May 30, 2018 | Community, Education
Founded on the values and priorities for Maui County’s future as articulated by Maui County’s residents through the Decisions Maui and Focus Maui Nui visioning processes, Ka Ipu Kukui Fellows is a year-long program dedicated to preparing community-nominated young leaders for the unique challenges and opportunities in Maui County. To date, over 100 accomplished professionals have graduated from the program. The current Fellows are a diverse cross-section of residents drawn from business, government, academia, and nonprofit organizations. Each month, the program offers halawai (meetings) focused on in-depth introductions to Maui County’s infrastructure and array of community leaders coupled with workshops to expand leadership skills.
Last December, Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) hosted Project Weekend, an intense, team-based experience in which the Fellows go hands-on to create a community project. “MEDB was thrilled to guide the Fellows as they navigated the many layers of project development. It was fun to see the concepts unfold as the Fellows gained a first-hand understanding of what it takes to turn their idea into a viable community-based project,” shared Amber Hardwick, Ka Ipu Kukui alumna and MEDB’s lead on Project Weekend.
“What I went through was so valuable because it allowed me to realize that even though I have these fears going into it, none of that came about because we had such a great team that we just persevered together and created something that was even more special than I originally thought we could do,” said Snehal Patel who came up with the idea for the winning project called ‘We The People’. “Moving forward we are going to see if we can proceed with our project as a pilot program.”
“I enjoyed the collaboration,” said Sayble Bissen. “We got to learn a lot about how our co-worker Fellows think and how they see Maui as a whole and what can be done to help.” Discussing the future of her team’s project called Literacy for Financial Education (L.I.F.E), Sayble added “Our plan is to hopefully to follow through with our project – I am pretty positive that it can happen.”
As this year’s cohort celebrates their May graduation, Ka Ipu Kukui is accepting applications for the 2018-19 program. Learn more at http://www.kikfellows.org/
I think that we all have such great ideas, and Project Weekend helped us to execute that into a real live MVP (Minimum Viable Project), which I never knew about before going through this process.
Snehal Patel
May 9, 2018 | Community
The world of American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), celebrated 53 years of soccer in 2017. Today, AYSO is a successful national and international organization, and is thriving in Hawaii. “The league is committed to the safe development and nurturing of all children,” said Francis Quitazol, Upcountry Maui AYSO soccer coach. “Our main goal is to develop and provide a positive experience for all keiki, promote fitness, teamwork, and the spirit of competition. As coach for AYSO girls, U6 (five and six years old), Quitazol found it very rewarding to watch the girls improve week after week of practice. “My coaching approach for these young girls was to keep it very simple and teach them the basic rules of the game,” he said. “One thing I enjoyed teaching them was the mental aspect of the game. I did this by asking each one of them before the game to show me their game face. At first, they thought a game face is supposed to be an angry expression, but I told them that it should be more of a reflection of their attitude as they prepare to compete. I explained to them that their game faces should convey both confidence and focus. My hope is that in the future they will take their game faces into a final exam or a big job interview and compete harder than they ever did on the soccer field.”
“We love being a soccer family!” said the Felicianos from Makawao. “AYSO’s mission works! They develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs. The season promoted a fun family environment based on AYSO philosophies of good sportsmanship, teamwork, positive coaching, and player development. We have seen the positive effect that soccer has had on our daughter, Moorea. She is learning the importance of exercise, plus all the benefits listed above. We encourage all parents to learn more about joining their local AYSO league, get the children playing, and the whole family out to the games.”
I didn’t even know how to pass or kick the ball when I first started. Now I play with my teammates and when we work together we can make a goal!
Moorea Winter Feliciano, Makawao School, Kindergarten
Apr 18, 2018 | Community
Maui Economic Development Board applauds Maui High School (MHS) 2003 graduate and video producer, Jason Baum, for winning his first Grammy Award. His work on Kendrik Lamar’s music video, Humble, was recently honored at the 60th Grammy Award show in New York City. A graduate of New York University’s undergraduate film program, Baum works across the country and internationally with an array of clients.
