May 26, 2016 | Community
Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) presented this year’s 2016 Startup Weekend Maui on May 13-15. The event offered entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn in 54 hours how to launch a company. “Startup Weekend Maui is about learning by doing,” says Frank De Rego, Jr., Director of Business Development Projects at MEDB. “It provided a platform to acquire the skills and best practices necessary to build a solid business foundation.”
“Life-changing, motivating, and awesome,” was just some of the feedback received from participants at Startup Weekend Maui. The event started on Friday with 60-second open-mic pitches. Then teams were formed around the top-voted startup ideas. They worked through the weekend with the help of mentors and coaches to build viable prototypes and business models that were presented to a panel of judges on Sunday night.
The 2016 Startup Weekend Maui winner, “The Original FaceGuard”, is an idea to destigmatize the traditional medical mask by creating a positive, preventative public health intervention through trendy face apparel. Team members Danielle Travis, Molly Palmer, Lorayne Lipps, Austin Kozaki, and Julie Lewis, won a business assistance prize package valued at more than $3,000. “It’s not just a product,” said team member Travis. “We want to change people’s perceptions of the typical facemask that most think is so scary. Our facemask has a creative aspect, a health aspect, and positivity, making people laugh.”
The team of Zoe Whitney and Dawn Naiwi-Valentino captured second place for their natural anti-mosquito perfume and cologne. “During the weekend I got a better feel for my target market and was able test the product on both locals and visitors of different ages,” said Whitney. “Working together with my Startup Weekend teammate, we worked hard to gather public feedback and even came up with ideas to modify the product’s ingredients. This overall experience helped me realize that this product could work.”
“MEDB, the coaches, mentors, judges, and all of our event sponsors, helped make this event possible because we believe in investing in our local community and our people’s skills,” said De Rego. “It all added up to one incredible weekend where everyone gained valuable experience.”
Startup Weekend Maui fits perfectly with what we’re trying to do, along with MEDB, at the County of Maui. We’re focused on building an entire entrepreneur eco-system to help our local entrepreneurs gain the needed edge and skills to succeed.
Teena Rasmussen, Director County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development
Apr 21, 2016 | Community
The Maui Cookie Lady, Mitzi Toro, has been in business for three extraordinary years. The first year started with baking cookies as a fundraiser for the ICU nurses who cared for her father before he passed away. The second year, making them became a favorite hobby. It wasn’t until this past year that Toro took it seriously as a business. “I had to learn about all the stuff that is not so fun, like budgets, profit margins, packaging, food compliance, business math, taxes and licensing, just to name a few,” she explained. “Once I decided to give it a full-time try, I needed help. My receipts were in a shoe box and I really was not sure what the business was costing. One day I met with the Maui Economic Development Board office, spoke with the Business Development team there, and the rest is sweet history!”
Funded by the County, MEDB offers advice and mentoring for businesses at all levels. Through this mentoring, Toro was able to gain deeper understanding of what the true costs to produce her cookies were and how these affected the price of her product. Far too often, companies don’t understand all of the costs that go into manufacturing a product. By the time they realize their mistakes, it can be too late. MEDB was able to provide tools and instruction that made understanding the relationships between cost and price simple. This kind of analysis can help project future profitability.
Toro also enrolled in MEO’s CORE-4 course which, she said, was “instrumental for me and the company’s survival. By the end of the class I had a 30-page business plan, faith in myself, and the tools to make the business both viable and feasible.” The Maui Cookie Company, chosen as one of 12 start-up businesses having the most potential, was accepted into the Maui Food Innovation Center’s Accelerator Program. “I am so grateful for three months of incredible mentoring and support from successful CEOs and representatives here on Maui. I was honored to win the top three awards and I will compete on Oahu in the near future,” said Toro.
The Maui Cookie Company is expanding, with products now being sold at select stores, hotels and restaurants. Toro currently ships nationwide and internationally. “I love crafting cookies with distinct flavors, using high quality, locally sourced ingredients,” she said. The demand for her cookies, cakes and other items, including the new Cookie Butters from Hawaii, continues to grow rapidly. A single bite shows why! For more information, visit themauicookielady.com.
