Maui Business

The agency was granted full operational control of the para-transit bus service on July 1, 2013. Since then, MEO officials have been working to bring staffing up to full levels.

The AARP Hawaiʻi hosts two webinars this week, aimed at helping Maui boomers determine if they are ready for retirement. A webinar focused on Medicare 101, will take place from noon to 12:45 p.m. today, July 16, 2013.

The system replaces a temporary internet connection that reportedly had a 15 megabyte per second limit on data transmission. The new rate is expected to “dramatically increase” transmission to 1 gigabyte per second.

The hotels and shipping sectors have posted solid double-digit increases for four consecutive quarters to date which is further indication of a healthy, thriving economy.

A new mobile app, unveiled by the State of Hawaiʻi, pinpoints locations and provides mapping directions to the growing network of EV charging stations across the state.

The locally-launched Maui Dining app now tops the list of free food-related apps on Maui in a search of the popular Apple App Store.

Maui realtor, Tom Tezak was the sole attendee from Hawai‘i to participate in a recent three-day luxury property show in Beijing, China. Chinese buyers were reported to be buying homes in the upper range, with the median price at $425,000.

On Friday, July 19, Mokulele Airlines will begin offering service between Kapalua, Maui and Kona, Big Island. The four daily flights mark the first regular service between the two airports.

The flight capitalizes on the extension of the US Visa Waiver Program to cover citizens of Taiwan. Officials with the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority say the new flight fits into the state strategy of global market diversification.

The Maui Office of Economic Development released a list of free workshops offered in July. Seating for all workshops is limited, and can be reserved by calling the Resource Center at 873-8247.

In a double unveiling, Wailuku retailer, Maui Thing, unleashed its summer clothing line and hosted a mystery concert by The Green as a backdrop to its 5th anniversary fashion show.

The council on Friday authorized an investigation into the potential misuse of county funds appropriated for the rehabilitation of the Old Wailuku Post Office.

The parent company of Ben Franklin Crafts and Ace Hardware Hawaiʻi is re-branding its name to HouseMart.

With the Hawaiʻi hurricane season now upon us, the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is advising homeowners and businesses to review their insurance policies to ensure they are protected from loss.

The “Small Business Revitalization” program provides $60 for every $40 contributed by grant recipients, with awards ranging from $500 to $5,000, county officials said.

User friendly tech products like the iPad, iPod, and iTouch, have gained household familiarity, but there’s a new non-Apple “i” product that is aimed at a whole different lifestyle market on Maui.

Maui’s selected hiking trails – and the rest of Hawaii’s – will be the subject of a new program allowing third-party organizations to contribute images to Google Maps.

The participants include three companies from Molokai, and more than a dozen from Maui. County officials say an estimated 38,000 people are expected to attend the 19th Annual festival, which is known to attract retail buyers and distributors, who come to find new products unique to the islands.

The free mystery concert and models will take to the runway fronting the store on Market Street, wearing Maui Thing’s new summer line, themed “Alive.” In keeping with the theme, store owners say the show will go through a life cycle of its own, with the unveiling of the new designs and models, a reflection of brightness after death, and coming full circle with a rebirth.

The service is airline’s fifth gateway in Japan and 10th new international destination introduced in less than three years.