“My journey toward working in the film industry is rooted in my time at MHS,” Baum explained. “I was in the second class to participate in the EAST Project, which allowed me to apply the latest technologies for solving community problems. With that program led by Keith Imada, in conjunction with Clint Gima’s video program, I started to make short films with their camcorders and editing software. My teacher’s encouragement toward working independently, as well as in a host of school programs, was formative and a part of the skills that I still use to this day. One of the short films that I created was part of a greater multidisciplinary project that represented MHS at the national EAST Conference. This project went on to win the top prize in the 2002 competition and was the first of many other videos that I took to the national level while still in high school.”
Keith Imada, MHS teacher, said, “Baum was really dedicated to his craft, spending hours and days on end to download, edit, render, and export the videos. I knew he would be successful because of his work ethic, his dedication, and his willingness to explore new technologies and utilize them.” Clint Gima, MHS teacher, added, “Jason was born to be a producer. He was involved with multi-school projects, making videos and documentaries for the school and community, all while keeping up with his grades.”
Baum stays connected to MHS by serving on the MHS STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) Learning Center Advisory Board. While continuing his work in the music industry, his dream is to expand his skills to feature length films, perhaps one in Hawaii.
My parents, Dr. Frank Baum and Dr. Colleen Inouye, were recently presented with the MHS Saber Spirit Award for their continuing annual Baum-Inouye Valedictorian Scholarship Fund.
Jason Baum, 2018 Grammy Award Winner
Mar 21, 2018 | Community
Maui resident, author and speaker Steven Snyder is one of the world’s foremost experts on Accelerated Learning and Personal Development. He has made several thousand presentations in more than 90 countries. Throughout his career, Snyder taught empowerment through counseling sessions, workshops and seminars to help people maximize their full potential. His newly published book, Focused Passion, teaches how to create success in all areas of life. “In every situation we can turn problems into sources of motivation, creativity, and positive challenges,” said Snyder. “There is a ‘new you’ that you can breakthrough to. This wise and powerful ‘new you’ is the sum-total of your unique gifts, talents, and abilities understood from a higher perspective. It is a special identity—the doorway to personal and professional mastery, to purpose and passion in life, right here, right now.”
Presented by Mental Health Kokua, Snyder’s upcoming event, Mindful Happiness, will be held on March 23, 2018 at 7pm at the McCoy Studio Theater in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kahului. He will discuss the experience of happiness as a choice, an attitude, a way to be, regardless of circumstances. Attendees will discover that success is not a way to happiness, however happiness is often a way to success. With a focus on specific keys to a happier life, the evening of mindfulness will begin with a screening of The Mindfulness Movie.
“Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment,” said Snyder. “Knowing that happiness is not primarily based on your circumstances eliminates projecting worrisome thoughts and anxious feeling into the future. More than anything else it is based on what you think by embracing and agreeing with your positive thoughts. In fact, painful experiences can be changed into valuable agents for growth and change. Every thought you think and emotion you have can bring you happiness,” he said. “Choose happiness. It might be the best choice of your life!”
Attendees at the Mindful Happiness Presentation will learn to master a focused, powerful state that creates an environment for happiness.
Steven Snyder, Maui Author and Speaker
Mar 7, 2018 | Community
Grow Some Good (GSG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating hands-on, outdoor learning experiences, establishes food gardens and living science laboratories in Maui schools. “We are cultivating curiosity about natural life cycles, strengthening local agriculture and improving access to nutritious, affordable food,” said Kathy Becklin, GSG Executive Director. “Students learn about the nutritional value of the fruits, vegetables, and herbs they plant, harvest and eat that inspires healthier food choices. Additionally, we provide local students with a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) curriculum through community partnerships in the fields of agriculture, science, and food education.”
Becklin explained, “When we talk about plant functions, such as photosynthesis, students learn the science of growing plants. When we show them how to plant a bed of carrots or construct a bean-pole teepee they practice measuring for proper angles and location design. Critical thinking and problem-solving come into play following the well-known scientific method: identify a problem, create a solution, and provide observations of the results.”
The GSG program was created in 2008 by South Maui Sustainability’s School Garden Committee to support gardens created at Kihei Elementary, Lokelani Intermediate School and Kamali’i Elementary. “Committee members felt that outdoor classroom lessons would teach our future generations about traditional Hawaiian plants and growing and preparing foods in a sustainable environment,” said Becklin. “Since its inception, the program has expanded its outreach from one teacher at Kihei Elementary and three small raised beds, to 11 schools and more than 4,500 students participating in open-air learning programs.” GSG continues to expand its gardening outreach to neighborhood schools and their surrounding communities through partnerships with the County of Maui, Community Work Day, Maui School Garden Network, Kihei-Wailea Rotary Club and other local organizations, local chefs, and restaurant sponsors.