The support and love from the community for our little island bakery still makes me tear up when I think about it. I feel like I am the little guy who is living the Cookie-preneur dream. The future is bright and full of sweet aroma.
Mitzi Toro, The Maui Cookie Lady
Mar 25, 2016 | Community
Still shrouded in mystery, autism is one of the fastest growing disabilities in the United States. Recent statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that 1 in 68 children have an autism spectrum disorder. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills and levels of impairment or disability that children can have. The misunderstandings, false assumptions and myths surrounding autism can be overwhelming for families who must navigate its complicated world. “Many parents do not know where to turn,” said Howard Greenberg, founder of the Maui Autism Center in Kihei and father of a son with autism. Greenberg explained that many children can be helped to improve their situation and many, who have gone through years of therapy, have lost their diagnosis and gone on to graduate from college. “I have personally seen children who could not talk when they came to the Autism Center two years ago, who are speaking in full sentences today,” he said. “We teach children here in a different way because our kids learn differently. We emphasize the importance of working with the disorder, not against it.”
Autism is a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. Characteristics include restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, and impairment in important areas of daily functioning. “Each child should be provided with individualized treatment programs,” said Dr. Catherine Heard, Clinical Director at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc., an organization with global outreach. Through quarterly visits to the island, Dr. Heard provides behavioral service consultations for the Maui Autism Center, offering the latest scientifically proven applied behavior analysis to patients and their families. “We excel at creating a safe nurturing environment where children can work on their core deficits and build confidence in their social behaviors,” said Denise Greenberg, executive director of the Maui Autism Center.
“We offer a trained staff, top-notch autism experts, individualized curriculum, speech and language pathology, occupational therapy, counseling behavioral support and parent training with quarterly parent-staff workshops. At the Maui Autism Center many lives have been changed for the better as little gains become big accomplishments.” For more information or free consultation email: autismmanagement@gmail.com or call (808) 879-4111.
This year at the Maui Autism Center the children have planted a community garden and the produce grown is then donated to help feed the homeless. This is a heartfelt service to the whole community as one group helps another right here in Kihei.
Howard and Denise Greenberg, The Maui Autism Center
Dec 30, 2015 | Community
The Hawaiian Islands, home to a culturally and ethnically diverse population, are about to celebrate one of the most fun-filled festivals of the year. Many are laying elaborate plans to usher in the New Year with different customs and foods from different cultures. The common aim is to bring good luck in the transition from old to new, celebrated in what seems to be as many ways as possible.
Native Hawaiians celebrate Makahiki traditions of games and sports, and observing religious ceremonies. In ancient times, the Makahiki season extended through the winter months. The widespread use of firecrackers is one New Year’s custom that everyone seems to enjoy. The tradition, which Chinese immigrants brought to the islands in the 19th century, was originally meant to scare off evil spirits. Now, of course, it’s for wholehearted enjoyment. The New Year is also a time to share and sample food from other cultures. For example, Portuguese prepare bean soup, Filipinos cook up pork adobo (marinated, seasoned and simmered meat) and the Chinese make different kinds of dumplings and noodles, symbolizing longevity. Another popular New Year’s dish is mochi, a type of Japanese rice cake made with sticky rice that is repeatedly pounded in ceremonial tradition. The round shape of the mochi, and its glutinous texture, represent family harmony and cohesiveness. A Japanese tradition of eating sashimi on December 31 finds it roots in local Japanese culture, with the fish representing prosperity for the coming year. While other cultures around the globe have their own New Year’s culinary idiosyncrasies and customs, most indulge in the universal symbol of good fortune — a toast at midnight and a verse of “Auld Lang Syne.” As the New Year approaches, the Maui Economic Development Board, MEDB, Staff would like to be among the first to wish you “Hau’oli Makahiki Hou.” Happy New Year!
Dec 24, 2015 | Community
The holiday season marks the time of year when we take stock and look ahead, often through making resolutions. Five notable holiday resolutions to live by have been compiled by poet and writer Julie-Anne Ford. Among her recommendations:
Learn to Laugh
Celebrate the simple joy of living and open your heart to all life holds for you.
Learn to Listen
Take time to slow down and be still.
