Mar 3, 2016 | Education, Innovation
Maui girls in grades 7-8, accompanied by teachers, discovered the exciting and lucrative field of engineering during Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED) on Thursday, February 25th, at Maui Research and Technology Park. In observance of National Engineers Week, Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology (WIT) program hosts the popular event to expose girls to the male-dominated field of engineering and encourage them to become engineers themselves. For the past 16 years, WIT has teamed up with the County of Maui, Maui Electric and local industrial firms to provide a day of hands-on activities and worksite visits. Along with raising awareness of the contribution engineers make to the community, IGED also introduces students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
According to WIT Project Manager Mapu Quitazol, women still represent less than 5% of engineers in Hawaii and studies predict there will be a further shortage of engineers in the next two decades. “Together, we can challenge those daunting statistics,” Quitazol said. “The sooner we get girls engaged in the field, the faster they can begin learning the skills to compete for these high-paying, in-demand jobs. In fact, Quitazol noted, “engineering is the number one job that parents should be encouraging their girls to pursue.”
Senior Project Engineer Fiona van Ammers from SSFM International, Inc., a Hawaii-based professional engineering business, advocates for participation in the WIT Program. “It is important to develop future leaders through community-based programs designed to address planning for Maui’s future,” she said. “IGED engages young women in meaningful events that add to their skill set and inspire them to choose a STEM career.” Fiona explains to students that civil engineering is about creating designs that improve and protect the environment and human lives. This is demonstrated by explanation of what work was required to complete the Maui Memorial Medical Center Helipad, for which Fiona was the civil engineer and project manager. For the past decade, WIT has been at the forefront of providing cutting-edge STEM programs across the islands to meet 21st century workforce demands.
WIT’s IGED program provides engineers and companies with a chance to make a difference in our environment, in our community and in our lives. I am thrilled to be a part of this event for young girls which helps develop future Maui leaders.
Fiona van Ammers, Senior Project Engineer, SSFM International, Inc.
Feb 24, 2016 | Small Business
You are invited to attend a seminar that will look at the basics of human resource management for business startups. All new entrepreneurs must navigate an often bewildering maze of tasks, rules, and regulations to get going. The goal of this interactive workshop is to set you on a path to success as you bring on and nurture one of your most vital strengths — employees.
What you will learn
Payroll Basics: Must-follow regulations; tax liabilities; withholdings; and an explanation of FICA-FUTA-SUTA.
Health Care Basics: The Affordable Care Act; explanation of group versus individual health care plans; and the ins and outs of Prepaid Health options.
Human Resource Basics: Recruiting, hiring, and terminating an employee; the effect of TDI and Workers Compensation.
Labor Law Basics: Best practices to avoid lawsuits; dealing with wage and hour issues such as minimum wage and overtime; insurance requirements; and how new labor law legislation will impact your business.
This seminar will take place Wednesday, March 2, 2016 from 8:30AM to 1:30PM. Admission is $25 and lunch will be provided; reservations are required. Space is limited. It will be held at MEDB’s Malcolm Center, 1305 N. Holopono St., Ste. #5 Kihei, HI 96753
For more information, contact Frank R. De Rego Jr., Business Development Projects Director
frank@medb.org 808.270.6807
Feb 11, 2016 | Environment, Sustainability
For the first time, Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Women In Technology (WIT) Project is presenting a student collaboration opportunity between Hawaii and California. Kamali’i Elementary School, Lokelani Intermediate and Kihei Charter High School on Maui, together with Elliott Ranch Elementary School and Cosumnes Oaks High School in California, have chosen their most environmentally conscious students to participate in The Pacific Clean Energy Exchange. “In an effort to inspire creativity and collaboration with their counterparts, the students will explore, via conference calls and digital sharing, clean energy solutions both in the Golden State and the Aloha State,” said Lesley Brashier, Elliott Ranch Elementary School teacher. “Plus, leadership and management skills will be practiced by the high school students who are mentoring younger student teams in fourth, fifth and sixth grades.”
The students will work together to synthesize their findings for a presentation at the MEDB Hawaii STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Conference on May 6-7, 2016. “The Pacific Clean Energy Exchange Program is the first of its kind,” said MEDB WIT Project Manager Melinda White. “Elementary and high school students are being tasked with exploring solutions for the global energy crisis. They’ll be contributors to a relevant world issue being tackled by the brightest scientists, engineers and political leaders.”
The discussions in this program are very diverse. How can renewable energy be better integrated into city planning? How can citizens be encouraged to utilize clean energy like solar, wind, ocean wave and tidal action when available? Are there more energy sustainable ways to cool the schools? In the culminating event, California and Hawaii teams will be able to meet in person when they offer their innovative ideas and solutions at the STEM Conference. “The Pacific Clean Energy Exchange is giving my students a chance to learn about the significance of Hawaii’s 100% renewable energy goal,” said Zayna Stoycoff, Lokelani Intermediate School teacher. “As one of my students recently explained, ‘No one individual can possibly make every contribution, but by coming together great goals can be reached.’ As a teacher, this is what it’s all about!”
