Oct 16, 2013 | Community
Kim Weaver says she maintains a thriving business by partnering with family and paying attention to the handcrafted soap and jewelry she designs and sells. “I make everything myself because I’m so particular about the quality and detail of each product. I don’t want to ever lose that,” said Weaver, the owner and operator of Hana Lima Designs.
She opened Hana Lima Soap Co. eight years ago after suffering a work-related injury at a private company. The business grew out of a hobby and love for handmade soaps. She supplemented the business soon after by establishing Hana Lima Designs, which features handcrafted jewelry and gifts. Weaver makes the soap and jewelry in separate home-based workshops and distributes them wholesale in small boutiques and galleries statewide, at craft fairs, the Made In Hawaii Festival, the Maui Fair, and the Maui Swap Meet. “When it comes to jewelry design, it is competitive. Each designer has her own style,” she said. Weaver said she tries to stand out “by giving a little something extra” or an unexpected surprise in the design. She’s most proud that her business has allowed her to raise two sons on her own. She’s succeeded in part because of support from her partner, Scott; her mom, Beverly, and relatives who assist at retail events. “I couldn’t do this without my family. We are all doing this together,” she said.
Operating Hana Lima Designs has had its challenges. “Shopping for supplies and shipping the products are big obstacles. The freight is high and very costly,” Weaver said. Her strategy in business has been to operate at a slow and steady pace. “Honestly, I think it’s because I didn’t try to grow quickly. The temptation to expand is there but I want to grow slow and steady,” she said. Hana Lima Designs has no regularly paid employees. “I’ve kept it to where I could do it all on my own if needed.”
Oct 9, 2013 | Environment
An animal lover, Jenny Mida volunteers at the Maui Humane Society. She walks dogs, bakes dog treats for fundraisers and helps educate the public about pet adoption and the importance of spaying and neutering dogs and cats. “My motivation for doing these things is that I love all animals, and I want to do whatever I can to improve their lives and well being,” said Mida, an educational assistant at King Kekaulike High School.
The Kula resident is married and has a son, and her extended family includes three dogs – Kalea, a French mastiff; Thor, a pitbull mix; and Bernardo, an Airedale terrier. Pets can be healthy and happy if they’re made part of the family, she said. “A life lived on a chain outside is a life of misery. Play with, walk and socialize your pet with people and animals when they are growing up so they are comfortable around everyone.” When she volunteers at the Puunene shelter, Mida takes her son with her. “I think it’s important for kids to learn to care for and love all creatures, so I bring Zander along,” she said. “This is probably my favorite thing to do because the dogs are so appreciative and it’s fun to play, snuggle and get to know each dog individually. I take pictures of the dogs during our walks that I post on Instagram and Facebook with info in hopes someone will see one (or two) and they just have to adopt.”
She urges all dog and cat owners to sterilize their pets to help stop the island’s population explosion of unwanted, feral animals. The Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Maui offer discounted spays and neuters. “It just takes one call to set up an appointment,” she said. “Spays and neuters also can decrease unwanted behaviors and reduce the risk of certain cancers.” Armed with the mission to save the lives of unwanted pets, the Humane Society has been operating as an animal shelter since 1987. For more information, call 877-3680, ext. 14, or e-mail: volunteer@mauihumanesociety.org.
Oct 2, 2013 | Education, Innovation
Teachers seek new, innovative ways to stir curiosity in their students’ young minds. Soon, 5th-grade teacher Wendy Wells and 4th-grade teacher Carolyn Bush will have webcam/video access to a telescope on the Maui Research and Technology property via the Aloha Explorations Outreach Project. “We plan on using the telescope with our students for observation of the moon, sun and planets,” the teachers said. “We feel it will help promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and space explorations … It will be motivational for students as we know they will have a high interest and curiosity.”
