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Maui wedding and events association urges county support, cultural training and marketing funds
Summary
Several members of the newly formed Maui Wedding and Events Association told the council their industry supports local jobs and culture and requested county marketing support (a line item of roughly $300,000 was discussed) to help attract respectful group travel and a proposed Engage summit.
Members of the Maui Wedding and Events Association delivered testimony urging county support for marketing and cultural training as part of recovery and economic resilience efforts.
Darren Kiala, introduced himself as vice president of the Maui Wedding and Events Association and said the sector contributes to the local economy by using many local vendors and by bringing visitors who spend on lodging, dining and activities. "My weddings host around 75 guests each for about 20 weddings per year. Generating over 2,000,000 in revenue," Kiala said during his three-minute testimony.
Association members described their new nonprofit trade group's efforts to require cultural sensitivity training for members and to work with local kumu and kupuna to ensure events respect Hawaiian culture. Brian Etheridge, the association's president and a co-founder, told the committee the group now represents "over a hundred locally owned businesses" and that members have led community service efforts since the fires.
Association members asked the committee to consider a $300,000 line item referenced during questioning as a possible marketing and event-support allocation to help recruit a wedding-industry conference (an "Engage" summit) and to fund local marketing initiatives. Josh De Silva and Courtney Cole described the wedding-and-events visitor as "intentional" and more likely to spend with local businesses and support cultural programming.
Council questions and clarifications - Member Paulton asked whether the proposed $300,000 would be applied to a specific entity; witnesses said the Maui Wedding and Event Association would be one applicant for marketing support but also described bringing industry conferences and speakers to Maui. - Members asked about other funding sources: panelists said the association has not received state HTA funds and currently relies on membership dues; they asked the council to consider county-level support to fill gaps left by reduced state visitor-bureau funding. - Members probed timing concerns tied to near-term debris transport and reconstruction operations in West Maui; organizers said most weddings are booked roughly a year out and that marketing could focus on other Maui areas in the short term.
Why this matters Testimony framed wedding and group travel as a targeted tourism segment that can yield higher local spend and more engagement with cultural practices than some other visitor types. The association's pitch is for the county to help underwrite marketing and convenings that organizers say would bring professionals who can amplify respectful, culture-forward practices.
What association members promised They said they require members to undergo cultural training, coordinate with local kumu and kupuna, and prioritize local vendors. Brian Etheridge said the association is seeking a summit that could bring hundreds of luxury wedding professionals to Maui to learn about and promote culturally appropriate practices.
Ending Council members said they would consider the request as part of budget deliberations and asked management to confirm whether a $300,000 line item exists and, if so, which entity would apply for the funds. Association members said they would provide membership and training details on request.