Taste of School Gardens, GSG’s 6th annual fundraiser, takes place Saturday, March 10th at the Maui Tropical Plantation from 5pm-8:30pm. Attendees and sponsors help to keep the school gardens growing while enjoying delicious creations from Maui’s top chefs, live entertainment, silent and live auctions, and much more. See GrowSomeGood.org for more information.
Valuable lessons in conservation, collaboration and sustainability inspire our future farmers, chefs, scientists, teachers and community leaders.
Kathy Becklin, Executive Director of GSG
Jan 24, 2018 | Community
Maui author Malia Bohlin recently released her first novel, Left at Hiva Oa. Bohlin tells the dramatic story of her father, Ken Bohlin, who followed his dream of sailing around the world on the 40-foot schooner, the Gracias. Bohlin, a US Marine Merchant Academy graduate, started his adventure with other alumni. Even with their careful planning, training, and enthusiasm, things eventually went awry. Everything changed: the plans, the crew, and ultimately the course of the Gracias, leaving one of them to cross the Pacific, from the Marquesas Islands to Hawaii, alone.
“Though he was well-trained, life on the high seas brought Dad unforeseen challenges,” said Bohlin. “In a frantic battle for his life, he relied on his knowledge and faith to save him. Arriving on Maui in 1974, he worked for 15 years as the harbor pilot for Kahului Harbor. Later he served as captain for Kahului Harbor’s tug boat, the Joe Sevier. He was well known on the Maui waterfront and throughout Hawaii. His colleagues still remember him, talk about his seafaring journey, and have enjoyed reading the book.”
Malia’s mother, Jennifer, was amazed at how vividly the book portrays her husband’s life at sea. “Malia’s dad told her the various elements of his voyage and by re-telling his adventure she has memorialized him,” she said. “Ken passed away in 1993. He would be so proud!”
Diane DeVey, a fan of the book, said, “I was immersed in this novel from the first page. What captivated me about Captain Ken was his determination to live out his dream. His story is an inspiration to all.”
Malia Bohlin was born in Honolulu and raised on Maui. She attended Baldwin High School where she placed second in a state-wide creative writing contest during her junior year. At the University of Hawaii-Manoa, she was a reporter for the school newspaper, Ka Leo. In her Maui profession as a grant specialist, Bohlin has produced many fundraising proposals, speech presentations, and grant requests– raising millions of dollars for local and national nonprofit organizations. She is currently writing her next book.
Left at Hiva Oa is an incredible story of determination: the determination to dream, to stand by your principles, and to stay alive, when all you have is yourself.
Malia Bohlin, Author: Left at Hiva Oa
Jan 10, 2018 | Community, Sustainability
M’Chelle Aguinaldo, a senior at Lahainaluna High School, was elected and is serving as Secretary of the Hawai’i Chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA) for 2017-2018. A student-led national organization, FFA is committed to fostering projects that increase awareness of the global importance of agriculture. FFA’s initiative complements Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) vision of achieving a diversified Maui County economy, including agri-tech. Both MEDB and FFA encourage wise management of economic, environmental and human resources in the community, and promote teamwork, citizenship, and volunteerism. They teach that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting—it’s a science, it’s a business, and it’s an art.
“The Lahainaluna High School Agriculture Program’s mission is to help our community grow the next generation of young farmers,” Aguinaldo said. “As this year’s FFA State Secretary, I travel to state and national FFA meetings and assist in work-related activities at Lahainaluna. I also support Maui’s school garden programs with plant donations and other volunteer work.”
Aguinaldo continued, “At Lahainaluna we see a thriving and sustainable Hawaii. We maintain a pono lifestyle by having aloha for all, and by respecting the culture. We need the next generations of farmers. We also need to help drive Hawaii in the direction of becoming sustainable and help keep produce here. We’re working for a better future for Hawaii’s youth and economy.”
Lahainaluna Ag offers a variety of classes. Their facility consists of two classrooms, a shop, a greenhouse, multiple small and large fields, a plant nursery, and a Hawaiian garden. “The curriculum places a high emphasis on giving students as many visual and hands-on learning experiences as possible,” said Aguinaldo “We sell our produce to the community and at local farmers markets, to our school staff, to other Lahaina schools, and to local businesses. We also give back to our community by providing donations of produce and plants to school gardens, homeless shelters, senior housing complexes, and the Maui Food Bank.”
