Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Maui and the Kwock Hing Society in Kula, the annual effort to re-establish the fragrant sandalwood trees in Kula has become an earnest community project for this team. Their tree-planting project was a huge success this year. During the early 1800s, the royal sandalwood ‘ilahi’ became a valuable trade commodityand was quickly over-harvested. In later years, the trade in sandalwood had collapsed and the forests were exhausted. Thanks to conservation efforts over time, the remarkable sandalwood trees have made a comeback.
“It is important to honor our ancestors by gathering the community to re-plant the sandalwood, teach its history, and educate the younger generation about its importance,” said Sarah Shim, president of the Kwock Hing Society and board member of the Maui Chinese Club. “One of our goals at Kwock Hing is to restore Sandalwood Mountain. We are thankful that the Rotary Club of Maui offered to help. They are the primary people that started this project with us. They have been a joy to us and also helped us make needed repairs in our very old building. Built in 1907 in Keokea, the Kwock Hing Temple has been a place for traditional celebrations and community educational programs. The building was placed on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places in 1982, and the National Register of Historic Places later that year.”
Rev. Heather Mueller, president of the Rotary Club of Maui, noted, “We had approximately 60 people helping to plant trees at the temple cemetery and in the surrounding Kula area. Unjust demands in the 1800s caused so much hardship that the Hawaiian sandalwood trade had come to a halt. Therefore, we feel the need to restore our mountain again with sandalwood trees. Besides beautifying our island, trees absorb carbon and release oxygen, reducing the effects of climate change. They also bind the soil, which will help if we have extreme upcountry weather events. To see so many volunteers come out to plant, and be part of something to help mitigate the harmful effects of climate change, is wonderful!”
Our purpose is to create and maintain a balanced environment, preserving the natural wealth of our ‘āina.
Rev. Heather Mueller, President, Rotary Club of Maui
Shaka, A Story of Aloha is a full-length documentary about the origin and meanings of the Shaka gesture, currently recognized in Hawaii and around the world. The film features an award-winning team of production artists including Henry Kapono as Music Director and Robert ‘Lono’ Ikuwa as Cultural Expert. Produced by Steve Sue, Chairman of Bizgenics, a Hawaii-based nonprofit organization specializing in creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship programs, the film is a call to serve one’s community through positivity and sharing the aloha spirit.
The film explores multiple versions of how the Shaka gesture came about, how it progressed to global use, the origin of the word, and how it has been used to share the aloha spirit. Kapono said, “This project is going to connect everyone. The music in the movie is uplifting, the message is great, and I’m proud to be part of it.”
Sue explained, “The story started as a passing curiosity when a friend introduced me to kupuna (elders) who, as keiki (children) in the 1930s and 1940s, knew the Shaka Man, Hamana Kalili, known as the father of the Shaka sign. Kalili lost three middle fingers on one of his hands. How he lost the fingers is a subject of local legend. However, when he waved to people he held up the hand that had only a thumb and pinky finger. The wave caught on, was soon adopted by others, and the rest is history!”
While the above storyline is well-documented, alternative origin stories abound, including a Maui-based version that centers around David ‘Lippy’ Espinda. There is also a Molokai-based Kalaupapa leprosy colony version, and a Portuguese drinking gesture version. As documentarians, the crew presents all credible findings so audiences can decide for themselves.
Sue added, “In the end, we may never prove the actual historical origin, but what seems clear is that the Shaka originated in Hawaii and carries the aloha spirit to the world. And today, more than ever, the world needs love, optimism, tolerance, and living with aloha. We’re honored to be entrusted with this story of the Shaka attitude of Aloha.”
The film has spawned several Project Shaka initiatives, including Shaka-based education, scholarship, and sharing-aloha programs.
Steve Sue, Bizgenics Chairman, Shaka Executive Producer
Through the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) STEMworks™ Ag Business & Technology Internship program, students in grades 9-12 and college undergraduates have the opportunity to gain experience in multiple industries within the agriculture sector of the economy to find their interests, build their resume, and become career ready.
“During this time, our STEMworks interns are busy using industry-standard technologies to develop a service-learning project to improve their community,” said Britney James, STEMworks Agriculture Program Specialist. “The program is designed to prepare students with real-world, hands-on career exposure, college and employability skill-building opportunities, and industry networking experiences. Along the way, interns worked tirelessly on creative and critical thinking as well as their professional and software skills.”
James added, “The students who participated in the recent Internship Program gained many workforce readiness skills, including time management, having to balance full-time school and the internship. Some of them even had a second job! They are all exceptional individuals and I am excited to say that many of them now plan to pursue careers in agriculture after participating in this internship.”
