Dec 10, 2014 | Education
A commitment to invest 60 minutes of time and energy into computer science has landed Iao Intermediate School a $10,000 prize and a chance to participate in an international campaign. The program is called Hour of Code and describes itself as a one-hour introduction designed to demystify computer science and show that anybody can learn the basics.
“It teaches the processes of thinking through problems and persevering to solve them,” said Steve Qunell, the Iao math and technology teacher who took the lead to apply for Hour of Code. Iao School participates in Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology Project program STEMworks™, which has been encouraging local schools to participate in Hour of Code. Iao School is the only campus in Hawaii chosen for the 2014 Computer Science Education Week program. “I was floored. I couldn’t believe it,” Qunell said in reaction to Hour of Code’s approval. “This is a fun event. I think everyone should be trying it.”
As this year’s data coordinator at Iao School, Qunell organized a plan that will allow for all 900 6th, 7th and 8th graders to participate in Hour of Code during their math classes. Students enrolled in technology courses will spend an additional 45 minutes in Hour of Code. Special education teachers have volunteered to continue an Hour of Code in their study skills classes, and faculty will use professional development time to engage in the program. Qunell has also reserved two computer labs for parent and community Code nights. “For our students, what we’re trying to do is make them college and career minded,” Qunell said. “All of us will have a chance to participate in Hour of Code and just improve our overall skills.” Qunell said he’s working with the Iao Math Department to identify needs that might be covered by the $10,000 prize. Some of the money may also be used for a Maker Lab and a Robotics Program.
Dec 3, 2014 | Small Business
With the holiday gift-giving season just around the corner, a Kula entrepreneur has found a way to take 100 percent recyclable and compostable newsprint from local presses, like The Maui News, add great patterns on wrapping paper and bring a smile to gift givers and receivers alike. “Renewable newsprint is an answer to the 4 million tons of trash attributed to gift wrap and shopping bags every year — a piece of newsprint can be recycled seven times,” said Sara Smith, founder and CEO of Wrappily. “Conventional wrapping paper can not be recycled on Maui, or anywhere in Hawaii, meaning every holiday season our landfills get inundated. With Wrappily, wasted wrapping paper can be composted in local gardens or recycled with newspapers.”
Smith launched her business a year ago, around Thanksgiving, with the help of startup incubator mBloom. Wrappily was founded to be a “smarter solution for our environment,” she said, “so being as eco-conscious and thoughtful as possible is our absolute. A close second is building and sustaining the communities in which we do business through supporting local jobs and nonprofit agencies.” Smith said she’s already seen her business have an impact on customers.
The recent Made in Maui County Festival helped Smith’s business by giving her some valuable exposure, she said. Frank R. De Rego Jr., director of Business Development Projects at Maui Economic Development Board, served on the Event Committee for the Made in Maui County Festival. Organizers said they planned to do a post-event survey with the 130-plus vendor participants, and that another festival for 2015 was very likely. Smith foresees immediate growth in her business on Maui and beyond. “Wrappily is designed to scale, in order to achieve our mission to be a solution to a global waste stream, we have to grow — swiftly,” she said. “While Maui is my and Wrappily’s home, we are actively expanding into the Pacific Northwest markets and have our sights set on California in 2015. Wrappily is designed to offer a ‘local’ product in every new area we move into.” For more information, go to wrappily.com.
Nov 26, 2014 | Education, Stemworks
Lanai middle and high school students appear to have a fast-growing interest in science and technology following a STEM camp held on their home island. “I would say the STEM Camp and experience has opened our students’ eyes to something they haven’t seen or experienced before,” said Counselor Beth Conroy Humphrey of Lanai High and Elementary School. “It’s definitely got them interested.”
