Maui Business

Maui Health announced the selection of Penny Koval, MSN RN, NHA, as the health system’s new Administrator of Critical Access Hospitals. The appointment took effect on Nov. 1, 2024.  As CAH Administrator, Koval oversees all hospital and long-term care operations for both Kula Hospital and Lānaʻi Community Hospital.

Maui United Way allocated over $12.7 million to individuals and organizations across Maui County. It also focused on long-term resilience, providing resources for mental health, education and recovery.

Maui County Federal Credit Union has announced its first-ever Holiday Fair, a community event celebrating local businesses and bringing holiday cheer to the Maui community. The event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 224 Kehalani Village Drive in Wailuku.

During the months of November and December, the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, becomes home to a range of specialty pop-ups, collaboration and activations designed to bring the holiday spirit alive to its guests from both near and far.

A pre-fabricated, fire-resistant building material known as mass timber can be shipped to Maui from the Pacific Northwest and reduce on-site construction by at least half, compared with traditional stick-built homes, according to Haʻikū architect David Sellers.

Catholic Charities Hawai‘i has named Denise Iseri-Matsubara as executive director of Catholic Charities Housing Development Corp.

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center invites the public to gear up for the holidays on Black Friday, Nov. 29, with giveaways, performances, and exclusive shopping opportunities.

After years of operating once a week under tents in a parking lot, the Nāpili Farmers Market now has a 3,200-square-foot marketplace for vendors and customers and some brick-and-mortar shops for shelter from rain showers.

Maui Mompreneur will celebrate its final event from Dec. 13-15 at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. For 11 years, it has supported mom-led businesses on Maui.

Maui County hotels continued to be impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires. Maui County hotels achieved RevPAR of $253 (-24.9% vs. 2023, -1.7% vs. 2019), with ADR at $462 (-8.7% vs. 2023, +36.9% vs. 2019) and occupancy of 54.9% (-11.8 percentage points vs. 2023, -21.5 percentage points vs. 2019). 

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center is excited to host a series of local pop-up shops this holiday season.

The West Maui Temporary School Facility Project has been awarded the prestigious Project of the Year by the Construction Management Association of America. The Project of the Year Awards honor exceptional achievement and showcase the finest in construction and project management across the country.

The state Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) has hired its first Communications Officer. Diane Ako, most recently of KITV4 (Hawaiʻi ABC affiliate), came on board in November. Ako brings 25 years of newscasting experience and four years of public relations background to this job. State Comptroller Keith Regan (formerly of Maui) leads DAGS.

Hawaiian Airlines celebrated the return of its seasonal Auckland-Honolulu route on Saturday, welcoming over 200 travelers on a nonstop flight between Hawai‘i and New Zealand. The seasonal service will continue to operate three flights per week on its 278-seat Airbus A330 through April 30, 2025.

Hawaiian Airlines today began welcoming Hawai‘i residents to Huaka‘i by Hawaiian, a free program that offers kama‘āina guests greater value when flying with the carrier. Members will enjoy a free checked bag – inclusive of surfboards, golf bags, and other sports equipment – on Neighbor Island flights, 10 or 20% off one Neighbor Island booking per quarter, and network-wide deals monthly.

Vivia by Ho‘okele Home Care, a locally owned provider of home health care services, announced on Tuesday that Tracy Hart will serve as vice president of client navigation and Mary Lester will serve as vice president of operations for Vivia by Ho‘okele Home Care.

The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association has announced that Selawe Tau, hotel manager of the Westin Maui Resort & Spa — Kāʻanapali, will chair the 2025 Maui County Charity Walk.

The Maui County Office of Economic Development is launching the first “Season of Giving” campaign, aimed at supporting and promoting small businesses across Maui Nui during the upcoming holiday season.

This year, 23 businesses raised more than $8,800 and 1,761 pounds of food through the end of October, which combined will provide 50,710 meals to individuals and families across the Maui Food Bank’s network.  

Dwight Young has been named the commissioner of financial institutions for the State of Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Division of Financial Institutions, effective Nov. 1.