Aug 21, 2019 | Community
Rachael Ray, a successful Maui artist, was invited for the first time as a guest speaker at Maui Economic Development Board’s 3rd annual Hawaii Small Business Conference (HSBC). “I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to make a lasting impression on the HSBC attendees about the importance of service with aloha in our island chain,” Ray said. “For my part, sharing aloha in my business permeates all my relationships and every canvas I paint.”
Ray, a self-taught artist who loves to paint with Rembrandt oils, can often be found talking story with customers and working in U’i, her Kahului Maui art gallery. A graduate of Baldwin High School, Ray remembers her early childhood on Molokai as the beginning of her appreciation for Hawaii’s majestic surroundings. “I find endless inspiration through the vibrant colors and movement in my Hawaiian landscape and from my love and respect for the ‘aina,” she said.
U’i Gallery, Ray’s 1500 square-foot space, offers not only her own artwork. An exclusive selection of hand-made products by other local craftsmen are offered in a price range for everyone. Through her hospitable aloha service and the gallery’s allure, Ray’s customers soon become family.
“I love talking story with our customers and getting to know them,” she explained. “While making a sale is important, even if they don’t purchase the first time, people come back when they are cared for, and the repeat business helps our bottom line year after year. Aloha is communicated. I call it ‘coconut wireless’.”
Ray uses Hawaiian values to support her life and her business. Believing in aloha-motivation over profit, she makes a conscious effort to have gallery visitors leave feeling good and welcomed with aloha. She believes this is a responsibility we each have to become better in our own personal and business relationships.
Ray concluded, “Growing up in Hawaii we were taught to give first and then receive. Aloha builds on itself. It is contagious, with extraordinary results. Aloha is imperative to our mental and physical health, our overall welfare, and to Hawaii’s business vitality. Live Aloha!”
Aloha is everything! Smile from the heart, be genuine, be yourself. Be Aloha!
Rachael Ray, Artist and Owner, U’i Gallery
Jul 10, 2019 | Community
Pono Shim, President and CEO of Oahu Economic Development Board and a notable speaker at Maui Economic Development Board’s 3rd annual Hawaii Small Business Conference (HSBC), is a gifted storyteller and speaker in Hawaii and internationally. He is well-known for his belief that the majority of social issues facing individuals, organizations, and communities are symptoms of deeper problems that can and must be addressed today.
“A true leader works to bridge the members of the community, giving dignity to whom they are and what they have to offer,” said Shim. “I believe that Aloha is the practical application of respect and reciprocity needed to restore personal and professional health, and drive entrepreneurship and professionalism forward.”
Shim shared Aloha insights with attendees at the HSBC and provided them with techniques he learned at a young age from Lahaina-born Auntie Pilahi Paki. In 1986, Hawaii lawmakers passed the Aloha Spirit Law (Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 5-7.5), which the late Auntie Palahi wrote. A visionary foreseeing a 21st century world in strife, Auntie Pilahi knew the world would look to Hawaii for healing. “Aloha would be its remedy,” she said.
In 1970 at a Governor’s conference, Auntie Palahi introduced Hawaii to the five values that make up the Aloha Spirit Law. A: Akahai, meaning kindness, expressed with tenderness; L: Lokahi, meaning unity, expressed with harmony; O: ‘Olu’olu, meaning agreeable, expressed with pleasantness; H: Ha’aha’a, meaning humility, expressed with modesty; and A: Ahonui, meaning patience, waiting for the moment, expressed with perseverance.
Shim noted, “A person cannot do one of the principles without truly doing all. If you are not doing one you are not doing any. So, to be living Aloha is to live all of the principles. Another deep spiritual meaning of Aloha which Auntie Palahi shared can be found in a 1917 quote from Queen Lili’uokalani, ‘To gain the kingdom of heaven is to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable—that is Aloha. All things in this world are two; in heaven, there is but One.’ ”
According to the Aloha Spirit Law, all Hawaii citizens and government officials must conduct themselves with aloha, which is a real commitment to accepting others.
