Kim Weaver says she maintains a thriving business by partnering with family and paying attention to the handcrafted soap and jewelry she designs and sells. “I make everything myself because I’m so particular about the quality and detail of each product. I don’t want to ever lose that,” said...
County Fair gives community a creative venue
Unwilling to let a tradition die, former 4-H Club leaders Mae Omuro and Lydia Furomoto agreed to co-chair the Hobbies & Crafts Exhibit at this year’s Maui County Fair. “We always thought it was part of the fair. People have come to expect it,” Furomoto said. Once called the Homemaking Exhibit,...
Obon season honors dead, unites community
The Obon season is under way on Maui where Buddhists and non-Buddhists are gathering for nights of dancing, eating and making friends. Rev. Sol Kalu at Makawao Hongwanji Mission calls it the “happiest” of all festivals celebrated by the Buddhists. “It is deeply ingrained in the culture of the...
JUMPSmartMaui marks energy milestone
JUMPSmartMaui took off this month as residents joined the Project’s partners in launching a collaborative demonstration project between Japan and Hawaii. The program incorporates Smart Grid, renewable energy and all-electric vehicle solutions to achieve a cleaner, more sustainable future free of...
Contest seeks positively charged art design
Young artists are being asked to add some pizazz to the front and back panels of new electric vehicle quick-charging stations being installed at Queen Kaahumanu Center. Sponsored by Hitachi and with assistance from Maui Economic Development Board, the art contest is open to Maui County students in...
Employee attitudes affect work environment
When news broke that Hawaii ranked as best for work environments in the country, Human Resources Manager Mandy Woulfe expressed excitement. “It all goes back to doing the work you enjoy doing,” Woulfe said about why our state may have scored an overall 71.1 in a recent Gallup Poll. “People here...
Goodfellow Bros builds pride in giving back
Whether it’s building communities or battling fires, Goodfellow Bros has maintained an ongoing commitment to social responsibility, according to President Chad Goodfellow. “Our mission is to be the contractor of choice by our clients, employees and the communities in which we live and work,” he...
Home cooking draws customers to Waikapu on 30
“Keep it hot and fresh” could be the motto for Waikapu on 30 owner Barbara Kikuchi, who runs the popular plate lunch stop on Honoapiilani Highway in Waikapu. “We’re kind of like a truck stop,” said the former hotel sales and marketing executive. Kikuchi also worked for six years in media and...
AARP volunteers help prepare tax returns
Volunteers with the American Association of Retired Persons Tax Aide Foundation are once again providing free tax preparation assistance. The group on Maui has been providing help for more than 30 years now. “In the early days, we did it by hand. Now we’ve got computers,” said Barbara Workman, a...
Garden Grows on Kihei Elementary’s Keiki
Kihei Elementary School gives students opportunities to grow – not just academically, emotionally and physically, but also in the campus garden. The lessons for the 850 students participating stems from the nonprofit, Grow Some Good, founded by Kathy Becklin. Garden Coordinator Kirk Surry said...
