Jan 22, 2020 | Innovation
Maui High School’s robotic team, Blue Thunder, is true to its mission to inspire and challenge a new generation to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). Since Blue Thunder’s rookie year in 2008, the team has had many accomplishments. “Robotics isn’t just about the robot,” said Maui High sophomore, Carlos Cortez. “It is about the team, the people, the bond and the commitment. It is about community.”
Cortez explained, “The program is split up into three departments, builders, programmers, and documenters. Builders design and create the robot based on the teams’ ideas. Each builder chooses a specialty such as welding or machining− learning specific skills to piece together our robot. Our programmers then bring the robot to life with their code. Using JAVA, the department tackles each specific mechanism. Connecting new and old team members allows students to learn from their peers and practice communication skills. Documenters are the community relations and communications of the team. They keep in contact with sponsors and other robotics teams, update social media, create promotional materials for the team, and use videography and photography to document the teams engineering process.”
The Blue Thunder team travels to two regional competitions every year. At the Hawaii Regional on Oahu, team members have the opportunity to meet fellow robotics enthusiasts from Hawaii as well as Guam, Australia, Japan, China, and Taipei. “We get to see many diverse teams with the same passions we have,” said Cortex. “They work hard and try to improve themselves every day, just like we do. It’s awesome being with teams from other countries doing the one thing we love and share− robotics.”
“None of these experiences would have happened without the help of the Maui Economic Development Board’s Ke Alahele Education Fund,” said Maui High School robotics teacher Keith Imada. An award-winning robotics educator, Imada has led Maui High teams to regional competitions for many years. “The Fund helps pay for hotel, transportation, airfare, competition fees, and shipping,” he said. “It also gives students an opportunity to be exposed to numerous STEM-related ideas.”
When we travel, it is interesting to see another team’s thought process and designs. Language barriers are broken down by the passion for robotics.
Carlos Cortez, Maui High School sophomore
Jan 15, 2020 | Community
Recently, the Maui Cancer Wellness Retreat (MCWR) for cancer survivors from Maui and Molokai was held at the Napili Kai Beach Resort. Following the Hawaiian opening ceremony officiated by Rev. John Hau’oli Tomoso, the three days focused on the retreat theme, ‘Healing Cancer from the Inside Out’. Led by Dr. Bridget Bongaard and a staff of healthcare professionals, MCWR, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was attended by 21 cancer survivors who all received scholarships to participate. Dr. Bongaard, a board-certified internal medicine physician with a post-doctoral fellowship in integrative medicine, designed the event to help cancer survivors, with any diagnosis, transform their lives into a new and better level of health and wellness.
“Integrative medicine looks at all angles to solve problems,” Bongaard explained. “My approach to wellness is a three-dimensional process, physical, emotional, and spiritual. When one has the power of information to make changes, the results become apparent quickly. Best of all, the ripple effect of building community, having support, and being able to care for ‘self’ is massive. It creates effective problem-solving and resilience strategies. It works to eliminate suffering while improving the physical, emotional, and spiritual quality of lives. We look forward to starting healing circles and to supporting each other as the journey — and more retreats –continue.”
A key MCWR presenter was board-certified Lifestyle Medicine physician, Dr. Irminne Van Dyken, who is also a trauma surgeon on Maui. Patrick Brault, a participant from Pukalani said, “Van Dyken’s presentation was relevant information to anyone with cancer. Her talk, “How to Restore the Physical Body to Heal” highlighted the importance of diet, nutrition, physical activity and the dangers of tobacco use and stress.” Attendee Ben Massenburg summarized the general feedback from all the MCWR participants, “With great teachers and fellow cancer survivors, we stood together and supported each other, learning techniques to create a more resilient spirit to promote healing.” A closing ceremony by Rev. Tomoso charged the cancer survivors to move forward in their healing journey. Attendee Rhett Ferguson concluded, “No one fights alone; this was never more evident than during this MCWR.”
“The MCWR program is specifically designed to teach participants skills to meet difficult challenges. With faith and community, there is always hope.”
To learn more about the MCWR contact Dr. Bongaard at bbongaard@gmail.com
Rev. John Hau’oli Tomoso, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Wailuku
Jan 8, 2020 | Education
Over the last 12 years, Aaron Kagawa has shared his expertise with over 1,000 students on Oahu. Kagawa is the co-founder of Altino Coding and Product Manager at a global technology startup, Kentik Technologies Inc. Recently, coordinating with Maui Economic Development Board, he decided to branch out to the other islands to explain his career to interested students. “My goal is to work with STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) teachers and students to bring engineering into the classrooms. I want the students to realize that they too can do what I do, if they put their minds to the task.”
