Native Hawaiian astrophysicist Dr. Brittany Kamai brought a wealth of information and wonder to the participants of the 8th annual 2025 EMER-GEN program at the Wailea Beach Resort-Marriott on September 14-16. EMER-GEN, a joint initiative of the AMOS Conference (presented by Maui Economic Development Board) and the Space Generation Advisory Council, launched in 2018 to foster innovation and entrepreneurship for young professionals and college-level students enthusiastic about careers in space.
Kamai shared her perspective on how traditional voyaging connects ancestral wisdom to the present-day space industry, especially in Hawaiʻi. “We, as Pacific voyagers, are on a journey, sailing to islands and around the world, or going back to the Moon, while navigating by the ideals of our ancestral past. When we truly acknowledge this insight, when we are aware of the extensive threats to our planet, and to outer space, the next logical step is to create a new vision, a sustainable plan based on values of interconnectedness, respect and stewardship.”
Kamai explained that the purpose of the world-famous Hōkūleʻa project was to build a performance-accurate deep-sea voyaging canoe and sail it without external instruments between Hawaiʻi and Tahiti. “It’s been a cultural revitalization initiative by the Polynesian Voyaging Society centered around the Hōkūleʻa, a traditional double-hulled sailing canoe launched in 1975 to revive ancient Polynesian wayfinding traditions, language, and culture. The project, and its numerous other voyages, aims to connect people, educate on environmental stewardship, and inspire a sustainable future for the planet. We need to be globally minded and locally focused.”
Matthew Lugo, a local aerospace engineer with Privateer Space, said, “Our Hawaiian ancestors got to Hawaiʻi by way of star navigation. Currently, space observations from Hawaiʻi are also unlocking the key to the universe’s mapping and offer scientists the ability to calculate distances between celestial bodies in the galaxy. Hawaiian telescopes have allowed scientists to make some of humanity’s most important space discoveries in the last 50 years, pertaining to dark matter, black holes, asteroids, exoplanets, and more.”
Katherine Stevens, an engineer for Maui High Performance Computing Center and member of this year’s EMER-GEN program committee, added, “Kamai portrayed respect for the culture by going back to its roots and being one with the community. She has successfully woven the importance of our past cultural achievements with her career as an astrophysicist.”
I have a Ph.D. in astrophysics, but that didn’t teach me how to get between Hawaiʻi and Tahiti using the stars. It’s a totally different knowledge system. We need both!
Dr. Brittany Kamai, Astrophysicist, Founder of Mana Moana Institute
While Hawaiʻi is well-known for its astronomy research, dating back to the wayfinding techniques of the original Polynesian voyagers, Maui is also home to significant work in the field of microscopy. Kamehameha Schools (KS) teacher, scientist, and inventor Dr. Gary Greenberg uses his 3D light microscopes to observe spectacular landscapes of worlds beyond everyday human perception. In addition to his KS teaching position, he is a longtime research affiliate and faculty member at the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA), where one of his projects has been to study sand collected during NASA’s Apollo missions. Greenberg’s images of sand reveal thousands of years of biological and geological history.
“Ordinary everyday objects such as flowers, food, and grains of sand take on a new reality when magnified hundreds of times, illuminating their hidden aspects,” Greenberg shared. “When we commune with nature through a microscope, we become conscious of our connection with the universe. My mission is to reveal the secret beauty of the microscopic landscape that makes up our everyday world.”
Greenberg’s current research is focused on developing the new microscope accessory he invented (his twentieth patent), which transforms a conventional microscope into a fluorescence research microscope. His next public lecture, “From LUCA to Aloha: The Evolution of Life on Earth,” will be on Sunday October 19th at 3 pm at ProArts Playhouse in Kihei. The program will also include a screening of the award-winning documentary film, The Dalai Lama: Scientist.
“This multimedia lecture traces the epic journey of life on Earth, from LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor) to the emergence of modern humans and the responsibilities we now hold as stewards of our planet,” Greenberg explained. “Grounded in cutting-edge science, the story unfolds through the guiding principles of e ola (live and thrive), aloha ʻāina (love and respect for the land), mālama (to care for), and kuleana (responsibility). This talk offers a powerful reflection on our shared origins and the sacred duty to care for the Earth and each other.”
This year at KS, Greenberg and the environmental studies teacher will set up a 3D microscope lab to allow students to study the flora and fauna of Maui. He added, “Our goal is to boost student understanding of Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems, fostering environmental stewardship and preparing youth for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers.”
For more information about Dr. Greenberg’s upcoming public event, visit proartsmaui.org.
The secrets of nature are visible everywhere. Yet, they remain secrets until they are revealed directly through the microscope.
Dr. Gary Greenberg, Scientist and Teacher, Kamehameha Schools Maui, UH Institute for Astronomy
At Roselani Place, an assisted living community in Kahului, their mission is to keep residents happy, active, and smiling, and on two Wednesdays a month, happiness is just a twist away. Maui resident Una Bella, a professional clown, magician, and ballon twister known as Una Balloona, visits Roselani dressed in fun, colorful attire with one goal. “I promise to create unique balloon experiences for every resident and to make them smile and laugh while doing it,” Bella shared. “I love making people happy, especially those that might be struggling through depression and other health issues. I enjoy asking them what they would like to have made and do my best to please them. My hope, through a nonprofit, is to travel to other islands visiting assisted living facilities and hospitals.”
Bella began her career by delivering balloons and saw the magical energy and love that she could create. Currently, in addition to her Roselani Place visits, she is a Monday afternoon regular at Queen Kaʻahumanu Mall offering balloons and magic tricks at the entrance of Cat Cafe Maui. Every Sunday morning, she also performs with musician Steve Sargenti at Grandma’s Coffee House in Keokea. Her latest venture, a Balloona Gram delivery service, is a concept she says is quickly taking root.
