On a beautiful Maui morning in Sprecklesville, Sarah Shim, retired Kaunoa Senior Services Specialist for Assisted Transportation and Meals on Wheels, presented an on-site fashion show with designs from Hawaiʻi’s past and present. A division of the County of Maui’s Department of Housing and Human Concerns, Kaunoa provides services and activities for seniors with diverse needs seeking to learn and grow through a variety of ongoing programs offered across the county.
Roland Prieto, Kaunoa Senior Services Assistant Administrator, said, “What a wonderful event this was! We have been looking forward to inviting our seniors back to events here since Covid. Sarah Shim did an amazing job, along with the models and guest speaker, Agnes Terao-Guiala, the 2021 Pele Award winner for her book, Hawaiian Women’s Fashion: Kapa, Cotton and Silk. The musical entertainment was provided by Richard Tom and Mele Fong.”
Shim explained, “Hawaiʻi, being very unique when it comes to fashion, has a rich and fascinating history. Hawaiian fashion from the past to present was showcased with traditional styles, patterns, and motifs relating to island history. The fashion show took attendees on a journey through time to show the evolution of Hawaiian fashion.”
Terao-Guiala shared, “Growing up I was inspired by my love for the beautiful fancy holokū, and I began to research the origin and evolution of all Hawaiian attire. I purchased and collected over 200 Hawaiian garments, mostly the muʻumuʻu (a loose-fitting flowy dress) that was introduced to Hawaiʻi in the mid-1800’s. Today’s fashion show showcased a remarkable chronicle of the fabrics and styles of Hawaiʻi, all interwoven with stories of the islands and its people, from early Hawaiians to historic royalty, to modern designers. Presently, Hawaiʻi’s contemporary designers are popular within the local and global fashion industry.”
A fashion show attendee exclaimed, “The show offered more than beautiful fashions! We were educated in how and when the styles came about. Even the men modeled Hawaiian shirts from different periods, including the famous Palaka shirt. Plus, the lunch and musical entertainment were great!”
The models wear a blend of Western, European, and Eastern cultures, truly representing the spirit of aloha in our island history.
Sarah Shim, Host, Hawaiian Fashion Show at Kaunoa Senior
Past participants of Maui Economic Development Board’s EMER-GEN program, Amber Imai-Hong, program manager and avionics engineer at Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL), and Yosef Ben Gershom, operations manager at HSFL, are thrilled about HSFL’s unprecedented opportunity for hands-on involvement in space exploration. Their Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI) satellite was launched by NASA to the International Space Station (ISS) and was recently deployed from the ISS for use.
The imager will gather valuable data for understanding Earth’s surface processes, including volcanic activity, wildfires, and soil moisture levels. Led by Principal Investigator Robert Wright, director of the Hawaiʻi Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP), the project began in October 2018 with funding from NASA’s In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies Program.
Imai-Hong recalled, “When we started the HyTI project in 2018, we did not imagine how much our team would have to overcome or how much we would learn along the way. Developing one of the most advanced imaging cubesats was challenging, and it feels great to know we are operating HyTI on orbit!”
Gershom explained, “The mission has been an incredible opportunity for training our local aerospace workforce and for students. It provides real-world experience working with professional engineers on a NASA mission with real requirements and hardware. That is why we work on complex projects here at UH,” he said, quoting JFK, “not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”
HSFL trains dozens of MEDB’s STEMworks™ interns and alumni. Gershom added, “It takes a multitude of different people, in different fields, to develop a mission such as this. I see this NASA mission as another steppingstone for UH and Hawaiʻi to become more noticed in the broader space community. I hope it will get the word out locally that people can stay in Hawaiʻi and work on incredible space projects if that is their passion. This mission shows that talent exists throughout the islands and that we can provide opportunities for people to stay and work where they grew up. This is a big step for UH and for the Hawaiʻi aerospace community.”
We are proud of our EMER-GEN friends, the team of students, researchers, and UH faculty involved in this mission. We are thrilled to watch the HyTI satellite begin the next phase of processing high-resolution thermal images.
Leslie Wilkins, President & CEO, Maui Economic Development Board
In a world where extreme weather events are increasing in severity and frequency, prioritizing energy resilience for homes, businesses, and communities is the only path forward to maintain a reliable and accessible supply of energy. Done properly, resilient energy systems can also improve health, comfort, and affordability.
The 11th Hawaii Energy Conference (HEC) on May 22 and 23 will explore cutting-edge solutions to improve resilience in the face of a rapidly changing climate. Hear from experts on topics such as whether biofuels can really support resilience while lowering carbon emissions and how resilience planning can prioritize historically marginalized and disadvantaged communities. The HEC will also provide an update from the Legislature and a discussion of the pros and cons of undergrounding and insulating electrical lines.