An experienced software engineer, Kagawa has been heavily involved in STEM education and nonprofit work. Most recently, he helped kickstart the Altino Coding effort, training Hawaii’s educators in computer science. Kagawa also volunteers his time as technical lead towards cultural and technology efforts like Native Stories, a nonprofit audio content platform and production focused on authentic stories and experiences. Also, he has extensive experience in startups that have grown valuations and received venture capital investments.
“Software Engineering is a growing field that puts engineers in the coolest companies in the world solving the hardest problems in the world,” Kagawa said. “I have been traveling to schools across Hawaii to talk to students about software engineering explaining that if I can do it, then they can. When I was a kid, I never thought I would be a software engineer. I did not learn about coding till I was a sophomore at the University of Hawaii. I finally chose computer science, which at first I struggled with. I did not think I was smart enough, but I didn’t give up. I studied hard, practiced, and asked a lot of questions. After a while I started to understand coding. Plus, I realized that my skills in communication, teamwork, creativity, and thinking outside the box actually mattered in coding. I want all students to know that with hard work they can also have this great job in their future.”
The most important things to becoming a successful software engineer are working hard and believing in yourself. And never give up!
Aaron Kagawa, Product Manager, Kentik Technologies Inc., Co-founder of Altino Coding
Jan 1, 2020 | Community
January 1 will mark not just a new year but will be the first day of the 20’s. Most consider the new decade will actually start in 2021 — the first year A.D was 1 and therefore any year ending in one marks the beginning of a decade. However, it seems much easier to group the 20’s as a new decade. How will you celebrate?
There is a tradition to make noise at the stroke of midnight to ‘ring’ in the new year. Enthusiasts will bang drums, ring bells, blow noise horns, sound sirens or simply pop off a champagne cork. This came about in many cultures around the world to chase away evil spirits. Fireworks were invented in the seventh century A.D. in China for that purpose. Here on Maui fireworks are a long-standing feature of New Year’s celebrations; please take care and use legal fireworks during the permitted hours.
In addition to the noisy tradition, it is a time to enjoy special New Year foods. Japanese families will be gathering for Mochi pounding – the pounding of sweet mochi rice that has been soaked for days to turn into mochi balls. It is a community affair meant to bring peace and prosperity in the New Year.
Sashimi is also a New Year tradition in Hawaii that is believed to bring good luck. If you want an excuse for eating doughnuts, then consider them lucky! Some cultures believe that ring-shaped treats symbolize “coming full circle” which leads to good fortune.
Kissing someone at midnight is not just about showing affection but another respected tradition that brings good luck. It is thought to bring support to someone as they enter the vulnerable transitional period of a new year.
So as you plan to make noise, eat and be merry — Maui Economic Development Board Staff would like to be among the first to wish you “Hau’oli Makahiki Hou” and the very best for 2020 – Happy New Year!
Maui Economic Development Board Staff would like to be among the first to wish you “Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou.” Happy New Year!
Dec 25, 2019 | Community
It began 51 years ago. On Christmas Eve, 1968, the Apollo 8 astronauts, Air Force Col. Frank Borman, Navy Capt. James A. Lovell Jr., and Air Force Major William A. Anders, became the first humans to see the far side of the moon and the first to enter lunar orbit. They also became the first to see the Earth as a whole planet, which Anders captured in his famous Earthrise photo− making us aware of our planet’s splendor and vulnerability.
Author Frank White later used the term “Overview Effect” in a 1998 book of that title, to describe the astronauts’ reaction to seeing the entire Earth at once. White explained, “As reported by almost all astronauts, the effect of seeing our planet’s beauty and fragility during spaceflight produces a cognitive shift in awareness. In this state of mental clarity, the viewer becomes overwhelmed and awed by the size and magnificence of Earth, seeing it hanging in the void.”
Maui Economic Development Board has invited numerous astronauts to speak with students during the annual Student Space Exploration Day. Astronauts Dr. Leroy Chiao, Dr. Ed Lu, and Dr. Janet Kavandi are among those who have shared their spaceflight experiences and the Overview Effect with Maui youth in recent years.
About her time in space, Kavandi recalled, “Being in space has made me more aware of the impact of humanity on the Earth. It made me feel more responsible and caring about the sustainability of our planet, and the peace and love it generates.” Lu said, “I became more aligned with universal purpose. I looked back at the planet and was struck by its beauty and vulnerability. Seeing massive craters pressed into its crust by past bombardments, I co-founded the B612 Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to defense against asteroid impacts.” Chiao added, “Looking down at our beautiful world, I appreciated life more than ever. It made me reflect on what really is important. The grandeur of Planet Earth is mesmerizing. Seeing it from space made me want to be a steward of Earth. We, humanity, are on it together.”
As the New Year approaches, let us all take a moment, like our astronaut friends did, to reflect with admiration, gratitude and wonder for our planet Earth.
During their presentations, Astronauts Chiao, Lu, and Kavandi inspired Maui students with the wonders of the universe. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
MEDB Staff
