Maui Mobility Systems, a business that rents and sells scooters, wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility devices, has opened a retail store at 136 Dickenson St. in Lahaina. Maui Mobility Systems photo
Maui Mobility Systems, for five years a “delivery only” business renting and selling mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility equipment to visitors and locals alike, announced the opening of a retail store in Lahaina on June 1.
The storefront is located at 136 Dickenson St.
The new location offers a comfortable environment to test the latest mobility products, according to an announcement. Maui Mobility’s mission is to help people be mobile so they can enjoy life more. Its products increase mobility in all areas of life — from entry into a car, safety in a bathroom and with better loading and unloading of products into vehicles.
Maui Mobility is a paperless and cashless retailer. All credit and debit cards are welcome. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week including holidays. Delivery is also offered to resorts, condos and private homes. For more information, call (808) 661-9000 or visit www.mauimobility.com.
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Hawaii State FCU to offer PV loans
As Hawaii’s residential electricity rates continue to rank among the highest in the nation, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union announced May 28 that it is offering photovoltaic loans with no interest accruing and no payments due during the first 24 months.
“Installing solar panels is a smart and effective way for homeowners to maximize energy savings while increasing the value of their home,” said Andrew Rosen, president and CEO of Hawaii State FCU.
After the first 24 months, the interest rates start as low as 7.25 percent, according to a news release. The maximum loan amount is $75,000 and subject to approval.
Possible tax credits on PV expenditures may be available, including a state tax credit of 35 percent. Federal solar credits of 30 percent may be available through the end of the year. Consultation with a tax adviser is recommended.
For more information, visit www.hawaiistatefcu.com/pv-loans.
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Habitat opens new ReStore location
Habitat for Humanity Maui announced last month that its ReStore has reopened for business in a new, bigger location.
The ReStore at 1162 Lower Main St. in Wailuku provides more room for new and slightly used furniture, construction and remodeling materials, according to an announcement.
Private individuals, businesses and contractors are encouraged to donate their leftover residential building materials and overstocked, discontinued merchandise. Donations are accepted Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Making a donation to the ReStore not only benefits Habitat for Humanity Maui but also diverts usable materials from the landfill. ReStore is open for sales Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Volunteers are welcome in the ReStore to help with customers, arrange merchandise and accept donations.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity Maui programs or events, call the office at 242-1140 or visit www.habitat-maui.org.
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Rafting tour boats voted top 10 in US
Redline Rafting in Kihei ranks in the Top 10 Best Boat Tours in the nation by USA Today’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice travel awards, according to an email announcement. A panel of experts including editors from USA Today and a team of travel authorities provided 20 nominees for the category with readers selecting the final 10Best within a four-week online voting period. Redline Rafting is the only boat tour company on Maui to make USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards.
A locally owned tour company, Redline Rafting provides consciously curated snorkeling adventures of Molokini Crater and South Maui’s coast focused on education combined with ecologically responsible and marine-life friendly practices. Its two Zodiac boats, with a maximum capacity of only 24 and 15 passengers, each conduct one five-hour snorkeling trip per day for a total of 39 guests to minimize its environmental impacts.
In addition, Redline Rafting provides complimentary reef-safe sunscreen and wetsuits to all of its guests. The wetsuits help guests stay warm during their snorkeling expeditions while reducing the amount of sunscreen being used as the wetsuits also serve to protect the skin from the sun.
Redline Rafting’s boats depart from Kihei Boat Ramp every day by 7 a.m. For more information, call (808) 757-9211, visit www.redlinerafting.com or at @redlinerafting on Instagram.
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Natural food store opens in W. Maui
Chock full of organic local fruits, vegetables and herbal supplements, Lahaina Natural Foods opened its doors this month in Lahaina Square Shopping Center on Wainee Street.
The store also offers 100 percent organic shakes with organic protein, tailored to the individual, according to an email announcement.
Wellness advisers are available to serve clientele for a more personal experience.
Lahaina Natural Foods is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
For more information, call (604) 908-4100.
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Hawai’i Life opens new Paia office
Hawai’i Life, a real estate firm with four Maui locations, is moving from its upstairs office on Hana Highway in Paia to a new street-level storefront at 26 Baldwin Ave. A grand-opening celebration is planned, with an office blessing ceremony, from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The general public is invited to attend. Refreshments will be offered.
Plenty of open space allows for small gatherings and community events at the new location. The office features a communal area ideal for collaboration and client meetings, as well as work stations for Maui agents and brokers who work remotely, but who are able to come and go from this central community hub.
Director of Operations Rhonda Hay said, “As our Maui team grows, we were in need of more space for agents and clients.”
