Apr 1, 2020 | Community
All of us at MEDB wish good health to everyone in our community in these difficult times. We would like to reinforce the new rules announced by the Mayor to keep residents safe and healthy during the fight against the spread of COVID-19, starting with staying at home and working from home except for essential activities and business, or government operations. Travel likewise should be minimized. We should all avoid any private or public gatherings outside the home, and wherever you are, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and often.
Announcing the restrictions effective March 25th, Mayor Victorino announced, “Decisive action is needed to stem the spread of COVID-19 and protect our healthcare resources, our hospital beds, respirators and the health and safety of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. I humbly ask all of us to do our part to flatten the curve and come together as a community.”
Essential activities during this period include those essential to maintain health and safety (such as visiting a doctor or getting medicine), getting food or pet food and necessary home supplies, caring for a family member in another household or caring for the elderly, minors, dependents, those with disabilities or other vulnerable persons, performing essential business or government work, or taking part in solitary outdoor exercise (running, walking, hiking).
For more information, and for a list of government services and businesses that may remain open during this time, visit the County of Maui’s website at mauicounty.gov.
While the current restrictions are in place, MEDB will use this weekly space to keep our community updated in the coming weeks and highlight some of the positive and welcome initiatives that are taking place in our community as we pull together to meet the challenges facing all of us.
For more information, and for a list of government services and businesses that may remain open during this time, visit the County of Maui’s website at mauicounty.gov.
Mar 25, 2020 | Community
As we celebrate Women in History month across the nation, we are truly blessed that Lei’ohu Ryder continues to bring the spirit of aloha to Maui and to the world. A beacon of light in the community, Ryder’s music and albums have touched the hearts of locals and visitors alike. Her kuleana (responsibility), leadership, and honor for all beings is her global calling, and her talents and wisdom are loved everywhere she goes. She has received the Peace Educator Award from the United Nations, the Women of Honor Award from Women’s History Month, the Educator Award from the Peace Corps, and the Malama Ka’Aina Award from the Sierra Club.
“Aloha is everything!,” Ryder explained. “It is about living in the moment, grounding my heart in service, and helping wherever I can. I received my awards because I am passionate about peace. I designed a peace curriculum when I taught at ‘Iao Intermediate School, and recorded music with children based on DOE goals, all around harmony and tranquility. It was through being a peace advocate, blind to ideologies that separate us from experiencing the true nature of ourselves and others, that I was honored with the Gandhi-King Peace Award.”
Aloha in Action, a nonprofit started by Ryder and Maydeen Kuuipo ‘Iao, both known as spiritual leaders, visionaries, healers, singers/songwriters and educators, earned them the title of Emissaries of Aloha. “Aloha in Action translates to helping others,” Ryder explained. “Our concerts support Aloha in Action as well as donations from community members. Through the nonprofit, we have been able to build schools in Kenya, provide scholarships in India, and contribute to educational funds here in Hawai’i. Additionally, we are able to help individual people and families in need of food and supplies here on Maui. It is wonderful to go directly to the people with goodwill and lovingkindness. We cannot fix everything, but Aloha in Action is giving something, and every bit helps. We invite the world to join us. Let us create a lei of aloha together, string it along and find the treasure of love in the center.”
We are currently recording our new CD, ‘Sacredness of All’, due out in May. Our music is about sharing a healing message that touches hearts.
Lei’ohu Ryder, Maui Musician and Emissary of Aloha
Mar 18, 2020 | Innovation
Upcountry girl Cymbree Kailiehu-Fevella, owner and founder of Cymz Sweet Kre8tionz Bakery, creates signature sweets of all kinds. Her journey began in 2014 while baking for family and friends. “What was just a hobby in the beginning became something that blossomed into a full time business,” said Fevella. “My mom used to bake all the time. I simply inherited a love of baking from her.” Fevella incorporates local fresh fruits from growers around the island to add to her truffles, cake cups, ube (purple sweet potato) pies, cupcakes, tarts, and more. “I try to remain innovative and creative when it comes to the ingredients,” she said. “I truly love what I create and bake, and try to show it through my work.”
