Aug 5, 2020 | Community, Small Business
Exciting projects, industry-best benefits and flexible working arrangements are a few of the reasons that Kihei-based Centauri was recently named a 2020 Hawai’i Best Place to Work by Hawaii Business Magazine. Centauri is a technology company providing high-end, creative software and engineering solutions to critical national security missions across space, cyber, missile defense and intelligence domains.
Although headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, Centauri has a long-standing office in Kihei. The nearly 50 employees in Kihei support federal government customers in high-tech areas such as space domain awareness. Centauri’s corporate strategy brings together top experts in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), as well as intelligence operations and analysis.
“There is a sense of energy, drive, pride in accomplishment and commitment in the work at Centauri,” said Daron Nishimoto, Centauri Director of Advanced Technologies. “Our pervasive culture of excellence in all that we do defines who and what we are, as we focus on the important missions of our customers. Because our employees are our most valuable asset, we have built a company that recognizes the achievements of our team members.”
Centauri offers career opportunities and paid military leave for both veterans and their spouses, which is why more than 35% of employees are veterans. “For many veterans, the Centauri culture embodies a comparable sense of camaraderie and values instilled in the armed forces,” said Nishimoto. “We do work that matters on cutting-edge technologies critical to our nation.”
Centauri’s flexible work environment allows employees to be in charge of their hours, allowing them to accomplish their work on their own schedule so they do not have to sacrifice important appointments, school events or family needs. As for benefits, the company offers a high-match 401k and a selection of generous healthcare packages including medical, prescription drug, dental and vision, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and survival support. Employee charitable contributions are matched, and stipends for continuing education are provided.
“Everyone in Kihei, and even those reporting into Hawaii from the continental US, genuinely enjoy working with us,” said Nishimoto. “Ultimately, our workplace culture of excellence defines our success and makes Centauri a Best Place to Work in Hawaii.”
At Centauri, we have been recognized by major nationwide and local awards programs. Presently, we are welcoming 2020 Summer Interns to our first-ever virtual program.
Daron Nishimoto, Centauri Director of Advanced Technologies
Jul 29, 2020 | Community
Hawaiian Paddle Sports
Kama’aina First, an exciting program supported by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development (OED), brings our local community together, to kokua one another, during these unprecedented times of COVID-19. This is an opportunity for Maui County businesses to share their kama’aina deals at no cost; for locals to take advantage of great discounts on staycations, meals, services, products; and, best of all, to show aloha for our islands’ businesses and ‘ohana.
“The Kama’aina First program is kick-starting our island economy by supporting employment and circulating dollars right here at home.,” said Maui Mayor Michael Victorino. “By providing a platform for local businesses to offer discounts and great deals to our local residents we help our friends, neighbors and community.”
OED Director JoAnn Inamasu said, “The support of the Kama’aina First program has been incredible. Since its launch on June 1st, we have nearly 500 local businesses participating in the program, with special offers and vendor applications still being submitted. We are looking for a great deal and our community has risen to the challenge of supporting our local businesses in this time when they need our help to remain in business. It is all about ‘Locals supporting locals’!”
Residents are being encouraged to stay on island and continue to support local businesses. The program is open to all County of Maui companies and residents. There is no cost to participate in the program, and the County of Maui shares offers with the residents via the website and Kama’aina First Facebook and Instagram pages.
Mayor Victorino summed it up by saying, “This allows our residents to enjoy our islands first, as we fully adjust to the new normal. Life has changed drastically for our kama’aina and we look forward to businesses offering them the chance to enjoy unique deals and experiences. Because updates are made daily, we encourage folks to visit these online resources often. We extend a big mahalo to all our locals who continue to help each other during these challenging times. I urge everyone to regularly check the www.KamaainaFirst.com website for new deals.”
With the moratorium lifted on interisland travel, both the KamaainaFirst.com website and Facebook group offer the perfect opportunity to try a variety of experiences, products, and services on the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.
Michael Victorino, Maui County Mayor
Jul 22, 2020 | Education, Stemworks
Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks™ Internship Program inspires the next STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) generation. Under the internship program, students in grades nine through college have a unique opportunity to explore technical and professional development, and gain confidence in their ability to be a STEM professional. STEMworks™ emphasizes connecting the dots among curriculum, software tools available in the classroom, and real world applications. Interns will gain valuable on-the-job skills while being able to network with industry professionals; a win-win outcome.
“This year, due to COVID-19, the STEMworks™ team worked hard to personalize work-based learning experiences in the new virtual dimensions,” said Katie Taladay, STEMworks™ Program Manager. “We collaborated with internship host companies and our community partners to help reshape the plan for this year’s program. The summer internship, held virtually for four weeks instead of the standard six weeks, will provide interns with the opportunity to use industry-standard technologies to complete projects. Additionally, the interns participate in weekly webinars to help them develop college preparatory and career skills.”