The explorations project is a collaboration of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy and Maui Economic Development Board. The project will allow students on Maui to access the telescope via the Internet. The telescope gives K-12 teachers and college instructors real-time video-imagery of the moon and other celestial objects. Any teacher trained to use the telescope webcam may reserve a time slot, and then – while viewing the moon, for example, will have the ability to move the telescope at will to any desired location. Physical scientist Stacie Williams, who oversees community outreach activities for the Air Force Research Laboratory on Maui, said the telescope project has been in the works for two years now. Selected schools in Georgia and on Maui such as Kamalii Elementary where Bush and Wells teach will be the first to use the telescope. By fall 2014, the project hopes to offer telescope time to others on Maui as well as classrooms in Ohio and Oregon.
“I hope this telescope will get students engaged and think about what they can do in space and in science,” Williams said. “The way you connect students with science is to connect them with real world examples … This gives them a shot at being a real scientist and that’s exciting.” Bush said her students are excited about the opportunity. “Parents who’ve also heard about it are interested and glad for the opportunity for it to be used at our school,” she said.
Sep 25, 2013 | Community, Events
Unwilling to let a tradition die, former 4-H Club leaders Mae Omuro and Lydia Furomoto agreed to co-chair the Hobbies & Crafts Exhibit at this year’s Maui County Fair. “We always thought it was part of the fair. People have come to expect it,” Furomoto said. Once called the Homemaking Exhibit, Hobbies & Crafts provides residents in kindergarten through adulthood a chance to show off their creativity and share their craft making skills with fair goers. “We have talented people on Maui, all they need to do is find the time to show it,” Omuro said.
Omuro said she hopes to get at least 100 items entered into the Hobbies & Crafts Exhibit. The 2012 event drew 98 exhibitors with 331 items in categories such as handmade clothing, and fabric, holiday and novelty crafts. Ribbons for 1st through 3rd place and honorable mention will be given. In addition, one item for each category will be selected for Best of Section. “We’re really hoping more people will participate,” Furomoto said. Entries will be accepted beginning Oct. 2 between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. at the War Memorial Gym. Items must be picked up between 8:30 and 9 p.m. on Oct. 6. The Horticulture Exhibit is also seeking entries to display including fruits and vegetables. Fair goers will have a chance to guess the weight of the largest grown pumpkins brought to the exhibit. “A lot of people participate for the sheer enjoyment of watching things grow,” said Horticulture Co-Chair Mae Nakahata. “The key here is you experience what a farmer experiences,” she said. The exhibit will also include educational demonstrations on exotic and tropical fruits. Items may be dropped off at 4 p.m. Oct. 2 or between 7 and 10 a.m. Oct. 3 at the gym.
The 91st Maui County Fair takes place Oct. 3-6 at the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku. Details are available at mauifair.com, or by calling the County Fair office at 242-2721. University of Hawaii Maui College Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto was selected as the honorary fair director for his contributions to the community.
Sep 18, 2013 | Innovation
The opportunity to meet new students, learn about Maui and participate in community service projects are all part of the experience of a Youth Alliance member. “It’s so much fun,” said Baldwin High School sophomore Chelsea Kau, who’s returning for another year. “I was able to meet a wide range of people and learn a lot about small businesses and how they impact Maui.” Kau said she learned the value of social media to businesses looking to promote themselves. “It was cool to see how owners and managers try to keep their businesses going,” she said.
Tyler DiGiulio, a Youth Alliance graduate now working for an air conditioning and refrigeration sales company, said the best memory he has from the experience is learning about different facets of the community. “I would say Youth Alliance is a great opportunity and a good way to learn about the Maui community,” DiGiulio said. In his three years with the group, he’s been on a range of field trips from a local farm that grows organic plants to the Maui Food Bank which provides food for the island’s homeless and hungry. DiGiulio said the Youth Alliance experience helped him to become more comfortable in speaking to people he’s meeting for the first time. “In the beginning, I was a quiet guy. By my third year, my confidence built up and I started trying to get others to talk.”
Coordinated by Maui Economic Development Board, Youth Alliance is accepting new members in grades 9 through 12. The group expects to meet once a month during the new school year to explore different facets of Maui including cultural, business and civic sectors. Applications are due September 27. Call Willow Krause at 875-2300, or go to: https://www.focusmauinui.com/YA/apply/apply.cfm.
