Maui resident Darren Keala says help is needed to prevent the collapse of the wedding and events industry on Maui. Photo courtesy

The Maui Wedding and Event Association is asking for $300,000 from Maui County to help to support Maui’s wedding and events industry.

According to the association, the money would be used to fund a marketing initiative for an Engage Summit, where hundreds of luxury event organizers globally would gather on the Valley Isle.

Funding for the Engage Summit is included in Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen’s budget proposal.

County spokesperson Laksmi Abraham said the initiative would support Maui’s economy by providing exposure and business opportunities for local vendors who are part of the destination wedding sector.

“Events like Engage help sustain jobs and revenue for kamaʻāina-owned businesses, while promoting a model of tourism that prioritizes cultural respect and long-term sustainability,” Abraham said.

According to county officials, more than 7,000 couples were married on Maui in 2023, contributing to a statewide wedding industry valued at $2.25 billion.

Association members said there has been a slump in their business on Maui the past several years due to the Covid pandemic and the 2023 Lahaina wildfire.

“Our industry has faced major challenges during the decline in tourism,” said association vice president Darren Keala. “We find ourselves in a tough position. Immediately action and budget support are essential to prevent the collapse of our industry.”

Keala, who has been involved in the wedding industry for 26 years, said he hosts about 75 guests at a wedding and about 20 weddings a year on average, generating more than $2 million in revenue. But this year he has bookings for only eight weddings, he said.

According to the association, before the pandemic, studies found the wedding and events industry on Maui generated about $500 million a year.

Association officials said the group representing more than 100 Maui businesses helps to organize weddings and major corporate events — events that have a positive ripple effect on the Maui economy.

Born and raised in Pukalani, Keala said members recently went through cultural educational classes with Native Hawaiian practitioner Makalapua Kanuha and will be sharing what they learn with visitors.

He said the association provides visitors with the option of participating in cultural and ecological give-back tours, including a program where they plant native trees as well as visits to the Olowalu cultural preserve and farms in Keanae.

He said the wedding activities include hotels, restaurants, whale watching tours, catamaran rides, other activities and even Friday block parties.

According to the association, having an Engage Event would attract hundreds of event organizers to Maui and help to amplify the island as a wedding and events location.

Association official Josh DeSilva said the wedding industry on Maui is an important part of the visitor industry on the island, attracting high-end visitors whose dollars help employ many local residents.

“Every event can mean funneling thousands and thousands of dollars into our community. Jobs are created,” he said. “Think about the local fisherman who caught the fish for the event party. Consider the families who are committed to farming.”

Abraham said the county administration remains committed to supporting economic development in sectors that align with community values and offer long-term benefits for residents.

“Participation in Engage is one strategy to ensure Maui remains competitive in the global wedding market while promoting responsible tourism practices that protect the island’s resources and way of life,” she said.