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Local Business / In Brief

Panelists Debra Finkiewicz (from left), owner of Maui Closet Co.; Diane Haynes Woodburn, publisher of Maui No Ka ‘Oi magazine; and Alyson Winters, district manager of Food Pantry, talk story about sales, marketing and customer service at the Maui Brainstormers “Rock Your Business in 2019” event Jan. 3 at the Maui County Business Resource Center.

Event draws ­30 small businesses

More than 30 separate Maui-owned small businesses were represented at three “Rock Your Business 2019” workshops by the Maui Business Brainstormers on Jan. 3 at the Maui County Business Resource Center.

Attendees learned about writing news releases, setting up Wi-Fi systems and standards for their businesses, and strategies for how to integrate business core values into marketing, sales and customer service standards.

The highlight of the day was a panel discussion on “Be a Champion of Marketing, Sales and Customer Service,” with Debra Finkiewicz, owner of Maui Closet Co.; Diane Haynes Woodburn, publisher of Maui No Ka ‘Oi magazine; and Alyson Winters, district manager of Food Pantry.

Attendees included specialty food providers, nonprofit directors of radio and music organizations, financial and accounting consultants, startup businesses in health and well-being, and mom-and-pop retail establishments.

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Escape room helps to fight hunger

The Mystery Maui Escape Room has taken on the fight against hunger on Maui by launching its “Cans for Clues” program, according to an announcement.

The program encourages players to donate food to get extra games for food items. Players may use the clues to help them solve the mystery in the escape room, the announcement says.

Mystery Maui partnered with Hui Haumana, a club at the University of Hawaii Maui College dedicated to feeding students who are working to earn a college education but are struggling because of lack of food.

All food donations collected will be turned over to the club, which is working with the Maui Food Bank.

The escape room is at 81 N. Market St., Suite 200, in Wailuku. The entrance faces the Wailuku municipal parking lot.

For more information, send email to info@mysterymaui.com or, to book a game, go to mysterymaui.com.

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Webinars set for startup funding

Hawaii Technology Development Corp.’s INNOVATE Hawaii will host a series of webinars on small-business funding and product development through Jan. 23, according to an announcement.

“How to Fund Your Innovative Startup” is designed to help small businesses get information about how to access federal grant money of up to $1 million through federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer funding programs.

INNOVATE Hawaii is looking for island companies in fields like agriculture, value-added food production, technology products, biotechnology, aerospace and media. Webinar topics include grant accounting, proposal essentials, commercialization essentials, technology-driven market intelligence and how to work with the Department of Defense, Department of Energy and National Science Foundation.

Upcoming webinars are set for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Jan. 23. Registration is required. Go to sbirwebinarseries.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit www.htdc.org/events/ or contact sbir@htdc.org. The cost is $10 per webinar.

Isle companies also are eligible to apply for the Hawaii state matching grant program, which provides funds of up to 50 percent to as much as $500,000.

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Lingerie, swimwear trunk show planned

Perfection Bra Fitting Salon will be holding a trunk show by lingerie and swimwear company Panache on Jan. 30 and 31.

The locally owned bra-fitting and intimate apparel salon will offer a sneak peak preview of Panache’s autumn/winter 2019 collection.

The event is free and open the public.

Perfection Bra Fitting Salon is located at 39 Central Ave. in Wailuku. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.

For more information, go to www.perfectionbrafitting.com or call 495-7232.

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Real estate firm opens new office

Hawaii Real Estate Executives has opened its newest office at Sugar Beach Resort, 145 N. Kihei Road, Suite 1, and will be holding an open house from 1 to 6 p.m. Jan. 25.

HIRE Execs offers property management services for both long-term and short-term rental properties, as well as real estate sales. While focused on Maalaea and north Kihei, the company does work islandwide.

Dan Kisiel is the broker.

The newest 1,500-square-foot office is a Maui Food Bank drop-off location.

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Online Hawaiian spice site launched

Chef Greg “Bonz” Heath and web marketer Mark Givensel of Maui have launched the Hawaiian spice website GetTheSpice.com, which sells gourmet Hawaiian spices and seasoning.

The spice recipes were created by Bonz of Lahaina Spice Co. They can be mixed into rubs and sauces or sprinkled onto food before or after cooking, a news release said. The spices and seasonings contain no additives, preservatives or MSG and can be preserved through refrigeration.

Recipes include Maui Wowie, an Italian spice; Maui Steak Shake for grilling; and Luau Pork Seasoning, which gives a Hawaiian barbecue flavor.

The spice website was created by Givensel, who met Bonz while working as an IT administrator at a hotel on Maui, the news release said.

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QKC offers airline miles promotion

Shoppers who spend at least $100 at a Queen Ka’ahumanu Center store on one day can receive four times the value in HawaiianMiles in a mall promotion that runs through Jan. 31.

Shoppers need to bring their receipts or combined receipts to the center’s guest services desk.

Foodland and center office building tenants are excluded from the offer, as are center gift cards; bill payments; prescription insurance co-pays; gratuities and tax; and furniture, mattresses, electronics and car services at Sears.

HawaiianMiles members will earn four HawaiianMiles for every $1 spent. A maximum of 1,600 miles ($400 total receipts) may be earned during the promotion period.

Customers must be 18 years or older, have an active HawaiianMiles number and photo identification with signature to receive miles.

For more information, visit queenkaahumanucenter.com or stop by the center guest services desk.

* 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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