May 6, 2020 | Community
The essential community workers that we see every day have become our lifelines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They are our heroes. Possibly those working in supermarkets and other large retail corporations are the only other people we might talk to in person all day or all week. Their jobs have grown to include smiling while politely assisting and defraying the island’s tensions. Now among the island’s most crucial personnel, retail workers as well as other everyday essential workers, are exposed to new dangers. For example, cleaning of stores and check-out stands has ramped up. Store hours have changed to protect workers and customers, including additional hours for seniors to shop, increased closure hours for deep cleaning each night, and more.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Aaron Favila
One supermarket store manager said, “In emergencies like this, we hear a lot about the first responders and those on the front lines. That’s important, and in this case doctors, nurses, firefighters, and everyone else working in that realm of healthcare deserve much honor. But what about the people working in the supermarkets, restaurants, and elsewhere — those handling the pandemonium — with our mad dash for most everything on the shelves?”
Upcountry resident Taryn Feliciano agreed, “From the cashiers, to the meat and fish department workers, and those stocking the shelves, they are all brave souls along with anybody else working in the public while most people stay at home. From replenishing supplies to answering questions, the calm that they exhibit every day in the supermarkets and other open establishments is reflected in the island shoppers, who on the whole remain pretty neighborly.”
Grocery workers, in particular, have also become the front- line during the health crisis─ interacting with potentially hundreds of people every day. They are risking infection every time they come within a few feet of a customer. Of all essential employees, along with the medical profession, the ones who bag groceries at the store, handle cash, give directions to needed products, and restock shelves all day long, are the ones with the most contact. These positions now assume increased risk for these service providers. Still, they remain steadfastly committed to the vital service they are providing to each of us.
Thanks to all those in our community who are continuously providing help and services to everyone.
MEDB Staff
Apr 29, 2020 | Education, Stemworks
Every year, teachers, industry professionals, and hundreds of students from across the state converge at the Hawaii Convention Center to participate in an elaborate celebration of all things STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). The conference is sponsored by the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) STEMworks™ program. However, the 2020 Hawaii STEM Conference live event was cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, like so many other events in the community.
“In the days following the cancellation, teachers and students expressed their disappointment at missing this opportunity for professional development and engagement with industry leaders,” said Katie Taladay, STEMworks™ Program Manager. “The STEMworks team began compiling opportunities to bring highlights from the annual meeting to life virtually. Therefore, on May 7-9, for the first time ever, the Hawaii STEM Conference will be moving to an online platform using a combination of live Zoom sessions and recorded videos.”
Students, teachers, and industry professionals from across Maui and the state will have the opportunity to participate in a keynote talk from Microsoft, live training sessions on Artificial Intelligence, Geospatial Information Systems, and more. There will also be a STEM Industry Playground Video Library to learn about workplace needs and opportunities, live Stemmy Awards for competition winners, and a two-day Virtual Hackathon in partnership with BizzyB and Malama Maunalua.
The fast-paced Hackathon is an Oyster Cage Design Challenge, where students will learn about Malama Maunalua’s mission to help improve water quality in their ahupuaa by growing oysters to filter out water pollutants. Teams of 3-5 students will meet in virtual breakout rooms under the guidance of mentors to research and discuss their oyster cage design. Using the BizzyB platform to take their product from idea to market, students will pitch their product in a virtual showcase event to a team of judges. The top three winners plus all participants will receive Microsoft gifts. In addition, the first-place winners will have the opportunity to prototype and test their design in real life. Taladay added, “The conference is free to STEMworks teachers, mentors, and students. For students without access to a device, STEMworks will make iPads available through our Lending Library.”
Our first virtual conference will support collaborations and mentorships among students and the STEM community, even after the conference ends.
Katie Taladay, STEMworks™ Program Manager
Apr 22, 2020 | Innovation
Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) has lost a dear friend and dedicated STEMworks™ supporter with the passing of Irene Hirano Inouye, widow of the late United States Senator Daniel Inouye. Hirano Inouye was a nationally recognized leader in the nonprofit sector, with more than 35 years’ experience in nonprofit administration, community education, and public affairs. Her national reputation has been built on a record of vision, collaboration, and accomplishment, as well as an unyielding commitment to the values of fairness and individual opportunity.
Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO reflected, “In 2013, MEDB, with the endorsement of Hirano Inouye, established the Daniel K. Inouye (DKI) Innovation Award to honor the late Senator’s vision for Maui as an innovation center for the latest scientific and technological advances. She recognized the critical nature of MEDB’s work throughout its history to enhance education and training in our community.”
