Maui Business

The Maui Chamber of Commerce announced the winners for the 2022 Mayor’s Small Business Awards which include: Da Kine Paints with Owner Michelle Heller – Exceptional Small Business of the Year (10 or fewer employees); and Venture Physical Therapy with Owners Ann and Ted Anderson – Exceptional Small Business of the Year (11 to 39 employees).

Two informational workshops on the Maui County Agricultural Micro Grant Program 3.0 will be held Wednesday, Oct. 12, at MEO Family Center in Wailuku and Thursday, Oct. 13, at Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani.

Nineteen companies throughout Hawaiʻi participated in the 5th cohort of preX, a free 4-week, online investment readiness and business scaling program.

Fine Island Properties, LLC Owner and Principal Broker Gina Duncan was honored as the 2022 Realtor Broker of the Year by the Realtors Association of Maui during RAM’s annual installation banquet on Friday, Sept. 23.

All Nippon Airways celebrates its return to Hawaiʻi after the worldwide hiatus in travel, with live events at its ANA ʻAha Mele Festival in Honolulu.

After the award of the procurement to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement in June followed by a formal protest from the Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau, both parties have worked collaboratively to find a way forward in partnership.

Leonard Sakai was selected Maui Non Profit Directors Association Humanitarian of the Year for his work with Habitat for Humanity Maui, and Sentry Insurance captured the Community Business Award for its volunteer program with the PGA Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.

After establishing landmark Hāliʻimaile General Store and picturesque Gannon’s Pacific View Restaurant, chef-owner Bev Gannon is selling the award-winning restaurants to Wyoming-based Gather Restaurant Group LLC.

Gov. David Ige travels to San Francisco today for a series of meetings with credit rating agencies. The governor and members of his team are working to secure favorable bond ratings in an effort to allow the state to borrow money at the lowest interest rates possible.

The Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center announces the appointment of Patricia Diaz as Specialty Center Research Associate, effective Oct. 3, 2022.

“We are looking for insight into potential partners who can help Hawaiʻi put our best foot forward and bring more federal dollars home to diversify our economy, provide more local jobs, help our frontline communities, and drive innovation and investment to address the climate crisis,” said Scott Glenn, Hawai‘i Chief Energy Officer.

Central Pacific Bank announced the promotion of Royce Fukuroku to vice president and Maui Commercial Banking Center manager and the hiring of Karen Frampton as the vice president and Maui Commercial Banking Center assistant manager, the role Fukuroku previously held.

In the wake of Mainland owners of Maui County’s only daily newspaper attempting to cut pay and outsource work, the company has been hit with a federal unfair labor practice charge. One of Ogden’s leaders, Bob Nutting, also owns the Pittsburg Pirates. An online petition with more than 60,000 signatures is pressuring MLB to force Nutting to sell the Pirates, alleging the team’s losing streak is tied to its greedy ownership.

Ticket sales for the 28th Annual Made in Hawaii Festival presented by Mahi Pono will launch on Saturday, Oct. 1. The state’s longest-running showcase of made-in-Hawai‘i products returns to Ala Moana Center over the Veteran’s Day Holiday Weekend, Nov. 11 – 13, 2022. Two-hour, timed entry passes are $13 and all-day passes for in and out access are $35 and will be available online. Attendees can receive $1 off timed entry tickets or all-day passes with code MIHF22, available until Oct. 15.

Minimum wage workers prepare for Oct 1. Increase to wage. Plus information on the upcoming increase and how the “tip penalty” works in practice.

In August 2022, there were 265,410 visitors to Maui, which is just 3% less than the pre-pandemic numbers in August 2019, but they spent $68 million more.

Small food entrepreneurs looking to grow their business will receive helpful information during two webinars in October on food safety and labeling, presented by Maui Food Technology Center.

Flavors of Italy, a Native Hawaiian, woman-owned business, has been issued a $250,000 Hua Kanu loan through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ Mālama Loans program.  

As a result of a company-wide annual campaign, the Hawaii State Federal Credit Union donated 625 pounds of food and $5,500 to the Maui Food Bank.

The Maui Food Technology Center facilitated the participation of five Maui vendors in the 94th Tokyo International Gift Show held in Tokyo in Sept. 7-9.