Maui Business

Finance Factors and its sister company Finance Insurance, opened a newly-renovated Kahului Branch and business office on June 28, 2021.

Following a nationwide search, the James Campbell Company LLC selected Donald E. Huffner, Jr. as the company’s new president and chief executive officer effective August 1. Mr. Huffner brings more than three decades of business and leadership experience in real estate to the Company. He most recently served as president and chief executive of Colliers Enterprises in Naples, Florida.

Technology company Unite Us has partnered with Kaiser Permanente and the nonprofit AlohaCare to create Unite Hawaiʻi, the first coordinated care network throughout the state that connects local communities to critical health and social services.

Tourism to Maui has rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic with 215,148 visitors in May 2021, but the number of tourists is still less than the 251,655 in May 2019, according to preliminary statistics from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. But despite having 36,517 fewer visitors in May 2021 than May 2019, tourist spending on Maui was $409.23 million, an increase of 2.2% from two years ago, the report said.

To support its mission to help Hawai‘i women and girls reach their full potential, the Women’s Fund of Hawai‘i held its 16th Annual Tea & Champagne Fundraiser on Friday evening. The virtual event was boosted by a special guest appearance and a $100,000 grant from the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.

Last month Hawai‘i become only the second state with a formal microgrid services tariff, and its framework could become a model for other states, according to Microgrid Knowledge, a national publication.

In addition to winning free cart space for three months and $250 from Hawaiʻi USA Federal Credit Union, Mise Kimono will have access to business and marketing consultation from the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center.

Peter Merriman created a customized brew called “Pete’s Island Wheat” that will be exclusively offered at select Merriman’s Hawaiʻi and Handcrafted restaurants. In partnership with Kohola Brewery, a portion of the sales will be donated to the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

The facility will house training programs that will provide participants an opportunity to create new and unique food-related products while learning critical entrepreneurship skills such as marketing, branding, product development and business management.

HPM Building Supply has reached the halfway mark of its pledge to complete 100 Acts of Service to mark its centennial anniversary through partnerships with non-profit and service-based organizations and with HPM owner-employees giving back to communities that have supported HPM.

Kaiser Permanente is planning to reopen two clinics, including the Kīhei clinic, and expand hours at two others that were temporarily closed during the pandemic.

Lahaina Gateway, West Maui’s largest outdoor shopping center, welcomes Maui eatery Kīhei Caffe to their tenant roster. The Lahaina Gateway location marks the first expansion for the restaurant, which opened its doors in South Maui in 1998.

Maui County’s unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) for May 2021 fell to 10.4%, a decrease of 0.8% from last month, according to data just released today by the Hawai‘i State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations.

Maui County hotels have rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic to the point that revenue per available room in May 2021 was at $314, 19% higher than at same time in 2019 — and the average daily rate was at $467, 35.3% higher than in May 2019, according to the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s latest report on hotel performance.

Hua Momona Farm, located high atop Kapalua, has launched Hua Momona Foundation, a non-profit that will provide food to those in need on Maui and introduce Maui’s youth to modern agriculture techniques relating to the growing and production of food.

Maui-based design firm Sae Design Group took home six Pele Awards; while fellow Maui designer Artistry8 earned two awards; and Daryl Fujiwara, Zeno Design Studio and Naish International took home one award each.

Located in The Shops’ middle valley near Quiksilver and in place of what used to be The Walking Company, TravisMathew is open Monday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“We’re looking for other cryptocurrency trailblazers to join us in showing the power of philanthropy in supporting youth in the arts. In the State of Hawaiʻi, less than 3% of all charitable giving supports arts organizations. We’re looking to crypto as a way to amp that number up”.

The Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i is working with Hawaiʻi’s educators, businesses and community leaders to address the workforce shortage problem, in alignment with the US Chamber of Commerce’s recently launched America Works Agenda.

“By partnering with Kai Lenny for this collection, we draw an even deeper connection to the waves and the art of surfing. Kai is an incredible waterman, an explorer always searching for new ways to ride the ocean.”