Maui Business

According to recently released 2010 Census figures, Maui had a total population of 144,444 and 52 percent of the population belongs to the White race group and 46 percent to the Asian race group.

The Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa announced the opening of its Akamai Business Center today.

Yesterday, Sempra Generation, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, announced that it has entered into a 20-year contract to sell 21 megawatts (MW) of wind energy to Maui Electric Company from the Auwahi Wind project on the Ulupalakua Ranch.

For the first time, the Disney Wonder cruise ship will set sail for Hawaii and should arrive in Kahului on May 5, 2012, after spending four days at sea.

Maui County was home to 2,111 businesses owned by Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders in 2007, according to new findings released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Karen Arawaka, the Small Business Advocate for Maui County, and the new manager at the Maui County Business Resource Center has outdone herself this month as she’s secured more speakers than ever to deliver expert advice and information on a wide variety of topics pertinent to Maui County small businesses.

Despite the downturn in Japanese tourism in March, Hawaiian Airlines is meeting projections for slight gains in 2011 as it reports a 4% total passenger count increase for March over same period last year.

The inaugural flight with nonstop service between Honolulu and Kansai begins July 12, 2011.

In a statement released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority today, Mike McCartney, President and CEO, said that despite an anticipated decrease in airlift from Japan, the overall number of air seats will be relatively flat compared to the same period last year.

The APEC 2011 Hawaii Host Committee has issued yet another Request for Proposals for marketing and promotional materials. The most recent RFP is focused on a media supplement to be distributed to the more than 20,000 attendees expected in November.

The Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state’s tourism agency, announced that it will be issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for external tourism marketing management services on April 5, 2011.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is projecting an 18.3 percent decline in arrivals from Japan for the month of March, less than the 25 percent drop initially projected following the events on March 11.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) invites Maui County restaurants to comment on two proposed regulations issued yesterday governing calorie labeling on menus and menu boards.

Maui small business owners with eligible commercial real estate can soon secure more stable, long-term financing through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s temporary 504 refinancing program starting April 6.

Hawaiian Airlines reconfirmed that it will not be reducing service to Japan and is still planning to start an Osaka service in July. Executives predict a bookings recovery by May.

As early as June 2011, Hawaiian Airlines customers will be using new self-service “islands” to check-in at the Honolulu International Airport.

Trilogy Excursions has added a 64-foot catamaran, “Trilogy II,” to its sailing fleet providing snorkel tours to sunken volcanic crater known as Molokini.

The American Red Cross and the Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) are the receipients of $100,000 contributed by Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI) along with its subsidiaries American Savings Bank, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company and Maui Electric Company to support recovery efforts from the Japan earthquake and tsunami aftermath.

New York and Honolulu came in first and second in Forbes magazine’s list of the 2011 top ten most expensive cities to visit in America.

The plan includes $3 million in funds that will go towards targeted growth from other major markets to offset the visitor shortfall from Japan.