Maui Business

Fuel deliveries beginning this month at Kansai International Airport will mark the first time Hawaiian Airlines has introduced sustainable aviation fuel – which can lower life-cycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.

The Pacific Century Fellows Program announced the selection of its 19th class of Fellows, comprised of 36 outstanding and talented men and women.

Central Pacific Bank announced the newest participants of the WE by Rising Tide program. Now in its fifth year, this successful initiative selects 19 women entrepreneurs from across Hawaiʻi, providing them with the knowledge and tools to scale their businesses to new levels of success.

These businesses continue to shine through their outstanding service, innovation, team building, job creation, and commitment to the community. This award honors those who truly go above and beyond, exemplifying the Aloha Spirit and the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of Maui.

Despite decreased arrivals to Maui, Maui County hotels reported improvement in July 2025 with island-wide occupancy improved 6.2 percentage points to 66.7% from 60.5% in July 2024. The Lahaina/Kā‘anapali/Kapalua region had occupancy of 66.2%, up from 57.9% in July 2024.

The first event, a “Talk Story & Mixer” at Palm Bar & Bites, will be held Thursday, Aug. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore.

Alaska Air Group today named Shelly Parker as head of Hawai‘i guest operations for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Parker has also been appointed as a member of the company’s Honolulu leadership team.

Admiral John Aquilino (US Navy, Retired), who in a distinguished 40-year naval career held key leadership roles, most recently as commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command based in Hawaiʻi, has been appointed to the board of directors of Hawaiian Electric.

Banyan Tree Tattoo, owned by Lahaina resident Jonny Julian, is celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu. This expansion comes less than a year after Julian opened his Whalers Village shop in Kāʻanapali in February 2024, following the loss of the original Lahaina studio, Blue Hawaii Tattoo, in the August […]

A Maui activity desk company — Ohana Fun! Hawaii — has been sanctioned by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs after investigators found the company was paid for booked activities but didn’t pass the payment on to the activity operator, despite the receipt of invoices.

The state Contractors License Board has ordered restitution of more than $14,600 from Maui Life Construction, doing business as Maui Windows and Doors, and owner Andrew Keenan from customer complaints about paying for services that were undelivered.

One Mileage Plan or HawaiianMiles mile = one Atmos Rewards point. The value of points does not change, and points do not expire. Members can continue to redeem for travel on Alaska, Hawaiian and global partners.

Momona Bakery opens its new daily bake stand, bringing one of Maui’s most beloved local bakeries into the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center. Founded by head baker Sofía Prassolo, originally from Argentina, Momona Bakery & Coffee Shop first opened its doors in Kahului just two and a half years ago.

In Maui County, the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.8%, down from the 3.5% rate reported the month before, and the 4.3% rate reported at the same time last year. On Maui Island, the unemployment rate was 2.7%, down from 3.5% in June and down from 4.4% at the same time last year.

The Hawai‘i Rotary District 5000 Foundation is continuing its Maui Fires Relief Fund efforts, directing $40,000 to a bold new pilot project designed to bring emergency power to wildfire-impacted communities.

Colby most recently served as the tax research and planning officer for the Hawai‘i Department of Taxation, where he oversaw the research for the state revenue system, fiscal impacts of proposed legislation and macroeconomic forecasting.

Gov. Josh Green, MD, today announced the appointment of 12 individuals to the reorganized Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) Advisory Board. The appointments follow the resignation of the previous board earlier this summer, after the Governor called for new leadership to address longstanding concerns over governance and alignment with state priorities.

Eligible Maui County nonprofits, for-profits and sole proprietors are invited to apply for reimbursable grants through the County of Maui Department of Agriculture for Fiscal Year 2026. Applications opened on Aug. 1, 2025, and the deadline to submit is 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2025.

The airline announced it will suspend service between Honolulu and Incheon, South Korea (5x weekly), Fukuoka, Japan (3x weekly), and Boston (4x weekly) and redeploy aircraft to boost flights between Honolulu and Sydney, Australia, Papeete, Tahiti, Los Angeles and Seattle, and support operations across its Hawai‘i network.

The County of Maui’s Department of Finance Accounts Division was recently awarded for “excellence in financial reporting” by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.