Each November, the annual Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului showcases hundreds of products by entrepreneurs on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. PHOTO BY THE MADE IN MAUI COUNTY FESTIVAL.

WAILUKU – The Maui Chamber of Commerce announced that Product vendor and food truck applications are now available online for the seventh annual Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival.

Considered Maui County’s largest products show, this year’s event will be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.

The festival will be open to the public on Friday, Nov. 6, from 1:30 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 7, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Qualified wholesale buyers and distributors will also be invited to a special “Buyers Preview” on Friday, Nov. 6, to talk with vendors one-on-one about their products.

A total of 140 product vendors will be selected to participate in the 2020 event. Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria: products for sale must be made, manufactured, grown and/or created in Maui County. Products may include source materials made/found in the State of Hawaii (minimum of 51 percent “Made in Hawaii” product valuation).

Other judging criteria may include branding, packaging, website/online presence and an interest in and readiness to export.

Applications are also available for local food trucks. A total of 13 food trucks will be selected to participate on Saturday, Nov. 7, and three food trucks on Friday, Nov. 6.

To download an application, visit www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com (click on the “Vendors” page for a product vendor application or “Food Trucks” for a food truck application.

Deadline for applications is May 29, 2020, by 4:30 p.m. (HST). Businesses will be notified of the Vendor Selection Committee’s decision on or before July 17.

Last year’s festival attracted more than 9,000 residents and visitors, and nearly 400 wholesale buyers and distributors across the state and as far away as Japan for the special invitation-only Buyers Preview.

According to Pamela Tumpap, president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, “One of the main goals of the annual Made in Maui County Festival is that it offers our islands’ talented entrepreneurs opportunities to grow their business. Not only do participating vendors get to meet prospective buyers, wholesalers and distributors worldwide during this two-day event in November, but they also have an opportunity to take advantage of business workshops and one-on-one consultations throughout the year.”

Sponsorship opportunities are available for companies wishing to show their support for Maui County’s entrepreneurs and their products while increasing visibility for their own business. Sponsor benefits include event promotions, event tickets, program advertising and more.

The festival is presented by the Maui Chamber of Commerce and supported by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development. The event title sponsor is Hawaiian Airlines.

For event information, visit www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com or e-mail info@MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com.