In past years, the senator and his wife headlined MEDB’s annual Ke Alahele Education Fund dinner, with proceeds used to support and administer MEDB-led STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) educational programs and to provide grants for STEM initiatives. “The DKI Award is presented to a Maui County project team that demonstrates the most innovative use of STEM tools and capabilities to serve and improve our community,” said Wilkins. “The Award is open to all Maui County students in grades 6-12 who submit a project that has a practical function and value to the community.”
Hirano Inouye received the Global Ambassador Award from the Price School for best representing the mission and expertise of the school in a global setting. She served as president of the Washington D.C.-based United States-Japan Council, which enhances relations between the two countries through people-to-people connections. In addition, Hirano Inouye has been recognized for her outstanding leadership as the former CEO and President of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, and her service with prominent philanthropic and nonprofit boards across the country, including the Ford Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution, and the President’s Committee on the Arts & Humanities, among others.
Hirano Inouye was involved in nonprofit work early in her career, serving for 13 years with a clinic for low- and moderate-income women and families. She was a gracious humanitarian!
Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President & CEO
Apr 15, 2020 | Innovation
Mayor Michael Victorino recently announced $100,000 in grant funds to Maui Economic Development Board Inc. (MEDB) for local production of emergency ventilators to treat COVID-19. “This is very good news!” said Victorino. “Ventilators are crucial when it comes to effectively caring for COVID-19 patients, so having these companies producing them on island is a true blessing for our community. We also want to mahalo MEDB and the two companies for their partnership in producing these ventilators.”
There are several nationwide collaborations that are developing open-source plans for manufacturing ventilators, including a group from MIT, UT-Austin, UC-Irvine, and a few groups in Hawaii. On Maui, two locally-owned technology companies are immediately redeploying their engineering and machining capabilities to manufacture the ventilators. Maui Innovation Group, led by Dr. Ned Davis at the Maui Research and Technology Park, is currently developing breakthrough magnetic valve technology at the U.S. Air Force Academy. HNu Photonics, led by Dr. Dan O’Connell of Kahului, presently has their Maui-built biolab in orbit on the International Space Station.
“Our companies are in the process of retooling to manufacture ventilators to support Hawaii’s needs,” said O’Connell. “We were called to action to use our design and manufacturing facility to produce bridge ventilators that provide basic assisted-breathing mechanisms for various stages of patient treatment. We are working with multiple groups that have been assembled quickly in response to the growing urgency. These groups are sharing information about designs, plans, specifications, components, vendors, regulatory requirements, and safe operation.”
“Thank you to these local companies, founded by our talented tech professionals on Maui, for their efforts and willingness to step up during this time of need,” said Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO. “The effort is part of a nationwide emergency collaboration to recruit technology companies to fill national and local ventilator needs. The two Maui companies came together quickly on conference calls with national officials to discuss the details. Once they ramp up production they will be in a position to supply Hawaii with ventilators and help the national repository, but Maui is a first priority.”
Maui can be proud of its local businesses for meeting urgent community needs by using their technical knowledge and skills.
— Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO
Apr 8, 2020 | Community
Kyle Kawakami, Maui-born 2019 Chef of the Year, is continuously thinking of ways to help his Maui community. His philanthropy is endless. He is well known for placing an Aloha tip jar on the counter of his Maui Fresh Streatery Food Truck to help raise funds for those in need. Whether it is individuals or nonprofits, his gifts have totaled over $50,000. “The Pay it Forward program translates as Aloha Spirit,” Kawakami said. “We as a community need to come together during these times to support each other. Without compassion and caring for our kupuna, our neighbors, our friends, and our ohana we have nothing. It is what separates us from the rest of the world─ what makes us Hawaii.”
Kawakami is assisting the community in numerous ways. “First, we are using our location as a food hub to help local farmers and fish purveyors sell their harvests that are currently not moving,” he said. “Our first food hub was with Okoa Farms. They dropped off 20 boxes filled with a farmer’s choice of produce, which we sold for them, giving 100 percent of the proceeds back to the farm.”
Another community assistance program Kawakami implemented is Kokua Meals. Customers are able to make donations to purchase meals for families in need, children that normally receive free or subsidized lunches, socially isolated seniors, and others. “Today,” he said, “we had volunteers deliver 45 meals to those in the community, along with other donated food products such as fresh bread and sausage.”
Additionally, Kawakami changed his Maui Fresh Streatery service to address the current pandemic situation that we are in. “At this time, we have implemented a Zero Contact Service,” he explained. “Meals are cooked, packaged, and labeled. The zero contact comes upon pickup. Customers remain in their cars. When it is their turn to order we give an alcohol wipe to sanitize their hands and take payment. The food is placed on a table near the car for the customer to claim. Then, we sanitize the table for the next order. We will get through this together!”
Our Aloha tip jar is currently being used to assist with the Kokua Meals through our Pay it Forward program. You can’t shut down Aloha!
Kyle Kawakami, Maui Fresh Streatery Food Truck, Chef/Owner