Distributed energy resources (DERs), including photovoltaic coupled with batteries, are critical tools for strengthening energy resilience in this volatile operating environment, and the HEC will highlight several flexible and wide-ranging applications for DERs already deployed to support housing on Maui since the August 2023 fires. The HEC brings together experts and thought leaders to connect and explore the latest advancements shaping the energy landscape world-wide. Join us at the MACC as we talk story about risk management, grid stability, and adaptive solutions that ensure a reliable and resilient energy supply.
In December 2023, Maui Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) started construction on its new black box theater at 2027 Main Street in Wailuku. Completion is scheduled for March 31, 2025. The culmination of a 30-year dream, the Naylor Family Theatre will seat 185 audience members with a flexible seating system that can be re-configured to accommodate different types of performances. In the heart of historic Wailuku, the theatre will serve people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and economic circumstances.
“Recently, MAPA received a $1,000,000 donation from philanthropist Susan Naylor Moulton for the black box theatre,” said Carolyn Wright, MAPA Executive Director. “When tragedy struck Moulton’s family 17 years ago on Maui, she said it was the people in the arts who lifted her up.”
David Johnston and Carolyn Wright, MAPA
Named in memory of Moulton’s two sons, the facility will also include state-of-the-art audiovisual and lighting systems, lobby, box office, concessions area, dressing rooms, rehearsal studios, restrooms, and storage. Moulton shared, “The arts are the voices of the island. We have so many creative people here, from cultural practitioners, to chefs, to painters, to performing artists. I’m honored to be involved in building this new theatre in Wailuku where the community will experience the healing power of artistic performance at every level.”
In addition to the economic benefits of the project, MAPA’s artistic director, David Johnston, also underscored the healing power of the arts. “MAPA’s Naylor Family Theatre will be a space for the community to experience the creative benefits that stretch beyond just entertainment,” Johnston shared. “I believe that the arts can be a powerful force for helping us navigate the uncertainties of these times, providing solace, awakening curiosity, and inspiring us to imagine a new future in a thriving community.” Wright added, “The theatre will infuse a new vibrancy into Wailuku, sparking more economic activity for existing restaurants and shops while attracting new businesses to fill vacant storefronts. By creating jobs in the creative arts sector, our theatre will bring renewed energy to the town through creative expression and community engagement. Plus, it will foster a resilient local economy on Maui.”
The Naylor Family Theatre will be a gathering space where the community can generate a sense of collective healing.
Carolyn Wright, MAPA Executive Director
As part of ongoing efforts to support culturally relevant education, Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) STEMworks™ AFTERschool Program recently organized a trip to Molokai for eight of its Maui Island teachers. “Offering an approach to merge traditional Hawaiian knowledge with modern STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) techniques, these Molokai sessions supported and inspired not only teachers, but also students,” said Lalaine Pasion, STEMworks Program Specialist. “This type of cultural exchange is a direct investment in our future. When we inspire and provide opportunities for educators, we empower them to shape a generation with knowledge, creativity, and compassion.”
Agreeing, Maui STEMworks Facilitator, Mark Guaglione, said, “I learn so much from visiting STEM educators on different islands, such as Uncle Bobby at ‘Āina Pulapula. Uncle Bobby’s six-acre farm is a part of the World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms network. Here, sustainable agriculture practices, crucial for island self-reliance and environmental stewardship, were on display. The farm’s achievement of 70-percent food self-sufficiency provided a tangible example of successful integration of traditional farming methods with modern agriculture, showcasing sustainable agricultural practices essential for island self-reliance.”
A tour of Molokai Sea Farms showed educators the complexities and challenges of shrimp farming. This visit highlighted the significance of local produce in a globalized and competitive economy and the impact of community support on local industries. Pasion recalled, “Another significant moment was the engagement with Kumu Gonzales at Kaunakakai. He demonstrated his approach to integrating Hawaiian culture into computer science education using petroglyphs in Code.org’s STEMworks lessons. This presented a unique and culturally relevant method of STEM education.”
Observing the Makahiki Festival on Molokai, the visiting teachers also explored historic sites, such as Kalaupapa, which offered cultural immersion to deepen the understanding of Hawaiian traditions and history. “Teachers from Maui who joined these Molokai sessions gained invaluable insights into integrating traditional Hawaiian wisdom with contemporary educational strategies,” Pasion concluded. “This experience enriched their teaching methodologies, enabling them to integrate culturally sensitive and relevant materials into their classrooms. The Molokai sessions, a part of STEMworks AFTERschool Program, have contributed to bridging the gap between traditional and modern education. Such initiatives are crucial for preparing educators to foster a generation that is knowledgeable, culturally aware, and technologically adept.”
STEMworks education inspires students to experiment, relate, and think critically about the future of their island home.
Lalaine Pasion, STEMworks Program Specialist