Pono Shim, President and CEO, Oahu Economic Development Board
Jul 3, 2019 | Community
In June, students from Maui, Moloka’i and Lana’i took part in Summer Adventures in Healthcare. The three-day event was presented by the Maui County Healthcare Partnership (MCHP) and Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) STEMworks™. MCHP, originally launched in March 2017, is an alliance of healthcare organizations across Maui County− coordinated and staffed by MEDB. Together, they are motivated by the shared needs of the County’s numerous participating healthcare providers.
“The state of Hawaii has a shortage of physicians right now and an even greater shortage in most other health professions,” said Lalaine Pasion, STEMworks™ Project Manager. “The MCHP event introduced Maui County middle- and high-schoolers to the healthcare systems within their communities.”
Fueling their curiosity for possible careers, the students toured local healthcare facilities including Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC), Hale Makua, the Pacific Cancer Institute, and the University of Hawaii Maui College Nursing Program. Throughout the event, mentors and volunteers created inspiring and memorable experiences for them. Participants learned essential life skills with a variety of medical instruments and hands-on practices. They met with patients, took vital signs, and learned how to cast a broken arm. Additionally, students joined a public health team designed to combat malaria around the world. They learned how to extract DNA from a strawberry and how it relates to vaccinations.
Brenton Turner, MSHA, CMD, RT(R)(T) Pacific Cancer Institute, told the students, “Identify how you can turn a passion into a healthcare career, and recognize that healthcare offers many career options beyond doctors or nurses.”
Chaenel Deluna, Moloka’i High School, said, “Our visit to the hospital made such an impact on me. We learned about the different careers it takes to run one. I didn’t realize how many people worked for MMMC!”
Baldwin High School student Kazzandra Anton noted, “Our final Summer Adventures in Healthcare experience featured six hours of CPR, First Aid, AED, and HIPAA training and certification. This valuable hands-on experience provided us with skills we can always use to save lives. I’m thankful to MCHP and MEDB for this opportunity to learn about possible healthcare careers right here in Hawaii.”
MCHP strives to improve the healthcare delivery system of Maui County. During Summer Adventures in Healthcare they provided students with an interactive healthcare experience in an exciting and fun way.
Lalaine Pasion, STEMworks™ Project Manager
May 15, 2019 | Community, Sustainability
An affordable housing survey focusing on the West Maui community has just begun circulation to help define the extent of the need for affordable workforce housing upon which the West Maui economy depends. The initiative for the survey came from the community itself, led by long-time resident Lori Sablas, who has spent most of her career in the visitor industry. “My Dad worked for Pioneer Mill and purchased our first home in 1969 for $19,380. Our monthly payment was $104 per month; how times have changed!”
Lori knows the value of home ownership and her motivation is to help the West Maui workforce buy a home near their workplace, just as her Dad did. As the former Director of Ka’anapali Beach Hotel’s Project Po’okela program, she developed educational opportunities for staff to learn about Hawaiian culture. She was also instrumental in bringing West Side hoteliers together to support the commuter bus system and subsidizing fares to reduce traffic congestion and make commuting as easy as possible.
Across Maui County, as elsewhere in the state and nationally, affordable housing is a critical issue as supply fails to keep up with demand. Recent studies have shown that it is an issue that represents a major constraint on economic development, and as the Maui County General Plan states, “When adequate or appropriate housing is unattainable to a large portion of the population, it negatively impacts the entire community and decreases overall quality of life.”
Originally shaped by an informal working group of West Side HR directors and employers led by Lori Sablas and further developed by MEDB, the West Maui Workforce Housing Survey is a first step to defining the need through data provided by residents. The exercise will better inform our local community, our policymakers, and real estate development companies about the demand for affordable housing. The survey is entirely anonymous and can be accessed online at www.medb.org/wmsurvey.
In seeking resident input, Lori Sablas notes, “I felt strongly that we need to ask our workforce about this issue and address it from the bottom-up, as opposed to top-down. It’s an initiative than we can deploy in other areas – such as South Maui, if we find the information we collect is useful.”
The West Side Affordable Housing Survey started from a grass-roots level. My sincere hope is that our combined efforts will result in more of our workforce becoming homeowners, just like my Dad did.
Lori Sablas, cultural specialist and community advocate
May 8, 2019 | Community
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend while investing in STEM education. MEDB invites you to our annual fundraising dinner, “Pathways To Our Future.”