Last summer Fevella and her husband opened up their own bakery retail shop at 153 Ma’a Street in Kahului. They built their own fully equipped commercial kitchen and a retail storefront to showcase the desserts. Over the years, Fevella worked with Gerry Smith, Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Director of Business Development. “He has been the best thing that has ever happened for our business,” she said. “He helped us understand how to price our products correctly, and figure out the logistics of our costs and everyday expenses. I would like to give MEDB and Smith many thanks for mentoring us with everything, our company’s pitch presentation, our commercial profile, the shop’s overhead, and numerous business-related odds and ends.”
Smith added, “One of Fevella’s keys to success is her ability to take advantage of the services that are available to help her business. MEDB has helped her with analyzing costs and helping her prepare for pitches. She also enrolled in the Maui Food Innovation Center class, received assistance from the Maui Food Technology Center, and recently she applied for a Manufacturing Assistance Program grant from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. In 2018, Fevella won First Place in the Maui Food Industry X-Celerator Program at the UH Maui College. Anyone in the Maui community can apply for these support services.”
MEDB helped us stay focused, making sure we knew our margins and were maintaining our consistency.
Cymbree Kailiehu-Fevella, Owner, Cymz Sweet Kre8tionz Bakery, Kahului
Mar 11, 2020 | Innovation, Sustainability
In February, Maui intermediate schoolgirls attended Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED). Sponsored by Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) STEMworks™ (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) program, IGED is part of National Engineers Week, and marks MEDB’s 20th IGED anniversary. Over 70 attendees participated in activities designed to interest middle school girls in engineering career paths, which traditionally have been male-dominated.
“Our STEMworks™ project-based model is recognized nationally as an innovative, relevant, and successful approach to education,” said Lalaine Pasion, STEMworks™ Project Manager. “The mission of STEMworks™ is to provide students and teachers with resources and tools that empower them to improve their community and the world.” This year, industry partners Hawaiian Electric and the National Solar Observatory (NSO), along with MEDB’s STEMworks™ team and teachers, connected the students to real-world learning opportunities.
Sharon Suzuki, Hawaiian Electric President of Maui County and Hawai’i Island Utilities, said, “We’re honored to be a long-standing supporter of this event that has introduced young females on Maui to the field of engineering for the past 20 years. As a partner since its inception, our Maui staff always looks forward to engaging and fostering a new generation of STEM leaders and professionals in our communities.”
Jennifer Suzuki, Maui Waena Intermediate School STEM teacher, reflected, “Opportunities with IGED provide exposure to STEM fields and often plant the seed of interest, which lead to future careers. Some of my former IGED girls are now engineers, doctors, and computer scientists. Without this early exposure, these careers may not have even been on their radars.” Agreeing, Mark Cunningham, STEMworks Iao Intermediate Teacher, said, “These types of extraordinary experiences are what mold future ideas. My students returned to class with a passion for the world, how it works, and how to solve its problems.”
Lahaina Intermediate 7th grader Naiya Eide added, “IGED inspired me to set goals to be the best I can be, and never give up. Hawaiian Electric engineers gave tours of the facility and provided hands-on science experiments. We asked the NSO engineers questions about the Sun and space-related events, and learned first-hand how hard work and setting goals pay off.”
The STEMworks™ in-school and afterschool program engages, inspires, and motivates K-12 students throughout the islands.
Lalaine Pasion, STEMworks™ Project Manager
Mar 4, 2020 | Environment, Events, Small Business
The Hawai’i Energy Conference brings together regional and national experts on energy policy, strategies, leadership and innovation. The 2020 Conference will explore the timely issues of beneficial electrification and the design of an equitable energy transition. Participants will take a deep dive into how electrification can be “beneficial”. As more functions are served by electricity, demand for electricity will rise. This opens pathways for more deployment of renewable generation, which supports the sort of ambitious decarbonization goals that state legislatures are enacting. What are the benefits, challenges, and practical limits of electrification? How can we break through economic, cultural and linguistic barriers to ensure that we have an energy system that works for everyone? Is it possible to create a transition that respects local cultures, is socially just, and protects our most vulnerable?
Come join us as we explore pathways to creating an equitable, resilient energy system of the future.