FFA students develop an appreciation for a farming career and other agriculture-related professions such as biologists, chemists, veterinarians, engineers and entrepreneurs.
M’Chelle Aguinaldo, Lahainaluna High School, 12th grade
Dec 27, 2017 | Community
MEDB would like to be among the first to wish you: Hau’oli Makahiki Hou, Happy New Year!
With the countdown to 2018, Hawaii will be one of the last places on earth to celebrate the New Year, a full 24 hours after the Republic of Kiribati, and one hour ahead of American Samoa. Around the world, fireworks are a common celebration with spectacular shows highlighted in Sydney, Australia; London, UK and in New York, USA with the renowned ball drop. Before we break into a verse of Auld Lang Syne we take a look at some curious New Year traditions from around the world.
The Filipinos have several traditions, with many of them centering on all things ‘Round’ which signifies prosperity. Clothes with polka dots, round coins filling pockets or left on top of tables and drawers; and round fruit. In Japan, a Buddhist tradition is to ring bells 108 times to cleanse away the 108 worldly desires, with the last strike to be at midnight, wiping away the problems of the former year.
To bring good luck or fortune, you might choose to eat twelve grapes starting at midnight, with one grape on each toll of the clock (Spain), toss spare coins into the river (Romania) or shatter unused dishes and plates against doors of friends and family or climb on top of chairs and jump into the new year (Denmark). Want to attract a travel-filled year? Do like the Colombians and grab a suitcase at 12 o’clock and run around the house/block.
How you start the year means everything in some cultures – the condition of your wallet (make sure there’s money in it – $1 will do it for the Colombians), the neatness of your home (clean it before January 1) and most importantly the color of your underwear. This last one is a South American tradition with yellow bringing prosperity and success, red brings love and romance, white for peace and harmony and green will ensure health and well-being.
Whatever way you plan to celebrate this coming New Year, be sure to smile as the clock strikes midnight. It’s the easiest tradition that can bring good luck.
MEDB would like to be among the first to wish you: Hau’oli Makahiki Hou, Happy New Year!
MEDB would like to be among the first to wish you: Hau’oli Makahiki Hou, Happy New Year!
Dec 20, 2017 | Community, Sustainability
Maui Economic Development Board applauds the community service of Feed My Sheep (FMS). Serving with integrity and sincerity, this nonprofit makes an immediate impact on the lives of the less fortunate. Bringing positive hope, the many FMS volunteers lift the morale of low-income workers and the unemployed while helping them through rough economic times. “In an effort to make Maui hunger-free, FMS provides about 69,000 half-pound meals a month throughout the island,” said FMS Founder and CEO, Joyce Kawakami. “In the last year we have given food to 3,200 people including working but poor families, seniors on fixed incomes, and homeless men and women. A few moments of emotional support are offered to each person who comes, besides food for their week. We feel blessed to serve so many.”
A unique mobile food distribution program, FMS takes deliveries to designated neighborhoods of need each week. Bags of food are distributed to the needy in five different locations. “Anyone who needs food is welcome to come to one of our many mobile food distributions,” said Operations Director Scott Hopkins. “Our volunteers make FMS such a welcoming place. Plus, many local farmers offer participants a focus on healthier food choices.” For example, Kumu Farms provides FMS with healthy options for both their free distributions and their discounted produce market. They have been a consistent source of nutritious items such as kale, papaya, chard, bananas, arugula, salad greens, beans and fennel.
FMS staff surveyed over 100 people to find out how fresh produce, fruit and vegetables have benefited the participants. “Ninety-six people said that the food they received from FMS improved their health in ways that doctors confirmed,” Hopkins noted. “We documented reduced blood pressure, better heart health, improved mental clarity and increased strength. Through FMS I have seen many people go from their lowest point to a new beginning. That’s what makes it all worthwhile!” FMS is always seeking volunteers for distribution locations in Hana, Lahaina, Wailuku, Kahului, and Kihei. To inquire call (808) 872- 9100.
Through Feed My Sheep I have seen many people go from their lowest point to a new beginning. That’s what makes it all worthwhile!
Scott Hopkins, Feed My Sheep Operations Director