Learn to Let Go
Forgive failures and resolve regrets.
Learn to Love
Remember love is not just something you feel, but the things you do.
Learn to Live
Search for your purpose, seek out your passions.
In the generous spirit of the holidays, MEDB wishes everyone a life lifted and lived in aloha. – MEDB staff
Nov 25, 2015 | Community
Recently, A Cup of Cold Water (ACCW) Community Care-Van held its 2nd annual gathering to give thanks for the success of its outreach ministry. In October 2013, the four Episcopal churches on Maui, Good Shepherd, Holy Innocents, St. John’s and Trinity-by-the-Sea, moved on the vision of one man. Keku Akana felt called to serve the growing homeless population on the island. It was in that spirit that Akana, retired Maui County Deputy Chief of Police, formed ACCW. At present, a rotating team of volunteers works to improve the situation of the disadvantaged in the community.
“Our most important program measure is that we offer nourishment and hope to our fellow citizens and neighbors,” said Akana. “We realize these simple acts of ‘no-strings-attached aloha’ are more necessary than ever. We cannot help everyone, but we can help someone. We are not here to solve poverty; we are here to comfort while we look for ways to minimize poverty and restore human dignity.”
The all-volunteer outreach ministry includes participants from various church groups, Hongwanji missions and those with no particular affiliation. ACCW, making three runs a week, visits Central Maui each Wednesday, Lahaina on Saturdays and South Maui on Sundays. In addition to pantry items, the van delivers clothing and slippers, tarps and towels, first aid and hygiene items, toys and books. ACCW also helps clients locate and maintain partnerships with other Maui County support organizations. The volunteer tasks are varied, including van drivers and riders, storage and distribution room organizers, administrators and others.
ACCW is a shining example of how dedicated people can bring compassion into the public arena to serve the common good. “Many of these people, 600-700 homeless men, women and children each month, have no one to lean on, no one to go to,” said Akana. “Outreach is a boomerang that echoes back into our own lives, reminding us that anyone of us could be that person in need. Unfortunately, homelessness on Maui is increasing, not decreasing.” Please contact ACCW (acupofcoldwatermaui@gmail.com) if you are interested in learning more.
ACCW’s most important program measure is that we offer nourishment and hope to our fellow citizens and neighbors. We cannot help everyone, but we can help someone while we look for ways to minimize poverty and restore human dignity.
Keku Akana, A Cup of Cold Water
Nov 18, 2015 | Community
Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and High Technology Development Corporation sponsored Maui County’s participation in the first statewide, 36-hour, 2015 DevLeague/Uber Hawaii Hackathon. The free event, held October 23rd to 25th, was partnered with Livecoding.tv, an educational streaming platform to connect participants around the state. Ten thousand dollars worth of prizes, and an opportunity to meet with an Uber engineering team in San Francisco, was offered to winning teams in various web-design categories. “This exciting event was a key initiative to continue to grow and connect the developer community and provide valuable skills,” said DevLeague co-founder Russel Cheng. “The weekend-long program and new partnership between DevLeague and Uber enabled participants to come together in both physical and virtual spaces.” The teams collaborated and built web-based transportation applications using Uber’s application programming interface (API) which are protocols and tools for building software applications.
“I’m thankful to MEDB for stepping up to host the Maui location,” said Web Designer Ben Ward. “The event brought entrepreneurs, programmers and designers together to build prototypes, test business ideas, assemble skills, make friends and lose sleep.” Beginning Friday night, participants presented their web and app ideas that could integrate with Uber.
“We ended up with two great projects,” explained Ward. “Ride Guardians, which allows the user to utilize a buddy system that will notify friends about where or when he/she will arrive at the agreed destination. This improves safety and builds trust with the Uber service.” The second project, Nightout, is a quick way for friends to vote on where to spend their night out and get around safely with Uber. “I’m happy to report that Nightout was selected out of nine teams across the state and took the Best Overall Application Award!” exclaimed Ward. “Our winning team, Jordan Amor, Milo Turner, Steve Homer and I, plus all Hawaii participants, proved that tech talent doesn’t just grow in California.” The main sponsor, DevLeague, is a Honolulu-based code boot camp where students can learn to code at a professional level through an intensive hands-on 12-week camp or a 26-week accelerated learning program.
