Clifford Nae’ole, Hawaiian cultural advisor for The Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua, provided the cultural opening at the 8th annual Hawaii Energy Conference (HEC). This year, the HEC explored the theme Energy Transition in Hawaii: Focus on Investments in People and Projects. Presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and supported by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, the two-day conference featured keynotes, panel discussions, interviews, networking, and exhibits.
Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO, noted, “We began the conference by reflecting on the HEC’s special focus of our responsibilities to the land and its people. “It was elegantly acknowledged and explained by Nae’ole in his pule, spoken and chanted.”
Nae’ole, using visual metaphors, said, “We gather together as one, collectively, for one cause for the betterment of mankind, to find energy sources, and to work toward one goal, sustainable energy. Make sure our energy sources are in order so that our children and grandchildren can live with balance in the world. Consider that we represent a universal canoe and each of us has our own canoe. Make sure to design your canoe towards one sustainable energy goal. Listen to each other. The crew that works together with understanding works through challenges and will get over the highest waves. Look to the future, respect each other, listen, understand, share, decide. The future is ours. We are connected by a single source of energy.”
Nae’ole was recently recognized with a Historic Preservation Award from the Historic Hawaii Foundation. The awards recognize and celebrate excellence in historic preservation throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and Nae’ole’s individual award honored his exemplary achievements in advocacy, education, programming, and preservation efforts.
Born and raised on Maui, Nae’ole is dedicated to creating bridges between the Hawaiian culture and the contemporary business world. As a pioneer in the development of educational programs, he has educated thousands and is highly respected for his knowledge of Hawaiian culture, language, and history. Nae’ole reflected, “I believe that everyone—past, present and future—needs to learn about our sacred island, and honor it now and forever.”
In accord with Nae’ole’s pule, the 2021 HEC explored energy transition in Hawaii focused on the skills of the people to develop our clean, secure, resilient, and sustainable energy future.
Maui Coffee Roasters (MCR), a staple business on Maui since 1982, joined Maui Business Connect, one of Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) newest programs for small businesses. The program focuses on growing local businesses in Maui County through training, mentoring, and networking, as well as connecting innovative businesses in the agriculture, creative, and health care industries. It is designed to help diversify the local economy and create jobs throughout the region.
Leslie Wilkins, President and CEO, MEDB, noted, “We hope to expand our business-development mentoring and counseling to target businesses that are past the ‘startup’ phase and are poised to scale, but need additional technical assistance and coaching to achieve the next level. These businesses are the job creators who will fuel our economy and MEDB’s goal is to offer programs to increase their probability of success.”
Throughout the years, MCR has provided the local community with a comfortable place to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee. Conveniently located in Kahului, they provide a prime spot for travelers and local residents alike. Well known for 100% Hawaiian Coffee, MCR was voted the Best Local Coffee Shop in 2018. It is also a longtime supporter of Maui’s non-profits and winner of the Community Business Award from the Maui Non-Profit Directors Association. The team roasts coffee from across the Hawaiian Islands, as well as a wide selection of international coffee. All of their coffee is freshly roasted in small daily batches using their eco-friendly Loring™ roasters, ensuring the best taste possible. They display colorful art, offer baked goods, and a selection of brewing accessories. However, along with other small businesses, MCR was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. “At MCR we have followed all safety precautions to keep our employees and customers safe,” said MCR General Manager Mike Okazaki. “We entered MEDB’s Maui Business Connect to support and network with other business owners. For 40 years, MEDB has been a dynamic force in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. The Maui Business Connect program assembled a cross-section of established businesses as a think tank of ideas to redefine vibrancy.”
MEDB’s Maui Business Connect program offers technical assistance and coaching to businesses, and helps diversify the local economy to create jobs throughout the state.
Mike Okazaki, Maui Coffee Roasters General Manager
This past March, Lokelani ‘Ohana re-opened their Saori weaving class to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Located in Wailuku, the nonprofit organization partnered with local artist Melissa Hagerty to bring therapeutic arts to the Maui community. “After the passing of our beloved Dana Allen, who led the creative weaving program for 15 years, the current class offered by Hagerty is a blessing to our community,” said Christina Chang, Founder and Director of Lokelani ‘Ohana. “Saori is a unique method of artistic weaving developed in Japan over fifty years ago by Misao Jo. Its underlying philosophy, weaving as a means to discover our true selves, encourages individual creativity.”
Based on the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, Saori is a worldview centered on accepting and appreciating the beauty of simplicity and naturalness. It is about exhibiting one’s true self through expressive, no-rules weaving. In a missed warp thread there can be unique human value in the non-machine-like fabric. These irregularities represent the uniqueness of human-made woven cloth as compared to a perfectly woven cloth. Imperfections on all levels are embraced. Most of all, Saori encourages inclusion of anyone who wishes to weave.
“The class, called Heart of the Hive, involves participants weaving one honey-comb hexagon shaped cell of a beehive in the indigenous Huichol weaving style known as the Ojo de Dios, the Eye of God,” Chang explained. “This style of weaving brings participants into their hearts, where they create a meaningful purpose that is expressed through their weaving.”
Hagerty added, “The participants create something special for themselves, friends, families, and communities. These goals could be for our earth, themselves, or each other. ‘Heart of the Hive’ says that the heart is where the intention for the weaving comes from, while the hive represents our communities as a whole. The simple style of weaving sparked the participants’ creativity, while also celebrating community and the power of forming intentions together. Once enough weavings are created, they can be connected to produce a large-scale woven beehive community art installation, symbolizing originality and harmony.”
Lokelani ‘Ohana creates therapeutic programs in housing, organic gardening, and the arts for all of our Maui community, including adults with developmental disabilities.
