#business

Hawai’i gas prices reached a record high this week, and Moloka’i saw some of the highest rates, recently surpassing $7 a gallon in what some say is a first in their lifetime.

Nan Inc., which purchased the mill and about 300 surrounding acres in 2024, hopes to turn the old plantation infrastructure into an area for businesses and light industrial use — and potentially housing in the future.

The resort finally got tentative approval to add 137 new rooms but must meet over 30 conditions related to water, traffic and protection of potential burials.

The Paia Inn and several other properties owned by Michael Baskin were listed in a bankruptcy auction slated for March. However, a trustee appointed to the case last week said it’s yet to be determined whether the properties will be sold or if there would be a reorganization.

Farmers and ranchers say prices have gone up after a year of Trump’s tariffs, making their operations even more costly on an island where everything has to be shipped or flown in.

The draft guidelines are the latest effort by the county to move forward with rebuilding in the town’s business district, which overlaps a sensitive historic area that has seen little activity since the August 2023 wildfires.

Economists say Maui’s tourism industry is “outperforming” other islands as visitors continue to return after the 2023 wildfires, a trend that could help cushion the island from an overall weakening economy.

Starting Dec. 15, loading and unloading activities will be allowed on a permitted basis. Some companies haven’t been operating since the fire damaged their vessel.

Food boxes, donated meals and loan payment pauses have been geared toward helping folks afford over a month’s worth of lost paychecks and food stamps.

Maui County recently released design options for the once-bustling business district of Front Street that include plans to keep it as a two-lane road open to pedestrians and cars.

Some owners are selling, and related businesses like cleaning services are seeing a drop in jobs and income. “We’re just kind of in purgatory,” one property management company said.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce announced the date of the 4th Annual BizMixx Maui event on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Grand Wailea Resort Maui. This is the signature fundraiser to benefit the chamber’s work.

The Core Four business  planning first series of 2025, presented by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center, starts Tuesday, Jan. 7, and runs twice weekly through Thursday, Feb. 6.

With the rebuilding of homes underway and the commercial cleanup nearly finished, businesses say the timing is crucial to rebuild and provide jobs for returning residents.

Earlier this week, members of the Hawaiʻi State government attended the National Forum on Education Policy in Washington D.C.

While unloading cans of Spam and packets of saimin at distribution hubs shortly after the fires, Makale’a Ane and other farmers wanted to find ways to get fresher, healthier foods to families.  “After the fires, we kind of pivoted and took the work that we’re doing on the farm and said, let’s feed our people in this way,” said Ane, the climae and resilience director for the Living Pono Project.

Lisa Paulson, executive director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, has been honored with top industry recognitions, including Hospitality Executive of the Year by Pacific Edge magazine.

Island Grocery Depot in Lahaina reopened Tuesday with modified business hours. The store will not have ice, fresh meat and select produce items until water is safe.

The State of Hawaii Department of Taxation Molokai Office will be closed for three weeks beginning October 17, 2011.

Maui County was home to 2,111 businesses owned by Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders in 2007, according to new findings released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau.