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Local Business / In Brief

Island music radio station rebranded

Pacific Media Group has rebranded its island music station as HI92.

It can be found on 92.5 FM and at 101.7 FM for a clearer signal in West Maui. It’s available online at hi92maui.com.

“The name is ultimately a play off of ‘HI’ in the KLHI call letters but can also be attributed to the high quality of music being put out by artists in the island music genre,” said program director and morning show host KawikaVeeka.

Group President and Chief Executive Officer Chuck Bergson said: “We believe that it is important to keep our radio stations fresh and exciting. The island music format is constantly evolving, and we must evolve with it.”

The station features music from Anuhea, Maoli, The Green, Common Kings, J Boog, Ekolu and Fiji. Other listening offerings include SOJA, Hirie, Tribal Seeds, Rebelution, UB40 and Bob Marley.

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Westin Maui opens wellness program

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa has started a program that allows guests to participate in “ocean adventures” while giving back to the island community, according to an announcement.

The Westin Maui Waterman program has three levels — novice enthusiast, advanced adventure and personal perfection. As an example, a novice activity includes a beach cleanup and conversation beginning on the lawn of the resort at 7 a.m. on the first Friday of the month. A more advanced activity would include standup paddleboarding for more than a mile along north Kaanapali Beach.

For more information, visit westinmaui.com or send email to yourmauiexperience@westin.com.

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Vegan, vegetarian restaurant launched

Moku Roots has opened as a vegan, vegetarian restaurant with food from Maui farmers and an eco-friendly attitude at the Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center.

The restaurant started as the Maui Tropsicles popsicle business and expanded. The restaurant also offers takeout orders.

With a commitment to care for the environment, the restaurant doesn’t use plastic cups, silverware or to-go boxes. Water is served from large glass bottles into glass cups.

To-go food can be wrapped in taro leaves, or customers may pay for a reusable tin that can be brought back for future orders.

The restaurant is open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends. It’s closed on Monday.

For more information, call 214-5106 or visit www.mokuroots.com.

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Sae Design agency wins Pele Awards

Wailuku-based Sae Design took a number of awards in April during the annual Pele Awards, which recognize excellence in advertising.

Saedene Ota, principal and founder of Sae Design and co-owner of Maui Thing, was honored for her career contributions to the industry with the District 13 Silver Medal Award.

Sae Design’s awards included one of three Judge’s awards in recognition of the Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolates logo design; a Gold Pele for the design of Hawaii’s 5-0 design competition collateral; and a Silver award for the Dukes Lane & Market menu design. The agency also took six Bronze awards.

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Sheraton offers reef-safe sunscreen

The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa has partnered with Raw Elements USA, a reef-safe sunscreen company, to offer guests environmentally friendly, complimentary sunscreen at dispensers in the resort, according to an announcement.

The aim of the initiative is to preserve the island’s marine ecosystem, especially Puu Kekaa, a top destination for visitors who want to see marine life and coral reefs. Providing the reef-safe sunscreen dispensers helps educate guests about ocean conservation and encourage environmentally conscious choices.

In August 2017, the resort was the first in Hawaii to eliminate single-use plastic straws in favor of paper straws.

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Maui businesses get green awards

Valley Isle Excursions, Marriott Maui Ocean Club, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, and the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas have been honored with Hawaii Green Business Awards, according to an announcement from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

They were among 26 businesses, organizations and events that were recognized for undertaking energy efficiency and sustainable business practices to help their bottom line while advancing Hawaii’s clean energy goals to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.

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AAA rates Maui among top 10 spots

AAA Travel and Publishing is ranking Maui as the sixth top domestic summer travel destination for travel bookings from June 1 through Aug. 15, according to an announcement.

Orlando, Fla., ranked No. 1, followed by Honolulu; Anchorage, Alaska; Seattle; and Los Angeles/Anaheim.

AAA reported that Orlando retained its top spot while Maui and Honolulu have grown in popularity since last summer.

The top five international summer destinations were Rome, Vancouver, Dublin, London and Paris.

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MECO first to earn Blue Zones approval

Maui Electric Co. has become the first business to become a Blue Zones Project-approved workplace, according to an announcement.

Brought to Hawaii through the Hawai’i Medical Service Association, the Blue Zones Project is a community-led, well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to lifestyle, environment, policy and social networks.

MECO President Sharon Suzuki said: “In our line of work where we’re committed to providing safe and reliable service that our communities depend on 24 hours a day, seven days a week — it’s crucial that we maintain a healthy workforce.”

To gain the designation, MECO needed to adopt best practices to promote employee well-being, such as encouraging standing meetings, organizing walking groups and hosting plant-based cooking classes.

More than 30 percent of Maui Electric employees signed the Blue Zones Project Personal Pledge and committed to adopting healthy habits.

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Control Freaks open Kahului showroom

Control Freaks Hawaii unveiled its new Control4-certified showroom last month at 52 Paa St. in Kahului, according to an announcement.

The business is located behind Spectrum.

Control Freaks has been in business since 2004, focusing on providing home automation, entertainment and security systems and serving customers who want the latest home technologies designed to suit their interests, needs and smart home features.

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Maui Plexiglass hopes to fill void

Maui Plexiglass has opened its doors for business at 250 Alamaha St. in Kahului, it announced.

Its hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The company says its mission is to offer value and service to meet the community’s needs for plastic sheets and skillful plastic product fabrication.

Maui Plexiglass was started to fill the need for a specialty plastic shop after Maui Plastics closed in Kahului.

In-store services include cut-to-size plastic sheets, custom plastic product fabrication, acrylic face-mounts and consultation. The business also offers free field estimates.

Common uses for plastic acrylic sheets include display cases, tabletops, cabinets, doors and partition walls.

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Lanai workshop to offer board basics

“Lanai Board Savvy: Operating Basics for Nonprofit Boards” will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 23 at the Lanai Community Center, according to an announcement from the Maui Economic Development Board, which will be offering the workshop for nonprofits and civic organizations.

The aim is for participants to hone their knowledge and skills as board members.

During the workshop, attendees will learn the 10 basic responsibilities of nonprofit boards, create a code of cooperation, be coached on the basics of running an effective board meeting and investigate the essential ingredients of bylaws for nonprofit organizations.

Lunch is included during the free workshop.

For reservations, visit bit.ly/lbs18. For more information, send email to info@hightechmaui.com or call 270-6807.

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Minit Medical opens third Maui location

Minit Medical Urgent Care and Cosmetics has opened a third location on the island, in Kihei.

The facility is at 1325 S. Kihei Road at its intersection with Lipoa Street.

Other locations are in Lahaina and Kahului.

The business’s goal is to offer “exceptional immediate care at a fraction of the wait time and cost of a typical emergency room visit,” said owner Justin Prouty. “We feel that having multiple clinics is great for the island and have received great support from the community.”

The facilities are equipped to perform onsite X-rays, splinting, casting, suturing, IV treatments and lab tests. The clinics also offer an onsite pharmacy and a full suite of occupational medical services.

The clinics accept Kaiser, HMSA, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, HMAA and UHA, Tricare, Medicare and others. Kamaaina discounts are offered to residents without medical insurance.

Minit Medical is open daily with evening hours.

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New escape room in Wailuku unveiled

Mystery Maui Escape Room has opened its second room, dubbed Stella Superstar, featuring local celebrity character Stella who has invited players to her home for a private performance, according to an announcement.

The new room features an eerie atmosphere with dolls providing “a creepy yet exciting escape room experience for friends, families and co-workers,” it says.

Mystery Maui is on the second floor of 81 N. Market St. Games are available starting at 6 p.m. weekdays and 10:30 a.m. weekends. It is closed Monday.

Games require from two to six players. Admission is $35 per person. Kamaaina and keiki rates are available.

For more information, call 249-2062 or send email to info@mysterymaui.com.

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Paia hosts business brainstorming event

“Business in the Think Tank,” a brainstorming meeting aimed at helping business owners engage with their peers to solve problems, will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. June 19 at the Maui Heritage Hall in Paia, according to an announcement.

The session aims at having business people review their progress on New Year’s resolutions.

Think Tank events happen twice a month at various locations and semiannually in Hana and on Oahu.

Seating is limited. To RSVP, go to www.meetup.com/MauiBusinessBrainstormers.

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MEO business plan class headed west

Maui Economic Opportunity Inc.’s Business Development Center will bring its Core Four Business Planning Class to West Maui in July, according to an announcement.

The 27-hour course focuses on the fundamentals of writing an accurate and informational business plan for a startup or an existing business. The course takes an entrepreneur through the steps needed to identify and validate that the business has a real chance for success, center officials said.

Entrepreneurs are provided real time information on what they need to start, operate and grow a successful business in Maui County from current and past small business owners.

The West Maui classes will be held at the University of Hawaii Lahaina Education Center, from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, from July 2 through Aug. 1. The course costs $300, and scholarships are available to cover all or part of the cost of tuition.

For more information, call 249-2990.

The center is at 60 Kenui St.

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Kalama Heights is a ‘great workplace’

Holiday Retirement’s Kalama Heights has been certified as a “great workplace” by the Great Place to Work Institute, according to an announcement.

The designation was based on ratings provided by Kalama Heights associates through the Culture Audit and Trust Index Survey. They provide insight into an organization’s value system, programs and practices, and measure levels of credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

Kalama Heights is at 101 Kanani Road in Kihei.

For more information, call 879-1500.

* Local Business in Brief is published on the second Monday of the month and welcomes news releases and announcements regarding businesses in Maui County. To submit material or for more information, contact citydesk@mauinews.com or (808) 242-6343.

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