He’ll be in charge of client relations and expanding business leads on Maui. 

First Hawaiian Bank Chairman, President and CEO Bob Harrison announced the advancement of six individuals on Tuesday.

Hana Hou Hospitality restaurants will be closed on Aug. 8, 2024, the one-year anniversary of the Lahaina wildfire disaster that killed 102, destroyed thousands of structures and left thousands more homeless.