Approximately 20 elementary and middle school students attended a two-day event spotlighting science, technology, engineering and math. Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology Project organized the event earlier this fall in partnership with Lanai School. “It was great and it gave our students a new interest and skills in something they didn’t even know they had,” Humphrey said. Students engaged in breakout sessions that included lessons on drones, coding and programming, Website development and recycling sustainability. A STEM Family Night was incorporated into the event with parents and students participating in hands-on, learning-based activities such as Ice Cream Engineering, iPad ScratchJr Coding and Mobile Proscope. Airport firefighter George Purdy helped facilitate the session on drones while his wife, Stacey, participated in STEM Family Night and supported their two children at the camp.
Purdy said the opportunity to participate in a STEM Camp like the one in October was a rare occurrence for Lanai families. “There’s just not that many activities readily available for Lanai children,” Purdy said. The camp provided students a chance to apply their classroom lessons in science and math to the STEM activities provided at the camp. “It just took our students’ learning to a whole new level.” Humphrey said the STEM camp has been influential on teachers who are incorporating more STEM-related activities in their classrooms. The interest is so great that Humphrey is planning a STEM Day for middle school students and families in December. “The parents and the students are both wanting to be more involved and get more STEM opportunities. It’s quite exciting,” she said.
Nov 19, 2014 | Small Business
Graphic design artist Lyndon Dela Cruz was amongst the 12 Molokai vendors attending the first-ever Made in Maui County Festival held November 7-8 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. “This is awesome. I’m learning a lot,” Dela Cruz said during a break between steady downpour and customers visiting him under a tent. The festival drew more than 9,000 people to the MACC where Dela Cruz said he grew more confident about his fledgling small business.
Supported by his family and his wife, Janis, Lyndon Dela Cruz launched Lanakila Designs two years ago on Molokai. He creates and produces customized graphic designs that can be placed on a variety of items from cars to coolers, water glasses to school folders, and even boats. The Dela Cruzes had built and closed other small businesses including a pet store and a moving and storage service. In every instance, Dela Cruz said he learned to adjust to the market and his customers’ needs while pursuing what he found fun and interesting. “You’re not going to know whether it’s a bad idea or not unless you try,” Dela Cruz said. His latest venture represents a business pursuit that uses his lifelong love for art. “It’s my passion,” said Dela Cruz, one of only two licensed tattoo artists on Molokai. He said he accepted the invitation to show off his graphic designs at the Made in Maui County Festival to get exposure and to test the interests on Maui for his work. “I’m getting orders and it’s really nice to see people like what I have,” he said about the reaction he received at the festival.
Frank R. De Rego Jr., director of Business Development Projects at Maui Economic Development Board, served on the Event Committee for the Made in Maui County Festival. Organizers said they planned to do a post-event survey with the 130-plus vendor participants, and that another festival for 2015 was very likely.
Nov 14, 2014 | Education, Innovation
Lahainaluna High School arts and communications teacher Nancy Young used her Ke Alahele Education Fund grant to create a new environment in her classroom. Now, instead of the traditional classroom setting with rows of desks for students, Young’s created more of an inspirational space for creativity and innovation. “The center of the room has a conversation area with upholstered benches, a table for art and design books and a set of drawers for cameras and iPads. I wanted my students to experience a taste of an inviting, stimulating room and to know what a career in the arts can offer. This is not just a classroom anymore. It is an environment and the kids love it and they produce really amazing work.”
Young said her second-year students are doing college-level work. They do commercial graphics projects, including banners for other schools. They’ve won awards for PBS HIKI NO television segments, and last year her students received special recognition on their diplomas plus placed second in the state in graphics. Young and her students have come a long way, with the help of Ke Alahele grants. When she began teaching full-time more than six years ago, she had only six large tables and 25 old 12-inch iBooks in a cart. But, by her third year, she had accumulated approximately 20 21.5-inch iMacs, a number of digital SLR cameras and a Canon 5100 17-inch printer that accepts roll paper or canvas. Still, there’s more to do, Young said. “What is missing is a pipeline to future education,” Young said. “I plan on visiting California design schools in the spring to see what I can do to connect us with advanced programs.” MEDB established the Ke Alahele Education Fund to power up STEM Education in Maui County.
