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Task force eyes business climate on Valley Isle

WAILUKU >> A volunteer task force has been formed to help Maui County develop a better business environment.

The Business Advocacy Task Force is under the county Office of Economic Development, led by coordinator Lynn A.S. Araki-Regan.

Task force members include Eugene Bal, executive director of the Maui High Performance Computing Center; Randall Endo, development manager at Maui Land & Pineapple Company Inc.; Rhonda Faleafine, sales manager of Ohana Maui Islander Hotel; David Fisher, Maui director for the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network; Myles Kawakami, owner and president of Hawaiian Carpet One and Hawaiian Ceramic Tile; Chip McClelland, a small business consultant; Lynn Rasmussen, business and life coach practicing in Makawao; Daniel Regan, chief executive officer of Maui Economic Opportunity Business Development Corp.; Anna Ribucan, program coordinator for the Center for Entrepreneurship at Maui Community College; and, Grelyn Rosario, owner/operator of several McDonald's restaurants on Maui.

For more information, call Araki-Regan at (808) 270-7710.

Health insurers back conference

Two grants totaling $50,000 from health insurers Hawaii Medical Service Association and Kaiser Permanente will fund a major conference on the mounting problem of the uninsured in Hawaii.

The Oct. 29 event will take place at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Its aim is to present a clear picture of Hawaii's uninsured population, unveil the latest research and explore solutions to the problem. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 120,000 uninsured people in Hawaii.

For more information on the conference, call The Hawaii Uninsured Project at 585-7931.

Handbook for Maui entrepreneurs

WAILUKU >> Maui County has published a revised version of the handbook, "Starting a Business in Maui County."

The book, including a checklist for licenses, permits and registrations, is available for free at the county Office of Economic Development on the 6th floor of the Kalana O Maui Building in Wailuku or through the county Web site at www.co.maui.hi.us.

For more information, call the economic development office at (808) 270 7710.