Jan 30, 2013 | Innovation
Maui Economic Development Board is providing a chance to chat with a successful entrepreneur at the next event of its ongoing Innovation Series. Karin Frost, an Upcountry resident and founder of ERGObaby carrier, has agreed to headline what’s billed as a not-to-be-missed conversation with her audience. The event is free and open to the public.
Born in Denver, Colorado, Frost attended La Université de la Sorbonne in Paris before graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Danish. Her dream of designing clothes led to her obtaining a master’s degree in design in 1988 from the University of Minnesota. Eventually, travels led Frost to live on Maui and design resort wear. Out of a personal need and with her design background, Frost created the ERGObaby carrier. She believed that her design offered ergonomic and psychological benefits to both parent and baby. Frost hand-sewed the first 50 carriers, but demand quickly exceeded her ability to make the product herself. In 2010, Frost agreed to sell her company to Compass Management Group. Business was built to up to $30 million in annual revenue and as many as 40 employees, 20 in the United States and 20 in Europe. After the sale, Frost continues to work as the chief design officer and serves as a board member.
| What |
A Conversation with Karin Frost |
| Where |
Iao Theater in Wailuku |
| When |
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Registration: 5:00 p.m.
Program: 5:30-7:30 p.m. |
| Cost |
FREE |
| RSVP |
To reserve a seat, call Cari Taylor, 875-2336, or email: cari@medb.org. |
Jan 22, 2013 | Community
Susan and John Guard
Since opening in November 1973, Maui pet lovers have found a friend at The Pet Shop. In fact, the relationship of being a friend is the motto of the nearly 40-year-old business, said John Guard, president and founder. “Our primary selling proposition is ‘where you’ve got a friend — since 1973,” he said. Further, The Pet Shop’s mission is “providing quality pets and pet supplies to the pet-loving population of Maui, sold with a spirit of Aloha.”
The business has grown along with Maui, which only had a resident population of around 40,000 in 1973. Guard said that when the business opened then, he had a staff of three — himself, his wife, Susan, and one employee. “Today we currently employ nine others, in addition to ourselves,” he said. Guard credits his business’ success to taking a long view. “I’ve always held the attitude that I wasn’t in this for the short term, always the long term,” he said. “That meant working hard to build long-lasting, trusting relationships with our customers.”
Guard says his business aim is “to operate with integrity and aloha in all dealings, both with customers as well as vendors,” he said. “We like to treat them as friends.” As a result of this approach, Guard explains, The Pet Shop has grown to become a part of the Maui community. “Our business has grown from an initial 712-square-foot store, and after numerous expansions over the years, we now occupy over 5,300 square feet — and our front door has never moved. “Our growth has involved numerous local construction crews. We advertise with local media. All the animals we currently sell are locally raised (with the exception of the tropical fish, although we do buy many locally). Of course, all of our profits remain on Maui.” The Pet Shop was voted Retail Business of the Year for Maui County in 2007 by the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. Last year, it was awarded the Certificate of Outstanding Achievement by Mayor Alan Arakawa at the Maui County Small Business Awards. In 2012, it was voted “Best Pet Shop on Maui” by “Hawaii on TV.”
Jan 16, 2013 | Community
Husband and wife Alexs and Rebecca Filipovic are sharing their love for soccer with youngsters across the island. They established the Valley Isle Academy this past year with the help of a sponsor who believed in their coaching methods. Aleks, a college soccer athlete, had been independently coaching Maui players in small group clinics. Rebecca, a former New Zealand national team player, has also been coaching soccer on Maui. They said they wanted to create an organization that focused specifically on technical, tactical and emotional player development, rather than building teams entering competition.
The Filipovics said they recognized the need for team training that provides players a chance to compete to be on a team and then evaluated by their own peers. “We understand that, at all levels, passion and fun are critical to success,” Rebecca Filipovic said. “We believe that fundamental skill development and education of the game is a critical aspect of fun; it is more important than winning, even among the best athletes.” Valley Isle Academy provides its players training in eight-week clinic modules. “Through our clinics, we train players from other teams or clubs across Maui,” Aleks Filipovic said. “We meet with head coaches to discuss specific goals they have for their teams’ development and create a curriculum to meet those goals.”