I’m thankful to Maui Economic Development Board for hosting the first statewide, 36-hour, 2015 DevLeague/Uber Hawaii Hackathon on Maui, an event that brought entrepreneurs, programmers, and designers together. The winning Maui team, Jordan Amor, Milo Turner, Steve Homer, and I, plus all Hawaii participants, proved that tech talent doesn’t just grow in California. The Best Overall Application Award went to our app Nightout.
Ben Ward, Maui Web Developer
Oct 28, 2015 | Community
Maui student Keola Paz Paredes, son of a Bolivian immigrant to the United States, has initiated an outstanding mission to help children in Bolivia who play soccer. Paredes, a senior on the Kamehameha High School soccer team in Pukalani, has been playing soccer since he was a young child. “I first got the idea for my project when I was 11 years old,” Paredes explained. “My family and I brought soccer shoes for three children belonging to the woman who helped in my grandmother’s house in Bolivia. When the kids tried on the shoes they had massive smiles on their face, a joy almost like nothing I had seen before. I got this amazing feeling of pride knowing I had helped to give that to them.”
A few years later, Keola and his family went to Bolivia with about 50 pairs of shoes and a bunch of other miscellaneous equipment and brought it to a barrio neighborhood in the upper reaches of La Paz. “When we got there, the children had their faces pressed up against the gate which surrounded the concrete field they played on. The best part was, they didn’t even know we were bringing them anything, they just thought we were going to play soccer with them,” Paredes exclaimed. “Needless to say, when we started handing out the gear, the children went wild! It was then that I realized how many people I could impact and I wanted to do even more.”
Paredes, realizing what he wanted to do next, recently collected 100 cleats and nine suitcases full of equipment from soccer teams around Maui, including brand new uniforms from the American Youth Soccer Organization. “I am currently working on a short documentary about the current situation in Bolivia and already have a confirmed TV channel to show it on. I’m going to advertise the need for good soccer gear and ask for more donations to keep the project running for years to come. I’d like to leave a lasting impact on the children in Bolivia.” To help Paredes, email keola@gmail.com.
Sep 30, 2015 | Community, Environment, Sustainability
Mama’s Fish House, family-owned by Floyd and “Mama” Doris Christenson, has been buying fish directly from Maui fisherman for over 40 years. These local fishermen, representing a way of life, culture and tradition in Hawai’i, consistently deliver the freshest and finest local Maui seafood. In May 2013, Mama’s Fish House, in cooperation with Maui fishermen and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Wespac), funded and deployed the first of two fishing buoys approximately 30 miles off the northeast shore of Maui. The buoys are technically called a Fish Aggregation Device (FAD) and are anchored to the seafloor at a depth of over 1500 ft. “They are located in deep, off-shore waters that are habitat for pelagic species such as tuna, mahi-mahi, ono, and billfish,” said Mama’s Fish House Marketing Director Karen Christenson. “The concept of a FAD is a small platform or skiff that is anchored to the ocean floor, with a GPS beacon for tracking,” Christenson explained. “The floating buoy attracts the fish, offering some protection for smaller fish that, in turn, attract larger predator fish.”
“FADs have proven to be a successful sustainable food source while reducing transit times and fuel costs for fishermen,” said Mama’s Fish House Executive Chef Perry Bateman. While the State of Hawaii maintains a network of FADs across the islands with the objective of providing recreational fishing opportunities, Mama’s FAD is different. “It is the first buoy funded by a private business to support the fishermen and Wespac’s research,” Chef Perry said.
Recognizing that data collection is critical to ensuring sustainability for local Hawai’i fish stocks, Mama’s Fish House encourages fishermen to submit their catch reports to the State of Hawai’i and Wespac. “Having accurate reports is being pono, doing the right thing, and perpetuating our culture of fishing,” said Chef Perry. He added that all Hawai’i-licensed fishermen can fish at Mama’s Fish House funded buoys and sell their catch to anyone. “The goals of community FAD projects are to increase fishing opportunities and cooperative research, and to provide community benefits.”
