Dec 18, 2013 | Education, Environment, Sustainability
Ka Honua Momona means “abundant Earth,” and a Molokai nonprofit of that name is reawakening the fertile Friendly Isle through the restoration of ancient Hawaiian fishponds on the island’s south shore. “Molokai was once known as the breadbasket of the islands due to the momona (abundance) of the land and sea,” said Kauwila Hanchett, the nonprofit’s executive director. “We believe Molokai can return to momona and become a model of sustainability for others.”
In fact, “sustainability is at the heart of all we do,” Hanchett said. “We are driven by our passion to ensure that the natural and cultural beauty of Molokai remains vibrant and strong for future generations.” Rooted in sustainability, the group is also actively engaged with nurturing young people, she said. “Training young people to become leaders through year-round and summer internships, as well as working with youth of all ages through our environmental education programs is an important part of our strategy to ensure that the resources we care for today continue to be protected in perpetuity,” Hanchett explained.
The nonprofit has 14 staff members and volunteers forming its “core team,” Hanchett said. Local school and community groups also donate more than 10,000 hours of service annually to fishpond restoration. “Together, we are removing invasive species, rebuilding the ancient rock walls surrounding the pond, and restoring the momona of Alii and Kalokoeli fishponds,” she said. The group carries out its work with five core principles: hoewe, or cultural rootedness; kahu hoilina, environmental stewardship; kuka’I ka ha, deep sharing; ka ‘imi ‘ike, lifelong learning; and mahuaola, health and well-being, Hanchett said.
Ka Honua Momona hosts Community Work Days on the third Saturday of each month. For more information, call (808) 553-8353 or visit the nonprofit’s website at www.kahonuamomona.org.
Sidebar quote
“Sustainability is at the heart of all we do.”
Kauwila Hanchett, Ka Honua Momona Executive Director
Dec 10, 2013 | Community
Every year beginning in October, the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui opens a toy drive to benefit abused and neglected children in Maui County. “For a lot of them, it’s the only gift they’ll get for Christmas,” said Realtor Donna Hansen, a toy drive supporter who hosts an annual holiday party to collect gifts. Hansen, her husband, Bob, and their family-owned business, the Hansen Ohana, have collected and donated hundreds of presents for many years. “This is something we feel is extremely important … I think it would be horrible to be a child at Christmas, especially an abused child, and wonder ‘How come Santa Claus forgot me?’” The Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui expects to distribute more than 1,600 presents to keiki identified by the state’s Child Welfare Services on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Gifts are collected by the nonprofit agency, and through mini-toy drives such as the one by the Hansen Ohana. “People do this because they want to help children. It really touches their heart,” Friends’ Executive Director Paul Tonnesson said. By Thanksgiving, the center collected about half of the gifts needed and will accept unwrapped presents for children as old as 18. The center recommends gifts at about $20 each. Gift cards are welcome. “We couldn’t do this without the community and people have always been great about helping,” Tonnesson said.
Unwrapped presents may be dropped at the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui office, 1773-A Wili Pa Loop in Wailuku, or call 986-8634. The Hansen Ohana is also collecting gifts at its offices at the Wailea Town Center, Suite D-103. In addition to the toy drive, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui helps to provide abused and neglected children support in a variety of ways from school-related expenses to basic medical, dental and therapy counseling or care not covered by insurance or government programs. The center also provides funds to build community awareness and train social workers and other professionals in the subject of child abuse and neglect.
Dec 4, 2013 | Community
When Korlleen Puou learned of the havoc Typhoon Haiyan caused in the Philippines, she was compelled to help. “I just have a passion for people with any losses,” the West Maui resident said. “I have to help.” Management at Lahaina Ace Hardware where Puou works supported her and together initiated Blankets of Aloha, a campaign at HouseMart Ace Hardwares and Ben Franklin Crafts to get blankets and sleeping bags to people recovering from the typhoon devastation. The first shipment of donations was scheduled to ship out on November 30. Collections will continue through June 2014.