In the end, Rebecca, who works as a full-time attorney, and Aleks, who serves as the director of coaching for the academy, said they realize as coaches that they are also role models, mentors and teachers to all their athletes. “We are creating an environment that instills the values of healthy competition, sportsmanship and teamwork that players will carry in all aspects of life,” Rebecca Filipovic said. The academy operates largely on corporate sponsorship and community support. For more information, contact Rebecca at 281-3839 or Aleks, 240-538-5632, or email them at academy@valleyislesoccer.com. Their website is www.valleyislesoccer.com.
Jan 9, 2013 | Community
Hāli‘imaile Pineapple Vice President Rodrigo Balala (left) and Wailea Beach Marriott General Manager Bill Countryman (right)
The pineapple industry once provided thousands of jobs on Maui. Now, the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is involved in reinvigorating the pineapple market and consumption of locally grown fruit. Wailea Beach Marriott’s General Manager Bill Countryman initiated the promotion of pineapples at the resort after becoming concerned about the downturn in pineapple production and challenges to local farming on Maui. “I’ve been on the island for about 25 years and I really wanted to be able to help farmers here,” Countryman expressed.
One avenue has been with education. Wailea Beach Marriott hosts pineapple demonstrations by the Hāli‘imaile Pineapple Company Ltd. Both guests and employees are encouraged to attend the presentations where the history of the fruit is covered and ideas are provided on how it can be incorporated into a meal. The Marriott’s special VIP clients receive Maui Gold pineapples as both a welcoming and departing gift, and every guest at the resort is provided a card and flyer that offers them an opportunity to order the locally grown fruit. The resort has also spotlighted pineapple during special dinners for local business leaders and some of its best customers. “We’re happy to do this and we see it as a way to promote local agriculture,” Countryman stated.
Hāli‘imaile Pineapple Vice President Rodrigo Balala said Wailea Beach Marriott has brought a “steady” stream of business to his three-year-old company. “It really helps us in getting more exposure with visitors,” Balala said. The pineapple company is working to expand local pineapple promotions with other hotels. “It’s a great matchup and a good way for the tourism industry to support agriculture,” Balala noted. Countryman reported both resort employees and guests have provided positive feedback and appreciation for the pineapple demonstrations and promotions. “When you look up the history, you’ll find that pineapple is a universal symbol of hospitality. So this is great that we can promote pineapple in the hospitality industry,” he said. Countryman believes both the agriculture and hospitality industries can prosper side by side “if they all support each other.”
Jan 2, 2013 | Community
From Makawao to Wailuku, Haiku to Lahaina, youth across the island are vowing to do their part to do better in school, show appreciation for family and contribute to their community’s welfare. Noa, 13, of Haiku, vows in 2013 to: “Do my homework earlier in the evening.” In Lahaina, 16-year-old Melissa said she’s been doing “really good” in her senior year but the stress and pressure has been overwhelming. “Basically I shouldn’t let the stress and pressure get to me. I should turn these problems into something positive and let them motivate me,” she said.
Kaitlin, 17, of Makawao, said as a high school senior she’s beginning to realize how much she takes her relationships with family for granted. “I really just want to spend time with them before I go to college, letting them know how much I care about them.” Demi, 18, of Wailuku, said she’s had to deal with the differences in personality with four siblings in her home. “We all tend to be really stubborn and never listen to each other,” Demi said. “We have to improve our communication skills and learn not to talk over each other.” Alisha, 17, of Paia, said she wants to show appreciation for her parents in 2013. “I know that my parents sacrifice a lot for me so that I may succeed, so in return I will make sure to do my part by doing well as a student and contributing to my family by doing my chores as well as thanking them for their support and help.”
In regard to contributing to their community, students were drawn to a variety of causes from caring for the homeless to mentoring younger peers. For Demi, she said she would like to engage in service projects such as beach clean-ups and canned food drives. Alisha said she’d like to continue volunteering at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, while Lola, 16, of Kihei, wants to pass on lessons about leadership. “I will mentor younger students at my school and encourage them to expand on their strengths and overcome their weaknesses that may stop them from reaching their full potential.”