Where: Wailea Beach Resort–Marriott, Maui
When: Saturday, August 31, 2019
4:30 pm: Reception and Silent Auction
6:00 pm: Dinner and Live Auction
Enjoy a festive evening of food, fun and camaraderie…
- BID on over 150 fabulous items during the Apples for Education Auction
- COMPETE in teams during MEDB’s signature interactive game
- ENJOY memorable presentations by Maui County’s STEM stars
- CONGRATULATE this year’s student and teacher award winners
Proceeds go to advance MEDB’s STEM programs from kindergarten to careers; as well as enabling MEDB to continue to pursue meaningful pathways that benefit the lives of our residents in Maui County and statewide.
Individual seats are $200. Save $15/person on individual tickets, if you register and pay by July 4th.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
For information and reservations, please visit: www.medb.org/KAH
Feb 6, 2019 | Community
Maui County cancer patients and their families have a place of “Hope” on Oahu. The Clarence T.C. Ching Hope Lodge Hawaii, funded through the American Cancer Society (ACS), provides extended stay facilities to those involved in cancer treatments and their caregivers.
“At the 2018 ACS HopeFest event, all net proceeds benefited the Lodge, a free accommodation where guests can rest in their private rooms or connect with others who understand their struggle,” said Cathy Alsup, Executive Director, ACS Hawaii Pacific. “Since opening in 2016, the $12 million facility, built by ACS, has provided approximately 8,000 nights of free lodging to patients from Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa.”
Tyson Miyake, HopeFest co-chair, explained, “A home away from home, Hope Lodge is more than just a roof over their heads. It’s a nurturing community that helps all Maui County patients access the care they need as well as a nurturing environment. Amenities include 20 private guest rooms with baths, common dining and kitchen areas, laundry facilities, and more. A stay at Hope Lodge eliminates many emotional and financial concerns, allowing patients to focus on getting well.”
Maui resident and ACS volunteer Sarah Shim added, “ACS imagines a world free from cancer! They’ve invested more than 4.6 billion dollars in cancer research since 1946, all to find more and better treatments, uncover factors that may cause cancer, and improve cancer patients’ quality of life. Whether conducting research or funding it, the goal remains the same: to free the world from the pain and suffering from cancer.”
Maui resident and guest at Hope Lodge Louise Corpuz concluded, “There are extraordinary people at Hope Lodge. I stayed there for one night before my operation. However, my son and daughter were guests for a week while I was in the hospital. I am thankful, grateful and blessed to have received the helpful family support from these wonderful people. It is so kind to help a family when one member is hospitalized. I send the Hope Lodge community many mahalo’s from Maui County.” Visit Hope Lodge Hawaii online for more information.
It’s hard on neighbor-island cancer patients who must travel to Oahu for treatment. The free lodging facility takes much stress off patients and their families.
Cathy Alsup, Executive Director, American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific
Jan 30, 2019 | Community
The Nisei Veterans Memorial Center recently hosted a book-signing and talk by “The Go For Broke Spirit: Portraits of Courage” photographer Shane Sato. Over 18 years in the making, Sato’s coffee-table book is the second in a collection of poignant images of the Nisei (Japanese descent born in the United States) who fought for America in WWII. The 184-page, hardcover volume contains pictures of over 80 Japanese-American WWII veterans, and artistically captures, in a way not many have seen, the wide range of emotions Japanese-Americans felt after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The story of the Nisei is inspiring, and each portrait is accompanied by candid photos and a short story.
“It was a privilege to talk story with numerous Nisei veterans,” said Sato. “My hope is to share the lives of the Nisei with future generations, so their accomplishments and history are not forgotten. While they were most recognized for their achievements during wartime, they did not let WWII define their entire lives. Once home, the veterans continued to work for the betterment of the Maui community, establishing a legacy of civilian service.
In 2018, Nisei marked the 75th anniversary of the loyalty, courage and sacrifice of WWII’s 442nd and the 100th Infantry Battalion. The two units merged and formed a single infantry regiment. Together, they became the most decorated unit of its size and length of service in the history of the United States Army, demonstrating the importance of working together and depending on each other.
