Maui Business

The Maui Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual luncheon with Hawaiian Airlines on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. The event will feature a keynote address from Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague, who will share updates and insights on what’s coming for Hawaiian Airlines in 2025.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has appointed Kauʻilani Kahoʻonei Arce as its new chief operating officer. Arce will oversee daily operations, ensuring CNHA’s initiatives, programs and partnerships align with the organization’s mission of uplifting and empowering the Native Hawaiian community.

Hawaiian Airlines is giving away 10 million HawaiianMiles – the company’s biggest sweepstakes ever – to celebrate the launch of Huakaʻi by Hawaiian, its new travel program offering exclusive benefits for Hawaiʻi residents.

After more than 30 years as cultural advisor for The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, Clifford Naeʻole  joins Ledcor Maui as cultural advisor.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announced the state Airports System bond rating was upgraded by Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) to Aa3 from A1 in advance of its upcoming bond issuance.

The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization has released the comprehensive report “Investigating and Tackling Barriers and Needs for Small Business Success in Honolulu” on Feb. 3. The report offers critical insights into the challenges faced by small business owners and opportunities for targeted support.

American Savings Bank awarded $135,000 to nine winning student teams as part of its seventh annual Bank for Education KeikiCo Business Plan Competition. Students in grades 3 through 12 submitted business plans for ideas that support Hawaiʻi’s resilience and growth, including sustainable bedding for the homeless and a device that prevents dehydration.

Hawaii State Federal Credit Union is alerting Hawai‘i residents to a new financial scam aimed at stealing sensitive personal and account information.

American Savings Bank and aio have announced the start of the second cohort for the Hui Kapili Accelerator, following a successful first cohort.

Ace Auto Glass Inc. on Tuesday announced its 50th anniversary of serving Hawaiʻi’s and Guam’s auto glass needs.

Hawai‘i-based businesses have until Feb. 19 to apply for Mana Up’s 10th cohort of emerging entrepreneurs in a program designed to infuse local product companies with resources, training, sales channels and more to increase revenue and jobs for residents.

This no-cost event is presented by the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Pāʻoihana Entrepreneur MBDA Program. The hands-on workshop is designed to give entrepreneurs the tools, resources and strategies to thrive in their business.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to attend the Feb. 13 Maui TechOhana with guest speaker, Stefan Kuhne, a Google software architect based on Maui. Presented by Maui Economic Development Board, Inc., and supported by the County of Maui, the meeting will be held in-person in Kīhei and also offer livestream viewing.

US Sen. Mazie Hirono has joined fellow lawmakers in introducing the Veterans Member Business Loan Act, a bipartisan and bicameral bill aimed at exempting US veterans from the government-imposed lending cap, a federal limit restricting how much credit unions can lend to small businesses.

More than 75 individuals interested in the new round of Maui County Agricultural Micro Grants, which offer up to $25,000, gathered in-person recently at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku and via Zoom. A video of the gathering can now be found online.

The nonprofit Common Ground Collective is calling on all members of the Maui community involved in food production, preparation, distribution and grocery shoppers to share their input by participating in its surveys. Feedback will be used to create agricultural infrastructure and to improve access to locally grown food on the island.

Mokulele Airlines has temporarily paused all of its flights this morning, according to an announcement on the company’s website. The airline says the pause is due to maintenance and is being done out of an abundance of caution.

Hawaiian Electric plans to deploy new technology, fortify infrastructure, minimize fire hazards and expand community partnerships to significantly reduce the risk of a wildfire started by its equipment, actions detailed in a new Wildfire Safety Strategy.

Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. announced that Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina will soon open their second location at Kapalua Resort after the 2023 wildfires claimed its original Front Street location.

American Savings Bank reached its 100th year of services to Hawaiʻi residents this year, and celebrated by announcing its new ASB Charitable Foundation and a $100,000 donation to local nonprofits, according to an announcement.