Maui Business

Dean Minakami has been appointed as the executive director of the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation, bringing his extensive experience and leadership to advance affordable housing opportunities in the state.

ThriveHI will use the grant to facilitate statewide collaboration, strategic alignment and network building amongst individuals, nonprofits and businesses committed to developing Hawaiʻi’s tech and entrepreneurship sectors.

A groundbreaking and blessing ceremony was held Thursday morning for Hale O Piʻikea, a new 223-unit affordable rental housing development in Kīhei.

Hawaiʻi Sea Spirits LLC (producer of OCEAN Organic Vodka) is to receive a $10 million Business and Industry Loan Guarantee to assist the small organic cane sugar farm, providing the opportunity to expand its business in the distillery, retail and commercial kitchen café business on 80 acres on the Island of Maui. 

Cool Cat Café at the Wharf Cinema Center Shops in West Maui was destroyed by the August wildfire in Lahaina. Rising from the aftermath, the restaurant is poised to open for lunch and dinner at the Kukui Mall in Kīhei in early 2024.

Suspension of service disconnections for all Hawaiian Electric customers on Maui has been extended through at least Jan. 5, 2024, in accordance with the extension of Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation. Maui customers who are financially challenged by the devastating wildfires will not have to worry about potential disconnection of their electric service.

Central Pacific Bank today announced the hiring of Eric Lau as its new vice president and controller where he will oversee all aspects of accounting and financial management, and internal and external reporting as well as the Sarbanes-Oxley function. 

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. announced that Madre Maui pilates and wellness studio opened at Nāpili Plaza on Maui.

Japan Airlines raised over $132,000 through various fundraising efforts, including mileage donations and collection boxes, to aid communities affected by the Maui wildfires.

With the Lahaina fire — that has led to the closure of about 600 businesses, according to the Hawai’i Small Business Development Center, and forced many others to change course — the Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival has become a lifeline for some businesses and a symbol of economic recovery for Maui.

Coldwell Banker Commercial has been selected to oversee leasing and property management for Kukui Mall in Kīhei. The company aims to enhance the mall’s appeal and attract new tenants to fill remaining vacancies.

Three new physicians join Kaiser Permanente on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island including Hanaa al-Khansa Nik Rushdi, MD who joins the pediatric hospital medicine department at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

The State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism released its September 2023 visitor statistics report on Monday, demonstrating the continuing impacts of the Maui wildfires.

The 10th Annual Hawaiian Airlines Made In Maui County Festival will offer a complimentary shuttle service to and from the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Saturday, the main day of the event.

The Maui Food Technology Center is seeking local businesses interested in showcasing their products at the 49th Annual FoodEx Japan. This event is scheduled to take place at the Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo International Exhibition Center Tokyo from March 5 to 8, 2024.

Hawaiian Airlines restarted nonstop service between Tokyo Haneda and the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole – a route that was paused on March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impacts from the Maui wildfires were significant in September 2023 with both visitor arrivals and visitor expenditures down by more than 50% for Maui for the month compared to 2022.

The Aloha Pacific Foundation, along with Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union, its members and the community have raised more than $56,000 for the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund for ongoing disaster relief efforts. 

American Savings Bank will host its annual Statewide Seeds of Service Volunteer Day, in partnership with counties, schools, and nonprofits across Hawaiʻi on Oct. 28.

US Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced that Hawaiʻi was awarded more than $7.4 million in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). She said this funding will help individuals and families with low incomes in Hawaiʻi lower their home energy costs, such as their cooling bills in the summer.