During his presentation, Sato discussed the creation of the book, his ties to the Nisei community, and stories shared by the veterans during the photography sessions. “Having Sansei and Nisei parents, one from Hawaii and the other from the U.S. mainland, has given me a unique perspective for my Japanese-American book series,” Sato said. “During WWII the Nisei soldiers inspired America and showed the world what it meant to ‘go for broke’. Then, they continued to lead in the community with the strength of their character and the integrity of their actions. Theirs is a triumphant story in American history!”
It is my turn to carry the torch by retelling the Nisei stories for the next generation to know about their heroes. My book inspires and energizes readers to begin their own journeys of discovery, to find the heroes within themselves.
Shane Sato, Author and Photographer
Jan 23, 2019 | Community
In 2014, Maui musician Irene Ryding graduated from the International Harp Therapy Program (IHTP). She took up the harp in 1998 after a series of surgeries to correct a congenital disorder in her spine. “Hearing about harp therapy, I was determined to learn more as a part of my rehabilitation,” Ryding said. “Then, awed by the personal benefits I received from the harp’s soothing timbre and spiritual associations, I felt called to share my discovery with others.”
Ryding moved to Maui in 2003 and immediately began playing harp professionally for weddings and other events. She is a Certified Harp Therapy Practitioner from the IHTP program credentialed by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians. Although she continues to play the harp publicly, she also volunteers in the Harps for Hospice program.
“Playing music in hospital and hospices is much more than entertainment and playing songs,” Ryding explained. “Research has shown that harp music reduces blood pressure and heart rate and that there are many subtleties with matching breathing tempos, moods, and ‘resonant tones’ that feel right or good to us. It can decrease pain by elevating endorphin levels, promoting relaxation, calm, and comfort.”
Therapeutic harpists use what they call ‘inclusive attention’, in which they tune into a person and look for clues such as eye movement, changes in muscle tension, or speech to find the resonant tone for the client. “We tune into people’s breathing, their mood and their surroundings to develop something that is really personal,” Ryding noted. “By watching someone’s breathing pattern, the practitioner can match it with a rhythmic meter, 2/4, 4/4, or 6/8. For example, playing along with the breathing rhythm helps to regulate it to a more desirable rate, affecting the well-being of the patient.”
Ryding concluded, “I want to study more about harp therapy because I believe it’s time to pay forward to others in need for all the wonderful opportunities and benefits that I have enjoyed through a lifetime of music.”
For information about weddings, harp lessons, and other special events visit: www.mauiharper.com.
The harp is specifically effective in therapeutic settings because it is the most resonant of all instruments. The plucked strings vibrate freely, which creates a unique series of overtones.
Irene Ryding, Harp Therapy Practitioner
Dec 26, 2018 | Community
The New Year can be a time for reflection as well as a time for looking ahead to what will come, and what good fortunes the future can bring. As you reflect on 2018, you may look back at the highlights and feel appreciation for having those experiences. You can look at the challenges you faced and how you came through them – what were the lessons learned that you help make you and your new year better and even brighter.
The New Year is often a time for resolutions and here are ten suggestions for a stronger and healthier 2019.
- Sleep more – get those eight hours for better mental health.
- Pick up crafting or some other hobby – learn to knit, a new language or join an improv acting group to have some fun.
- Plan mini-vacays – don’t wait for your vacation to get away. Go camping or hop to another island.
- Walk more – take a break at work and walk around the block. Get your colleagues in on the act.
- Pay it Forward (Share the Aloha) – how can you pass on the help you’ve received in the past?
- Volunteer – Research shows volunteering can improve your health. There are lots of non-profits on Maui looking for your help.
- Learn new recipes – get out of a diet rut and introduce new recipes to your cooking repertoire.
- Smile at a stranger – make someone’s day and share your smile.
- Call your family more often – especially if they are not in Hawaii. Connect with loved ones.
- Be more positive – reduce complaining, and see the good in self, others and in the challenges you face.
There are countless more ways to resolve to make 2019 a remarkable one for you and those around you. Set yourself to succeed by being realistic and avoiding the all-or-nothing resolution. As you progress through the year, if you slip up on a resolution, don’t let that be the end of your resolve. To err is human, so give yourself a little slack, and just get back to your new habit.
As the New Year approaches, Maui Economic Development Board Staff would like to be among the first to wish you “Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou.” Happy New Year!