The Pacific Clean Energy Exchange project is a one-of-a-kind STEM opportunity that joins students from Hawaii and California to collaborate on clean energy issues. I very much wanted to be part of this project to learn more about environmental science and hopefully contribute to Hawaii’s future.
Cole Logrande, Lokelani Intermediate School 6th grader
Feb 4, 2016 | Education
Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School, located in the Maui Lani subdivision in Kahului, opened its doors in 2007 with the vision to educate the whole child by connecting academics with their Arts Integration curriculum. Based on years of research, Pōmaikaʻi believes that actively engaging children through the arts requires critical thinking skills, creative problem solving and collaboration to challenge learners at all levels. “We dreamed of an education where students learned with their whole bodies, activating all parts of their brain and embracing their hearts as they connect with each other and the curriculum,” said Principal Bernice Takahata. “Students are challenged daily to think critically as they use drama, dance, visual arts, music and creative writing across the Common Core Standards curricula. We are now integrating a strong science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) program,” she added.
Graham R. DeVey, Project Manager, WIT Island Energy Inquiry
STEAM education integrates the study of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics by using scientific inquiry and engineering design as unifying processes. STEAM education incorporates the “A” for the arts, recognizing that to be successful in technical fields, individuals must also be creative and use critical thinking and collaboration skills through student-focused, rigorous, relevant and authentic learning. “This past September, several of our teachers were fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Women In Technology Island Energy Inquiry (IEI) Professional Development Workshop,” said Takahata. “The IEI program, in partnership with the Ka Hei program, provided our teachers with training, materials and hands-on experiences that will allow them to effectively implement science in the art-integrated curriculum in the classroom. In fact, the work with MEDB has enriched the work we are doing in STEAM.”
Pōmaikaʻi, in their partnership with the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, enriches the innovative learning of their students through connections to teaching artists from the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC, as well as local arts alliances.
“Our highly-qualified teachers and staff work hard to present rigorous curricula to promote student achievement and success,” Takahata added. “We strive to develop the whole child in the areas of academic mindsets, learning strategies and social skills.”
MEDB’s teaching team is excited to be working with Pōmaikaʻi Elementary, a school known for linking the creative arts to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. This past September, Pōmaikaʻi Principal Bernice Takahata sent teachers to experience the latest elementary-grade curriculum from MEDB’s Women In Technology Island Energy Inquiry program which educates for energy prosperity.
Graham R. DeVey, Project Manager, WIT Island Energy Inquiry
Jan 28, 2016 | Environment, Events, Small Business, Sustainability
The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Maui County and Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) are hosting the third annual Maui Energy Conference, March 16-18 2016 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Energy experts and stakeholders from across the U.S. and Hawaii will meet to learn about the latest advances in clean energy and how Hawaii plans to achieve the new 100% RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) target. On June 8th 2015, Hawaii updated legislation setting the 100% renewable portfolio standard by 2045. The standards are state and local policies that mandate all or certain types of electricity producers to supply a minimum share of their electricity from designated renewable resources. Hawaii has met its annual RPS requirements to date.
Frank De Rego, Jr. Director of Business Development Projects, Maui Economic Development Board, Inc.
“The 2016 Maui Energy Conference will bring together some of the best minds in the energy sector from Maui County, the state, and the nation,” said Frank De Rego, Jr., MEDB Director of Business Development Projects and member of the conference program committee. “The focus of discussion will be Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative’s 100% RPS and its implications for Hawaii’s energy future. The strengths of the conference over the years have been the high quality of its speakers and panelists, the ample time to network and the availability of the panel sessions to the general public at the conclusion of the conference on the conference website.”
The Conference will seek consensus about realistic targets and goals, the readiness of the utilities to reach them and how much this will really cost. Other issues include how to mitigate disruptions of energy supply and price when transitioning from carbon based fuels to renewables and the importance of a diversified portfolio. Looking at all the other questions: How; Where; Why; and Who Pays are just a few of the obvious issues. “Within ‘how’ and ‘why’ are important sub-questions about fairness and respect for Hawaiian culture and the environment,” said Program committee chair, Doug McLeod, DKK Energy Services. “In addition, the County of Maui’s energy consultant Guernsey has been invited to present their recommendation with regard to ownership of the electric utility on Maui.”
An early-bird registration rate of $395 for the Maui Energy Conference is available through January 31st — a discount of $100. Details on this year’s program are available at the Conference website, MauiEnergyConference.com
Frank De Rego, Jr. Director of Business Development Projects, Maui Economic Development Board, Inc.
Senior Project Engineer Fiona van Ammers from SSFM International, Inc., a Hawaii-based professional engineering business, advocates for participation in the WIT Program. “It is important to develop future leaders through community-based programs designed to address planning for Maui’s future,” she said. “IGED engages young women in meaningful events that add to their skill set and inspire them to choose a STEM career.” Fiona explains to students that civil engineering is about creating designs that improve and protect the environment and human lives. This is demonstrated by explanation of what work was required to complete the Maui Memorial Medical Center Helipad, for which Fiona was the civil engineer and project manager. For the past decade, WIT has been at the forefront of providing cutting-edge STEM programs across the islands to meet 21st century workforce demands.