“My balloon work just naturally makes people happy,” Bella explained. “The fact that I get to do parties, magic shows, glitter tattoos, arts, games, and tinker with balloons is super fulfilling. The joyful experience of clowning around and serving others brings a powerful and positive connection to everyone.”
Kalei Figaroa, Roselani Place’s activities director, noted, “We have many visitors and entertainers who come to Roselani and volunteer their services. Bella has a following and she never disappoints. The residents get to keep their ballons which represent shared happiness and collective celebration. Psychologists believe that ballons tap into our sense of nostalgia. They symbolize happiness, hope, and the joy of life.”
Figaroa added, “We are always looking for volunteers at Roselani. Even sitting and talking with a resident can be a service bringing great happiness to someone.” To learn more about Roselani Place, visit https://roselaniplace.com/.
I am so grateful to have been a part of bringing magic and joy to Maui’s community for over 20 years. Serving others brings joy and fulfillment.
Una Bella, “Una Balloona”, Clown and Magician
Emmy award-winning Maui filmmaker Dr. Tom Vendetti, a retired clinical psychologist and former director of Mental Health Kokua, became involved with Cambodia many years ago while treating native Cambodian Sam Khong for severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While he was serving in the Cambodian military, the 17-year-old Khong had been sent to the United States for gunnery training, but political upheavals in Cambodia prevented his return for 29 years. By that time, he could not locate his family.
Vendetti explained, “When I met Khong, I realized that he needed to return to Cambodia to search for his family to alleviate his depression. That is how Maui became connected [with Cambodia]…The Mental Health Kokua staff and board members raised the money to take him home, and yes, he was joyously reunited with his family.”
Returning Khong to his homeland led to other accomplishments. When Vendetti asked Khong’s mother, Van, if she wanted him to bring something from Maui, he expected an answer such as macadamia nuts, but she answered, “A school!” The Maui community led significant fundraising efforts with the help of Bernard Krisher, a journalist, founder of American Assistance for Cambodia, and advocate for free press in Cambodia. The school opened in 2006 in Kampong Thom province and continues to be successful. The sign for the school building reads: “The Van and Sam Khong School, donated by the Maui Hawaiʻi Community.”
In addition, Krisher suggested that Cambodia could benefit from having its own film festival. Vendetti took the suggestion to heart and brought it to fruition. He recalled, “My experience with Khong inspired the film festival and its name, Angkor Wat, which is the world’s largest temple complex and the country’s national symbol.”
Now, the school needs a playground. Vendetti and a Maui contingent, including renowned guitarist Keola Beamer and kumu hula Moanalani Beamer, have already fundraised for the project, and they will return to Cambodia in early 2026 to build the playground and put on another film festival, with hula and ʻukulele lessons for the children.
Vendetti’s new film, Awakened From Darkness, shares Sam Khong’s story, highlighting the surprising and little-known connection between the Maui and Kampong Thom communities. PBS Hawaiʻi Broadcast will present the film on Thursday, September 25th at 8:30pm and Sunday, September 28th at 1pm.
My mission is to always move forward in a constructive way to bring happiness where it’s needed. As I gained my own understanding of the world we live in, I wanted to make a difference in peoples’ lives.
Dr. Tom Vendetti, Maui Filmmaker and Psychologist
Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) recent Ke Alahele Education Benefit event welcomed over 300 guests and successfully raised funds for local STEM education programs. During the event, the Daniel K. Inouye Innovation (DKII) Award student winners were recognized for community service-focused science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) projects. Tiare Martin, executive director of the Vanguard Maui High Performance Computing Center and MEDB’s board chair, Curtis Tom, senior vice president and commercial banking officer of the Bank of Hawaiʻi and MEDB’s board vice chair and chair of the education committee, and Leslie Wilkins, MEDB’s president and CEO, presented the award.
Winners were Baldwin High School seniors Aileen Kim and Jeremiah Jacinto for their project, “Kūlia Scholarships Connect.” Recognizing the difficulties that local students and their families face in finding college scholarships, they created an AI chatbot that simplifies and personalizes the search process. “Our team is driven by a shared passion for equity in education and aims to remove barriers to financial aid through technology that empowers every student to reach their full potential,” they explained.
A Maui High School team of Toby Naumov, Sarah Fehnestock, Ciana Cooper, Sophie Kato, and Joshua Mori also received a prize for their “Stop the Bleed Tourniquet Simulator” project. The team used their computer science and mechanical engineering skills to create an artificial human arm that can help students learn the critical first-aid skills needed to control severe bleeding. They successfully created a prototype for only $200, showing that it is possible to create low-cost versions of essential medical teaching tools.
Dominick Philippe Guiwa of Maui High School was honored for his research project, “From Tragedy to Innovation: Lahaina Fire Recovery Through Native Hawaiian Fire Retardant Solutions.” Combining his interest in chemistry with a desire to serve the Lahaina community, he tested plant samples to demonstrate a correlation between pH levels and fire resistance, showing that native plants are often more fire resistant than invasives.
All the winners will receive monetary prizes to honor their hard work. Funds raised during the event will also support the Ke Alahele Education Fund grant program. More information can be found online at https://www.medbpathways.org/.
It is deeply meaningful to us that our work in some way reflects Senator Inouye’s vision of Maui as an innovation center where the latest scientific and technological advances can take root and flourish.
Aileen Kim and Jeremiah Jacinto, 2025 Daniel K. Inouye Innovation Award Winners
