Maui Business

“The impact of the Maui wildfires continues to be felt in November’s figures, but with most of West Maui now reopened to tourism, there is a concerted effort to reinvigorate job opportunities and facilitate the economic recovery of Maui,” said DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka.

A collection of Aloha Airline uniforms were donated to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) Fashion and Design Merchandising (FDM) program. The uniforms will be used for research and to preserve the history of the airlines, which served in Hawaiʻi between 1946 and 2008.

In a recent Pau Hana celebration at the Kīhei Charter School, 10 graduates of the Maui Tradewinds Vocational Training and Education Program moved on to the next step in their potential Maui-based engineering careers.

The state’s minimum wage will increase to $14 per hour beginning on Jan. 1, 2024. Act 114 incrementally increases the minimum wage to $16 per hour Jan. 1, 2026, and to $18 per hour Jan. 1, 2028.

On Nov. 1, 2023, the final phases of reopening West Maui (except Lahaina) after the Aug. 8 wildfires started, resulting in increased unit night supply and unit night demand in Kā‘anapali, Nāpili and Kapalua when compared to the previous month.

Aloha Petroleum has launched a “Free Gas for a Year” sweepstakes. Now through December 31, 2023, Hawaiʻi residents can enter to win the grand prize, valued at $3,000, via the My Aloha Rewards App on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi and Maui. 

Under terms of the partnership, Meet Hawai‘i will enter in a yearlong partnership with HIS Japan, targeting HIS corporate clients to promote Hawaiʻi as a premier destination for corporate meetings, conventions and incentive travel, boosting citywide and single property bookings.

Hawaiian Telcom and its employees set a new record for their annual United Way fundraising campaign in the company’s 140 anniversary year, raising more than $210,000 for Hawai‘i’s four United Way organizations: Kaua‘i United Way, Aloha United Way on O‘ahu, Maui United Way and Hawai‘i Island United Way.  Of the total, nearly $40,000 was designated for Maui relief efforts.

For the 10th year in what has become an annual tradition, Jim Falk’s Valley Isle Motors hosted more than 200 children and their families on Wednesday and presented each child with a new bicycle and helmet as an early Christmas present. 

From a sustainable waste management system to a mental health app for parents and kids to stay in touch, over 100 teams submitted game-changing ideas, developed valuable business skills and received a chance to win up to $25,000 for their school.

Gas prices in most of Hawaiʻi dropped again over the past week and were overall lower for 2023 than last year, according to the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch.

The disaster left all the restaurants’ 120 employees without jobs, and at least 60 of them also lost their homes and vehicles. Determined to help their Maui ʻohana, the Corpuels set up a GoFundMe campaign that has since raised over $150,000 in support of employees and their families.

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Board of Directors has approved an immediate six-month action plan for 2024 to help address major challenges confronting residents, small businesses, visitor industry providers, Maui’s economy, and families seeking housing following the August wildfires.

Fairmont Kea Lani announced the grand opening of Hale Kukuna, a living space dedicated to sharing Hawaiian culture with all. Unveiled through a Moku Ka Piko ceremony led by the resort’s manager of Hawaiian culture, Kamahiwa Kawaʻa, and Kumu Luana Kawaʻa, Hale Kukuna opened on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.

The Maui Farmer Network offers Farmer Navigational Coaching to small and beginning regenerative farmers across Maui County. In 2024, MFN will continue coaching and supporting about 45 farmers on a regular basis. Entering its 3rd year of programming, MFN is supported by funding from the County of Maui’s newly formed Department of Agriculture, and the Atherton Family Foundation.

The Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau announced that its longtime president and CEO John Monahan will step down effective Dec. 31, 2023, after serving as the organization’s top leader since 2003. Tom Mullen, HVCB’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, will serve as interim president and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2024.

In direct response to the estimated 2,430 families or 6,283 individuals who are still in need of housing after being displaced by the Maui wildfires, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement announced today that it has launched a new centralized housing website. HelpingMaui.org will help survivors find housing, while also serving as a platform for property owners and managers to offer their properties to survivors.

Maui Pineapple Tour announces a special collaboration with Maui Reef Adventures presenting a $150 Holiday Give Back Package. This unique package combines the Maui Pineapple Tour with Maui Reef Adventures’ Whale Watch, all while contributing to Maui Food Bank. 

Starting in January 2024, the United States Tennis Association, Hawaiʻi Pacific division will assume the management responsibilities for the Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch, including its facilities, pro shop and all tennis operations.

On Nov. 1, 2023, the last reopening phases of West Maui accommodations began, which included the remaining area from Kahana to Kā‘anapali. In November, hotels in the Lahaina/Kāʻanapali/Kapalua region were occupied by a mix of displaced Lahaina residents impacted by the fires, relief workers, and visitors.