Christina Chang, Founder and Director, Lokelani ‘Ohana
The 8th annual Hawaii Energy Conference explored the energy transition in Hawaii with a focus on investments in people and projects.. The 2021 theme provided discussions on how to invest responsibly while designing energy projects that are resilient, financially viable, and respectful to the community.
The Molokai Clean Energy Hui (MCEH), an independent community-led group, is committed to help Molokai become a sustainable, clean energy community. MCEH coordinator Leilani Chow facilitates the group’s work on energy conservation, renewable energy, and clean transportation options for the island.
Chow, a Kanaka Maoli aloha ʻāina advocate, was raised on Molokai and has worked with Sustainable Molokai since 2010, first as a student volunteer, then as an intern, and most recently as the Hui Up Appliance Exchange Project Coordinator and Coordinator for the newly formed MCEH. She received her bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in 2017 with a concentration in Kūkulu Aupuni, nation building.
“We want to help the community understand and engage effectively with the complicated processes and project proposals surrounding renewable energy,” said Chow. “We also offer early vetting and input to potential energy developers and other organizations to help them understand Molokai’s priorities, questions, and concerns regarding the impacts and benefits.”
Chow explained, “MCEH would like to see clean energy goals and achieve 100 percent renewable energy. However, we are very aloha ‘aina so there are things that we are not willing to compromise on. However, we are working on a way to meet in the middle to have a mutually beneficial project. Based on our size—approximately 7,500 people live on Molokai—we need only a couple of large scale projects to take care of our sustainability and energy resiliency needs.”
Chow added, “MCEH is currently working on a resilience plan with best ways to stabilize our grid. Once all the technical aspects are taken care of, and the community is brought into the conversation, it will be easier to find a developer who understands our needs. Building trust and respect between stakeholders within the context of equitable community development is vital.”
The 8th annual Hawaii Energy Conference explored the energy transition in Hawaii with a focus on investments in people and projects.. The 2021 theme provided discussions on how to invest responsibly while designing energy projects that are resilient, financially viable, and respectful to the community.
The Molokai Clean Energy Hui (MCEH), an independent community-led group, is committed to help Molokai become a sustainable, clean energy community. MCEH coordinator Leilani Chow facilitates the group’s work on energy conservation, renewable energy, and clean transportation options for the island.
Chow, a Kanaka Maoli aloha ʻāina advocate, was raised on Molokai and has worked with Sustainable Molokai since 2010, first as a student volunteer, then as an intern, and most recently as the Hui Up Appliance Exchange Project Coordinator and Coordinator for the newly formed MCEH. She received her bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in 2017 with a concentration in Kūkulu Aupuni, nation building.
“We want to help the community understand and engage effectively with the complicated processes and project proposals surrounding renewable energy,” said Chow. “We also offer early vetting and input to potential energy developers and other organizations to help them understand Molokai’s priorities, questions, and concerns regarding the impacts and benefits.”
Chow explained, “MCEH would like to see clean energy goals and achieve 100 percent renewable energy. However, we are very aloha ‘aina so there are things that we are not willing to compromise on. However, we are working on a way to meet in the middle to have a mutually beneficial project. Based on our size—approximately 7,500 people live on Molokai—we need only a couple of large scale projects to take care of our sustainability and energy resiliency needs.”
Chow added, “MCEH is currently working on a resilience plan with best ways to stabilize our grid. Once all the technical aspects are taken care of, and the community is brought into the conversation, it will be easier to find a developer who understands our needs. Building trust and respect between stakeholders within the context of equitable community development is vital.”
The Molokai community is continually active in wanting to find our energy future. This is such an exciting time!”
Leilani Chow, Coordinator Molokai Clean Energy Hui
The 8th Hawaii Energy Conference (HEC) explored the energy transition in Hawaii with a focus on investment in people and projects. Presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and supported by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, the annual conference, virtual this year, featured keynotes, panel discussions, interviews, networking, and exhibits. The conference addressed how to invest in the people while designing energy projects that are resilient, financially viable, and respectful to the community.
The panel discussion titled ‘Investing Respectfully in Hawaii’, moderated by Frank De Rego, Jr., MEDB Director of Business Development, Vice Chairman of the HEC Program Committee, and President of the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, employed a cultural and indigenous lens to focus on the dos and don’ts of developing energy projects in Hawaii. De Rego was joined by Carol-Marie Ka’onohi Lee, Po’o, ‘Aha Moku O Honua’ula Council; Suzanne Singer, Founder and Executive Director, Native Renewables; and Wren Wescoatt, Director of Development, Hawaii Longroad Energy.
De Rego observed, “The panelists agreed, cultural knowledge and community participation are key to implementing new energy projects, while conference attendees benefited from the cultural ‘ike (knowledge) shared.”
Lee said, “Developers contact me to learn the lay of the land about areas they want to develop. We work with the method of managing the land from mauka to makai because mauka affects the ocean. Developers need to understand basic native Hawaiian values, and historical and generational knowledge, to better serve the community.”
Singer explained, “The mainland and Hawaii have strong cultural ties to community and land, both vital to the development of renewable energy projects. The cultural knowledge and values of our indigenous Navajo and Hopi nations, many of whom are off the electric grid, is essential to discussions with developers about our economy and energy transition.”
Wescoatt added, “Building trust and respect within the context of equitable community development is vital. As a local representative in clean energy transition, my job is to help stakeholders understand the culture and values of the host community. A successful project here in Hawaii does not just produce clean energy, it needs to reflect and respect the values of the community.”
In order to build trust in renewable energy development, there has to be a sincere and pono two-way conversation.
Wren Wescoatt, Director of Development, Hawaii Longroad Energy
