Maui Business

Whaler’s Fine Jewelry owner Tien Doan is no stranger to adversity. A survivor of Pol Pot’s “Killing Fields” in Cambodia, Doan lost his Front Street family home to last year’s wildfire, along with two vacation rental properties — reduced to ashes.

AES Hawaiʻi held a blessing ceremony on Friday to launch Kūihelani solar-plus-storage, Hawai‘i’s largest solar facility, which is producing electricity for Maui at 8-cents per kilowatt hour, the lowest renewable energy cost in the state. The facility produces 60 MW of renewable energy, enough to power 27,000 Maui homes.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce has announced nominees for the 2024 Mayor’s Small Business Awards, which will be held on Sept. 19.

Today, Maui United Way announced that Jason Economou is now serving as President and CEO of the organization.  Economou is a local attorney and nonprofit professional with a long history of community service and philanthropy.

Ralph Mesick, a Hawaiʻi banker with nearly 40 years of financial services experience, has joined Central Pacific Bank (CPB) as its senior executive vice president and chief risk officer, according to an announcement today by Arnold Martines, CPB chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Bacon Universal announced the launch of Bacon Rentals, a new division dedicated to providing best-in-class equipment rentals, further enhancing the company’s longstanding commitment to the Hawaiʻi market.

Maui Economic Opportunity Transportation Director Patty Copperfield was recognized Thursday night as one of Hawaiʻi’s best and brightest young leaders, earning a spot on Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40 Class of 2024.

Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union recently presented a donation of $5,000 to Parents And Children Together in support of the nonprofit’s ongoing programs and services. The donation will help PACT continue its work of providing comprehensive services to empower Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable families and communities.

Earlier this summer, UHERO published its analysis of Maui’s legislation to regulate Transient Vacation Rental (TVR) properties, stating, “If the policy is enacted in full, it would increase Maui’s long-term residential housing stock by 13%, representing a dramatic increase in housing supply,” said UHERO’s economists. “Reductions in tourism or property tax revenues would also present serious challenges to Maui County… Understanding the broad impacts of this policy will be key to understanding future economic conditions on Maui.”

The Maui Economic Development Board, Inc. announces the return of their Ke Alahele Education Fund Benefit Dinner & Auction, themed “Pathways to Our Future.” This signature, in-person event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at the Wailea Beach Resort–Marriott, Maui. The evening will begin with a reception and silent auction at 4:30 p.m., followed by a dinner at 6 p.m.

Maui County Council members approved on second-and-final reading Tuesday land use measures to pave the way for redevelopment of Queen Kaʻahumanu Center as it struggles amid a nationwide decline in brick-and-mortar shopping malls. Bills 67 and 68 advance to Mayor Richard Bissen for final action.

The LahainaTown Action Committee, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development will host their next Kōkua for Maui Shop Local and Show Aloha event on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. This special event brings together the community and visitors in support of Lahaina’s resilient local businesses.

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resorts has announced the appointment of Richard Elliott as the resort’s general manager. With a career spanning over two decades with Hyatt, Elliott brings experience and passion for hospitality to his new role.

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its Life Matters Collective, an inaugural partnership showcasing both long-standing business partnerships and valued community partners of Hawaiʻi’s largest credit union.

Jon Gersonde has been named general manager at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. He brings three decades of distinguished experience and leadership expertise to this important role at one of Maui’s most iconic resorts.

Flight disruptions have worsened following a series of events that include the groundings of Mokulele’s larger-capacity Saab last month and a portion of its fleet over the weekend. The airline also determined earlier this year that the aircraft it brought in to provide backup service are not a good fit for Hawai’i.

Seafood City Supermarket is scheduled to open at the Maui Marketplace on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 at 9 a.m.  This popular Filipino supermarket chain is making its grand debut with a full service 37,000-square-foot market complete with an authentic Filipino specialty bakery and a Filipino Grill/Restaurant.  An in-store blessing was held on Tuesday.

Bacon Universal, a dealer of construction and agricultural equipment in Hawaiʻi, announced the launch of its dedicated used equipment website.

The 2023 edition of the “State of Hawai‘i Data Book,” released Thursday by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) serves as Hawaiʻi’s most comprehensive statistical resource.

Dr. Aaron J. Salā was selected as the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau’s new President and CEO, effective Sept. 1.