Maui Business

Micah Kāne, CEO of Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, will become the next CEO of Parker Ranch, Inc. Hawaiʻi Community Foundation has outlined a six month transition period, during which it will name Kāne’s successor.

The state’s Airports System has successfully raised $849 million in bond financing to fund approximately $600 million of essential projects to upgrade and expand airport infrastructure, including runway repairs, terminal renovations, security enhancements and the construction of new facilities.

Boosted by new grid-scale and rooftop solar capacity, Hawaiian Electric achieved a 36% consolidated renewable portfolio standard in 2024, accelerating progress toward the 2030 RPS milestone of 40%.

A “Mastering Your Money” class aimed at helping residents take control of their finances through budgeting, spending, saving and credit strategies will be held 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, in-person at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku.

The KūHana Accelerator is preparing to launch its next cohort in March 2025, and applications are now open. Business owners looking to take their companies to the next level have until March 3, 2025, to submit their written applications for Cohort 16.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual luncheon with Hawaiian Airlines on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. The event will feature a keynote address from Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague, who will share updates and insights on what’s coming for Hawaiian Airlines in 2025.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has appointed Kauʻilani Kahoʻonei Arce as its new chief operating officer. Arce will oversee daily operations, ensuring CNHA’s initiatives, programs and partnerships align with the organization’s mission of uplifting and empowering the Native Hawaiian community.

Hawaiian Airlines is giving away 10 million HawaiianMiles – the company’s biggest sweepstakes ever – to celebrate the launch of Huakaʻi by Hawaiian, its new travel program offering exclusive benefits for Hawaiʻi residents.

After more than 30 years as cultural advisor for The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, Clifford Naeʻole  joins Ledcor Maui as cultural advisor.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announced the state Airports System bond rating was upgraded by Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) to Aa3 from A1 in advance of its upcoming bond issuance.

The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization has released the comprehensive report “Investigating and Tackling Barriers and Needs for Small Business Success in Honolulu” on Feb. 3. The report offers critical insights into the challenges faced by small business owners and opportunities for targeted support.

American Savings Bank awarded $135,000 to nine winning student teams as part of its seventh annual Bank for Education KeikiCo Business Plan Competition. Students in grades 3 through 12 submitted business plans for ideas that support Hawaiʻi’s resilience and growth, including sustainable bedding for the homeless and a device that prevents dehydration.

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union is alerting Hawai‘i residents to a new financial scam aimed at stealing sensitive personal and account information.

American Savings Bank and aio have announced the start of the second cohort for the Hui Kapili Accelerator, following a successful first cohort.

Ace Auto Glass Inc. on Tuesday announced its 50th anniversary of serving Hawaiʻi’s and Guam’s auto glass needs.

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.