Doreen Pua Canto serves as president of the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce.

KAHULUI – The Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce last week announced that it has received grant funding from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in support of the ninth annual Hui Holomua Business Fest scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 at the Grand Wailea.

The full-day conference theme this year is “Pono -Social and Environmental Values in Business.”

Chipper Wichman, president and CEO of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, has been selected as the opening speaker. He will talk about the selection of Hawaii as host of the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress.

Wichman will discuss this unique engagement and the business and funding opportunities available to Hawaii businesses when the world’s largest conservation event comes to the islands.

Lunch Keynote Speaker ‘Aulani Wilhelm is a 2014 Stanford Social Innovation Fellow, founder of Island Water and director of ocean initiatives for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

Lunch Keynote Speaker ‘Aulani Wilhelm will discuss how to incorporate stakeholder needs and perspectives to develop better products and services that are both profitable and pono.

Wilhelm will speak to conferees about how to incorporate stakeholder needs and perspectives to develop better products and services that are both profitable and pono.

Ramsay Taum, founder and CEO of the Life Enhancement Institute, will close the conference with a presentation on creating and maintaining a balanced life to achieve greater health, happiness and prosperity at home, work and play.

Other speakers and presentations will be announced at a later date.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ Ahahui Grant helps to fund the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce’s commitment to mentor youth into business through the Hui Holomua Business Fest.

Each year, the chamber provides full scholarships for numerous high school students to participate in conference.

“The Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce thanks the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for its support,” said MNHCoC President Doreen Pua Canto.

“The ‘Ahahui Grant will help our chamber to provide significant benefits to Native Hawaiians who are business leaders, aspiring entrepreneurs or students seeking to pursue higher education in business.”

The Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce’s mission is “to promote and sustain Hawaiian values and culture, and enhance the socio-economic status of Native Hawaiians in business and as individuals.”

Membership is open to anyone with an interest in perpetuating the spirit of aloha through commerce, culture and community.

The Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce welcomes Hawaiians and “Hawaiians at heart” to share in its mission.

For more information, visit www.mnhcoc.org.