The opening celebration coincides with several other company events taking place the same week. These include Hawai’i Life’s sponsorship of the Maui Film Festival and a beach cleanup planned in collaboration with Surfrider Foundation Maui, to be held at Baldwin Beach Park beginning at 8:30 a.m Saturday.
Street parking is available on Baldwin Avenue on a first-come basis, and paid public parking is located across the street from Hawai’i Life’s new Paia office.
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Bite Squad food delivery gets rolling
Are you hungry but stuck in your home or office? The new food delivery service Bite Squad, which debuted last week, lets you order food through its app from select Central Maui restaurants, then sends a bite Squad driver to deliver it to you. Delivery fee start at $2.99. The company expects to hire 100 people in the area.
Bite Squad will is offering a special free delivery for a year promotion to customers who order through the service during its grand-opening celebration, which ends Sunday.
Numerous Central Maui restaurants have already signed with Bite Squad, including Tin Roof Maui, Jamba Juice, IHOP, Jack in the Box, Maui Tacos, Burger King, CAA Market Place, Tiki Tiki Thai Cuisine, Pizza in Paradise, Maui 8 Wonder, Acevedos Hawaicano Cafe, HiTEA Cafe, Blazin’ Steaks, Poi By The Pound, Thai Spice, Z-Man’s Kitchen, Jini’s Curry – Fiji Indian Food, Badua’s Maui Crepes & Grill, Originz Maui, RM Mini Mart, Sius Chinese Kitchen, Plantation Grindz, Paia Gelato, Hana Picnic Lunch Co., Taco Style, Thai Mee Up, Maui Roasted Bistro, Bistro Manila, HI Thai, Paradise Supermart, Da Shrimp Hale, Bistro Casanova, Ono Teppanyaki, Manapua Creations, Jersey Mike’s, Cupies Maui, Wei Wei Cafe & Noodle House, Fernando’s Mexican Grill, Pastele House Maui and OGO.
Kahului becomes the sixth Bite Squad service area in the state. The app is available in more than 375 cities nationwide, including Honolulu, Kailua, Kapolei, Mililani and Salt Lake on Oahu.
After creating an account in the Bite Squad app, customers choose a restaurant, browse the fully customizable menu, select food items and tap to submit the order with a credit card. The app can also be used for carryout orders at no charge.
Ordering is available via the web at bitesquad.com.
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Mokulele parent gets funding boost
The parent company of Mokulele Airlines, Southern Airways Corp., has announced that SkyWest has made a minority investment in the company.
The new partnership will help the two airlines coordinate recruitment, training and advancement of pilots, the news release last month said.
According to the new release, SkyWest is the largest regional carrier by fleet size, number of passengers carried and cities served.
“The strategic investment by SkyWest will enhance Southern’s recruiting capabilities by providing a career pathway from flight school through Southern’s cadet program and ultimately to SkyWest,” the release said.
Southern currently has more than 200 pilots in its combined pilot corps, many of whom are looking to advance their aviation careers to regional and mainline carriers.
“SkyWest is pleased to acquire a minority equity interest in Southern Airways,” said Wade Steel, chief commercial officer of SkyWest. “Putting a pilot pathway program in place with Southern enhances our pipeline of future Part 121 professional aviators.”
Those interested in applying to Southern should visit the Careers tab on www.iFlySouthern.com.
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Goodfellow part of fire recovery
SPSG, a joint venture of Sukut Construction, Pacific State Environmental Contractors and Goodfellow Bros. California, is involved in a yearlong effort to remove more than 1.5 million tons of fire debris and to provide recovery services in the aftermath of the Butte County Camp Fire in 2018.
Goodfellow, with offices in Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and California, will not be using any of its resources or people on Maui for the project, a company spokeswoman said recently.
In total, the joint venture will employ more than 1,000 operators, laborers, truckers and a variety of other skilled-trades, the spokeswoman said. The Joint Venture’s scope of work for the cleanup efforts will involve the sorting, loading and hauling of metals, concrete, ash and contaminated soil to various disposal sites within 150 miles of the affected areas.
The project is targeted for completion in the first quarter of 2020.
Initially, the contract will be approximately $450 million but most likely will grow due to several added scope of work already identified by the California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.
“Our efforts to help Butte County get back on its feet aligns with our organization’s mission to support the communities in which we live and work,” said Brian Gates, division President of Goodfellow Bros. California. “Additionally, we hope to utilize the skills of local residents to help our cleanup efforts while providing some jobs for those in need. We see this as a win-win for both the Joint Venture and the community as a whole.”
* 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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