“STEMworks™ Intern Peyton Gillespie said, “The STEMworks™ Summer Internship team has brought together a wide variety of organizations and students from almost every island. I am looking forward to my third year participating in the program. Despite the unprecedented circumstances and the internships being moved online, I am confident that we are going to have just as productive a year as any other. We launched this year’s event with a virtual kickoff, introducing us to the online format, details of our individual internships, and an overall opportunity to learn about various STEM careers.”
Gillespie added, “For the past two years, I interned on Molokai at Keawanui Fishpond working in natural resource management and preservation of a cultural site. I built on my leadership, teamwork, agriculture, aquaculture, and resource management skillsets, not to mention the network I built both working at the Fishpond and with the STEMworks™ team. This year, I will be the liaison between the STEMworks™ interns and the staff. I am looking forward to following the other interns on their paths as well.”
The STEMworks™ team efficiently moved the program online and I am excited to take part in this new kind of intern experience.
Peyton Gillespie, STEMworks™ Intern
Jul 15, 2020 | Sustainability
Rotary International District 5000 announced the award of $31,000 in grants to Hawaii Rotary clubs to support COVID-19 relief projects. The Hawaii District 5000 funds come from dues and donations from club members across the islands. Funds that were budgeted this year for conferences, training and travel have been re-allocated to these COVID-19 grants. The clubs are using these grants to work with Hawaii nonprofit community partners to provide COVID-19 relief.
“Rotary is about helping people in our local communities,” said Eric Kaler, District Governor of Rotary in Hawaii. “We are mobilizing and re-deploying funds to enable our Hawaii clubs to do even more to provide relief for people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to the grant, the clubs collectively contributed a supplemental $3,600 for projects. The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise procured and assembled masks and other personal protective equipment for medical workers on Maui. The masks were sourced from Min Plastics, a Honolulu company with more than 70 years of fabrication experience, who began producing face shields in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Bridget Bongaard, Rotary Club of Maui President, said, “Our club has successfully transitioned from being a traditional club that meets at a local restaurant each week, to one that is able to meet and plan using Zoom conferencing. We choose a different community project each month that we all support and serve. Recently, we delivered a grant check to Na Hoaloha, a nonprofit that provides essential services to the elderly in our community, such as transportation, and currently a virtual volunteer program as well. Na Hoaloha used the funds to provide nutritious hot meals for their kupuna. Rotary supports numerous organizations like this in the community.”
Rotary clubs across the islands are staying actively connected during the pandemic using online meetings, social media, and email. Club members are volunteering to sew face masks, shop for supplies for kupuna, deliver food, provide financial information, and support food banks and programs in their local communities. Bongaard concluded, “It is so important to have the support of community organizations like Rotary in the face of this pandemic.”
Rotary members have created Facebook groups for “Care-mongering” on their islands. These groups are open to the public and serve to connect people and resources for COVID-19 pandemic assistance.
Bridget Bongaard, President, Rotary Club of Maui
Jul 8, 2020 | Education, Stemworks
Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks™ Hawaii program presented the first-ever 2020 Virtual STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) Conference. The agenda focused on developing 21st-century skills for future careers. Teachers and over 200 students exercised leadership, communication, and collaboration by engaging in hands-on STEM activities that involved problem-solving, scientific concepts and geospatial technologies.
“The 2020 Hawaii STEM Conference successfully moved to a virtual platform this year,” said Katie Taladay, STEMworks™ Program Manager. “We kicked off the three-day event with five industry presenters, and a Microsoft keynote message of inspiration for our students. In addition to the main event, 27 students participated in the STEMworks™ first virtual design challenge hackathon hosted on BizzyB. In this fast-paced challenge, students learned about Malama Maunalua’s mission to help improve water quality in their ahupua’a by growing oysters to filter local waterways. Each of the five teams impressed the four judges with their innovative designs for sustainably constructed oyster cages. We are thankful for all our participants, sponsors and speakers.”
Additionally, students competed in the 2020 STEMMY Award challenges designed to put their skills and creativity to the test. Jacob Gamble from Kalama Intermediate School won the Game Design Competition. Jazmyne Viloria from Maui High School won the Photography Competition. Winners from Maui Waena Intermediate School included Jacelyn Yun for the What’s Your Jam? Competition; Zoe Zane, Kamri Cruz and Sienna Jolie Racoma for the Leave Your Mark-et Design Competition; and Sienna Jolie Racoma and Kamri Cruz for the T-Shirt Design Competition.
“Our T-Shirt design is of a side profile, with an outline of the words ‘STEM is the Face of the Future’,” Cruz and Racoma explained. “It also includes circles with images of the different aspects of STEM. All of the individual symbols come together to make the whole person, which is portrayed as the side profile of the face.”
Jennifer Suzuki, Maui Waena STEMworks™ AFTERschool Coordinator added, “I am proud of my students for staying focused and continuing to work despite school closures. We appreciate STEMworks™ for giving our students the opportunity to stay engaged and productive in these challenging times.”
Our t-shirt design represents how future generations will be influenced by STEM.
Sienna Jolie Racoma and Kamri Cruz, 2020 STEMMY Award T-Shirt Design Winners, Maui Waena Intermediate School