“The showcase featured 11 interns from seven host companies with eight mentors,” explained Aileen Kim, Baldwin High School 9th grader. “I interned at WaiPono Farm at the University of Hawaii Maui College Sustainable Living Institute where I learned aquaponics and hydroponics greenhouse. During this time, I was able to raise tilapia fish and grow community resources, while also learning about the systems which help create a healthy life for both our fish and plants. Our greenhouse grows community resources such as bok choy, lettuce, tomatoes and zucchini, and shares these resources with others.”
Lei’ohu Turley, Seabury Hall 11th grader, reflected on her experience, “My internship was at Noho’ana Farm, an energy self-sufficient, family-run farm situated on two acres of kuleana (privileged responsibility) land. Along with kalo, other important Hawaiian crops are cultivated at the farm using traditional, sustainable, and organic farming practices. I learned about irrigation and water resource management, using farm equipment, and planting and harvesting crops. Now, I also have a deeper appreciation for cultural values and environmental issues.”
I hope to continue my internship. Mahalo to STEMworks and Noho’ana Farm for this opportunity!
Lei’ohu Turley, Seabury Hall student
Invited by the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC), two respected leaders of Hawaii’s government came to Maui to share experiences of their time at the helm of the Aloha State between 2010 and 2014. Former Attorney General (AG) David Louie was interviewed by special guest former Governor Neil Abercrombie about Louie’s new book, “From the Desk of the Attorney General: A Memoir.”
AG Louie, the country’s first Chinese-American state AG, featured excerpts from his book and Governor Abercrombie offered his unique expertise as an interviewer. “My book is a memoir of my experiences as a public servant—the challenges faced, the insights gained, the lessons learned,” Louie explained. “I wanted to share the behind-the-scenes account of the way things really get done, how issues are addressed and decisions made, how goals are achieved and power wielded. My historic koa wood desk in Hawaii’s state capitol gave me a front row seat for viewing and shaping landmark cases on environmental issues, Native Hawaiian rights, internet safety, same-sex marriage, human trafficking and more.”
Former Governor Abercrombie’s career spans five decades as an elected official. From 1975 to 1979, he served in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Later he was elected to the Hawaii Senate. He won a seat in the U.S. Congress in 1986 in a special election to complete the term of a resigning member of the US House of Representatives. Abercrombie noted, “In the pages of his book, Louie covers a wide range of political and governmental issues, both in Hawaii and across the country, all of interest to anyone who wants to make a difference and contribute to the common good. His Asian-American experiences and his standing as the country’s first Chinese-American AG greatly influenced his views on the importance of social justice for our communities.”
Deidre Teagarden, NVMC Executive Director added, “Louie’s account of his time as AG gives the reader a very special look into the inner workings of government at the highest level; the good, the not so good, and the humorous. We were thrilled that Governor Abercrombie was here in person to interview Louie.”
Serving as AG of Hawaii was both a serendipitous opportunity and a tremendous endeavor. I am forever grateful to Governor Abercrombie and to the countless others who helped me navigate the job in so many ways.
David Louie, Former Hawaii Attorney General
Tai Baird, a special-education fourth-grade inclusion teacher at Lihikai Elementary was a speaker at the 2022 Schools of the Future conference (SOTF) in Honolulu. SOTF is the largest annual event of its nature in the State and enables teachers and administrators across the islands’ public, private, and charter schools, to reflect upon how schools can better serve Hawaii’s children. Baird’s talk was about ‘My Digital Voyage’ (MDV), an online software program she helped create to teach children about internet safety. The Hawaiian characters in MDV, Hoku, a sea star, her parents, her tutu, and other classmates, learn lessons on how to be digital citizens.
A dedicated kumu, Baird always goes out of her way to make sure her students get the best opportunities available. “MDV is a thoughtful elementary learning series in digital citizenship and internet safety,” she explained. “Led by University of Hawaii specialist Thanh Truc T. Nguyen, it is part of a larger project called Web and Internet Safe Educated (WISE) Kids created by the Curriculum Research & Development Group at the University of Hawaii College of Education. We encourage schools and parents to visit the MDV online stories with children to engage in conversations about online safety measures. There is also a complimentary version of the program with a coloring book that contains lessons about being respectful and considerate when talking to others online, cyberstalking and bullying, and the continuous act of harassment, embarrassment, or intimidation via digital communication devices such as the computer, the cell phone, and other online social networks.”
Baird added, “The team intentionally included student developers, which increased teacher understanding of how the students are experiencing their blended realities of online and offline presence. The MDV lessons and curriculum are designed for all learners. You can use it as you wish and also expand it with math and science crossword puzzles, writing exercises, and more. Plus, there is an MDV student pledge to be a safe and responsible user of technology, to make healthy decisions online and offline, to check with trusted adults, and to listen, learn and respect different ideas.”
Throughout MDV, the student-teacher teams lead participants through curriculum units that can be adapted at their schools. Families are also encouraged to engage in these conversations.
Tai Baird, Lihikai Elementary School