Meanwhile Panda Express on Maui and throughout the state is matching all monetary donations made at its restaurants for the typhoon recovery. Contributions will then be sent to the American Red Cross. Michele Liberty, the Maui County Director of Red Cross, said local chapters are accepting cash and credit card contributions to forward to the Philippines Red Cross. “Everybody wants to help,” she said. Red Cross prefers to help typhoon victims by “putting money in their hands so they can take charge of their own recovery.” Liberty said it’s often difficult to ship and ensure that Philippine residents are receiving donated shipments of goods. Groups and businesses that want to help can visit: https://www.redcross.org. Donations can be made online.
Puou said she’s touched by the outpouring of support for Blankets of Aloha. Many customers at Ace Hardware learn about it while shopping. “They’ll make a donation and then come up to me and thank me for doing this. It’s very humbling to hear from people I’ve never met,” Puou said. “Everybody’s struggling, yet people want to reach out and help.” Typhoon Haiyan devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, on November 2, 2013. The storm has been labeled the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record. At least 5,500 people have been killed from the devastation and thousands more have lost their homes.
Nov 27, 2013 | Environment, Sustainability
With the goal of exploring Maui’s infrastructure needs, the Youth Alliance launched this school year by focusing their time and talk on energy and electricity. “I would like to spark creativity in the students to come up with innovative solutions to current and future infrastructure challenges,” said Willow Krause, Maui Economic Development Board’s Youth Alliance Coordinator. High schoolers in the Youth Alliance took tours through Maui Electric Co., the University of Hawaii Maui College campus and were oriented to how solar panels work.
Presentations and discussions covered general sustainability issues from energy efficiency to recycling to carbon footprints. Youth Alliance members Chelsea Kau and Kaitlyn Yamada were intrigued by what they learned about a carbon footprint – the amount of greenhouse emissions a person’s lifestyle choices produce and contribute to overall climate change. It is usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide. “I learned a lot about people’s carbon footprint and how a lot of what you do adds to your carbon footprint,” Yamada said. “This has taught me to be very mindful of what I do, like driving around and even simply just drinking from a water bottle,” she added. Kau said she’s become more aware of the effects of energy consumption. “I definitely believe that the world needs to be more intuitive about the energy decisions we make as a whole. We are slowing running out of fossil fuel, which has been running the world for ages,” she said.
Youth Alliance members attend monthly events during the school year to explore and gain a greater understanding of key components in the Maui community. Their gatherings are coordinated by the MEDB, and often include a community service project. “I think that on Maui we are all very aware of the energy issues and are doing our best to adapt to a new way that is more sustainable for us,” Yamada said.
Nov 20, 2013 | Education, Innovation
A team of Molokai middle schoolers had different takes on what they most enjoyed about competing at the 2013 Maui Nui FIRST Lego League tournament. “It’s just really cool,” said Marianna Campos of the Molokai Wizard of Bots team. Teammate Kaitlin DeRouin said she liked building robots, and Taye Mowat said she wanted to see how other students built their robots. For Lana Domingo, a four-year Lego League veteran and previous winner said: “It’s awesome to win.”
No matter what the reason for competing, Wizard of Bots coach Jenn Whitted said the four girls are engaged and excited about science and math and school in general. “They are career focused. They are college focused,” she said. “They’ve really learned how to carry themselves and how to be confident in who they are and what they do.” Momi Afelin, a Molokai high school sophomore and former champion of robotics competition, served as a mentor to her younger sister, Kai’ina, and her team the Molokai Skywalkers from Kaunakakai Elementary School. “You might not walk away from here being an engineer, but you definitely will gain a lot of skills that you need for the rest of your life,” Afelin said. “I know I learned a lot of skills through robotics,” she added. Kimberly Svetin, President of Molokai Drugs, accompanied her 4th-grade son to his FIRST Lego League contest. “This teaches him stress management. All the kids are learning coping skills, and that’s awesome,” Svetin said.
The Carden Academy Mindreapers surpassed 15 teams to be crowned the overall champions of the 2013 tourney. They will represent Maui at the Dec. 7 state competition on Oahu along with the Seabury Hall Spartanbots and the Fruit Ninjas, an independent team of students. Sponsors of the local competition included Maui Economic Development Board with its Women in Technology and Ke Alahele Education Fund programs, Seabury Hall, Maui Electric Co., Friends of Hawaii Robotics and the Robotics Organizing Committee.
