Maui Business

On Tuesday, March 17, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court ruled that online traveling companies must pay tens of millions of dollars in back taxes to the state for hotel rooms sold over the Internet. The companies include Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline and Travelocity.

The Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel and its twin resort, The Plantation Inn, have been voted “Number One Hotel with the Best Aloha Spirit” and “Number One Best Budget Hotel” respectively, by readers of Hawai‘i Magazine.

Maui Business Brainstormers held its first Central Maui “Business in the Think Tank” on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at the Maui County Business Resource Center, where SCORE Maui presented a projector to MBB organizers.

Maui Sports Conditioning in Kahului will be closing its doors in June 2015.

The County of Maui is holding a free workshop called “Marketing and Networking for Success on Maui” for volunteer leaders, managers, HandsOn Maui partners and Hawaiʻi Network of Volunteer Leaders members. The session will be held on Thursday, April 30, from 8:30 a.m. until noon at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Kīhei.

AT&T invested almost $120 million in Hawaiʻi between 2012 and 2014 in wireless and wireline networks to deliver reliable coverage and speed to residents and businesses.

“Startup Weekend Maui,” scheduled for May 15 to 17, will be held in Kīhei at two locations within the Maui Research & Technology Park: the Maui Research and Technology Center at 590 Līpoa Parkway, and the Maui Research & Technology Center at 1305 North Holopono St.

A fundraising fundamentals course will be held on April 14 and 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for fundraising professionals. The 16-hour course, titled “AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising,” will take place at the J. Walter Cameron Center’s conference room in Wailuku.

The system is expected to generate 63,495 kWh in its first year of production and save the Boy Scouts Maui chapter $425,000 over 20 years.

A series of public meetings to gather input on the Fiscal Year 2016 budget is planned in April at various locations across the county. The budget review begins after the Mayor submits his proposed version of the budget to the council on March 25, 2015.

Hawaiʻi Energy has initiated a Clean Energy Ally Program to connect Hawaiʻi businesses and residents with local energy efficiency experts. The program aims to make it easier for participants to utilize cash rebates and incentives.

The County of Maui Department of Housing and Human Services is asking older adults and caregivers to complete two online surveys to aid future funding decisions at the county, state and federal levels for the Maui County Office on Aging’s four-year plan.

The project is proposed for construction along Piʻikea Street in Kīhei, and includes plans for a hotel, movie theater and retail space.

The Maui Ocean Center will be “shell-a-brating” 17 years of commitment to Hawaiʻi’s marine life on Friday, March 13, with a variety of activities and events. The public is invited to enjoy live entertainment, hula, up-close turtle encounters, interactive presentations, a cooking demonstration, keiki crafts, complimentary cake while supplies last, and more.

Leaders from the energy companies that have proposed a historic merger, Hawaiian Electric Co. and NextEra Energy, will be kicking off the Maui Energy Conference + Exhibition on Wednesday, March 25, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa has appointed Ann Fitzgerald as its new director of human resources. Fitzgerald will oversee 378 employees in her new position at the Kāʻanapali Beach resort.

Gas prices are creeping back up over the last week statewide, according to the AAA Hawaiʻi Gas Watch as of March 12.

Ha‘ikū-based solar installer Rising Sun Solar + Electric has received the SunPower “Commercial Regional Dealer of the Year” award outstanding performance in 2014.

JLM Energy Inc. and Maui Solar Project are offering a practical new energy appliance that changes the way renewable power is collected, stored and used.

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s MCTV channel is airing a new TV series to help both students and professionals refine their focus and achievement skills to stay on track and succeed.