Business

Join the Crop of Producers

Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

Whole Foods News Release

Are you a farmer or producer interested in creating excellent products? A day-long summit to share information, inspiration and networking opportunities with Hawaii farmers and producers will be held on Kaui, Maui and Oahu Aug. 6-10. Called Sprout, the program is intended to cultivate Hawaii’s next crop of artisanal producers.

Whole Foods welcomes all existing and aspiring Hawaii farmers and producers to learn more about topics including becoming a Whole Foods Market supplier, pricing and business models, the retailer’s perspective, branding and marketing, financing, Whole Food’s Market’s local producer loan program, distribution, packaging, local ingredient sourcing, and more. …

Kalaupapa Bar Celebrates 10 Years

Wednesday, July 17th, 2013

Kalaupapa Bar Celebrates 10 Years

Last weekend, a street in Kalaupapa was closed for the second block party in the settlement’s history. A decade ago, Kalaupapa patient resident Gloria Marks bought the settlement’s only bar, and last Friday, the 100-resident community came out to celebrate the business’ 10th anniversary. It was Marks who also hosted the settlement’s first block party for the bar’s firth anniversary in 2008.

“Ten years is good but I have to make it another 10!” said Marks, Kalaupapa’s only business owner. Marks also runs Damien Tours, which is nearing its 50th anniversary.

Called Fuesaina’s Bar, Marks’ business stocks more than 10 varieties of beer, and some wine as well.…

60 years of Family Service

Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

Friendly Market celebrates 60th anniversary

Jeff Egusa swore he would never come back to Molokai to work in his family’s grocery business. But more than 30 years later, he calls the decision to continue the legacy of Friendly Market Center the best decision of his life.

It all began when his dad, Alex Egusa, was fired from his job working in the grocery business operated by the Y.K. Yuen family, which owned four stores on Molokai in the early 1950s. Jeff said a group of fellow employees quit when his dad was let go after a difference of opinion, and shortly afterward, they decided to open their own store together in 1953.…

Hotel Kitchen Approved for Repair

Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

Hotel Kitchen Approved for Repair

A year after a fire destroyed Hotel Molokai’s kitchen , Hula Shores restaurant and bar is one step closer to repairing and reopening its dining facilities. Hotel Molokai was approved for repairs at the June 26 Molokai Planning Commission meeting, securing their ability to begin construction soon. The Special Management Area (SMA) minor permit approved repairs to the Hula Shores kitchen and the hotel’s storerooms, laundry and second floor guestroom, all of which was demolished after an accidental fire June 19, 2012.

The Maui County Planning Department set a June 30, 2014 start date for construction and completion within a year after that.…

Mango Mania

Sunday, July 7th, 2013

Mango Mania

Moani Chow has preserved thousands of pounds of mango. These sticky sweet or sour treats are a unique product on Molokai, despite the abundance of the fruit and simple process of cooking and drying that creates tender bite-sized candy out of average green mangos.

She has sold her dried mango at the Saturday Market, outside Imports Gift Shop and at Kamehameha School events. But mostly she gives it away to friends in the community and supporters of her daughters’ robotics activities. She began crafting these treats nine years ago, and as family shares them on other islands, her mango fan base is growing.…

Weathering the Storms

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

 

A look at disaster planning on Molokai

Hurricanes, tsunamis, flooding – catastrophes like these can quickly go from bad to worse in a place as isolated as Molokai. In the midst of disaster, the island will rely first on its own – a small team of dedicated responders who are doing their best at planning for the worst.

When a tsunami hit Hawaii three years ago, 25 out of the 29 damage cases in Maui County were from Molokai, according to the Red Cross. Though these cases didn’t qualify as a disaster, the aftermath brings with it fear of what will carry Molokai through a time of need.…

Hawaiian Airlines Now Hiring for Molokai

Monday, June 17th, 2013

Hawaiian Airlines Now Hiring for Molokai

 

Hawaiian Airlines is now hiring Molokai personnel for its new flight service, `Ohana by Hawaiian, which will serve Molokai and Lanai later this year. Positions will include part time ramp service clerk/agents and a full time supervisor for ramp and passenger services. No start date for launching the new service has been released by Hawaiian, but Worldwide Flight Services, handling Molokai hiring, announced the local positions would tentatively start in mid-August.

Ann Botticelli, Hawaiian Airlines senior vice president of corporate communications and public affairs, said two flights per day — one arriving and departing in the morning, and another in the evening — are scheduled for both Molokai and Lanai.…

New Flight Service, Old-Fashioned Style

Sunday, June 9th, 2013

New Flight Service, Old-Fashioned Style

A new flight service is landing on Molokai, bringing in a small business attitude that has already proven successful in Kalaupapa. Makani Kai Air is offering five flights daily to Honolulu and back, which began June 8, while keeping its twice daily Kalaupapa flights.

The decision to expand its service came after an agreement to provide aircraft and staff to Mokulele Airlines fell through, said Makani Kai President Richard Schuman. He said he was not going to lay off his employees, so he found a way to keep everyone working while providing flights to an area receiving decreased air service.

“I read the paper where Island Air was backing off its runs and Pacific Wings announced its departure,” Schuman said.…

Island Legend: Paniolo Jimmy Duvauchelle

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Island Legend: Paniolo Jimmy Duvauchelle

Fourth generation Molokai paniolo Uncle Jimmy Duvauchelle literally entered this world into the hands of a cowboy. When he was born in Kalamaula in the 1940s, there were only two doctors on the island — and when his mother went into labor, one doctor was in Honolulu and the other was busy, said Duvauchelle.

“My dad didn’t know what to do and panicked,” he chuckled. So he ran down the road and called for help from the only person who was experienced in delivery — an old time cowboy.

Back then, paniolo would be there with their cattle “whether it’s 3 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon,” said Duvauchelle.…

Funding Available to Enter “Made in Hawaii” Product Show

Friday, June 7th, 2013

 

County of Maui News Release
If you have a locally-made product you would like to showcase in the “Made in Hawaii” festival but do not have the funds to pay for an exhibit, assistance is available. Funding is being offered for locally-made product companies in Maui, Molokai and Lanai to exhibit at the Made in Hawaii Festival, announced the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and INNOVATE Hawaii. The festival will be held August 16-18 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall & Arena on Oahu.

The festival is a three-day showcase of “Made in Hawaii” products including food, books, art, gifts, fashions, plants, crafts, produce and more.…