Treecovery Hawaiʻi Inc., a new Hawaiʻi-based non-profit, has been working with the Army Corps to help keep surviving trees in the Lahaina and Kula burn zones healthy while also providing soil remediation in the area. In addition to caring for existing trees, the organization is working with 14 partners to plant and oversee the growth of 30,000 new trees over the next several years, at no cost to the community. Treecovery was founded by Duane Sparkman, chairman of the Maui County Arborist Committee and the 2021 recipient of the Mālama i ka ʻĀina Award. The award is presented annually by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to recognize efforts in the landscape and agricultural community to keep invasive species out of Maui County.
Sparkman wears many hats. He is known for his work in sustainable landscaping as well as his countless volunteer hours serving multiple cultural and conservation organizations across the island. Sparkman worked his way up to becoming part-owner of a large landscaping company that maintained 65 acres of resorts along Maui’s coastlines. He worked at Haleakalā National Park and sits on the board of directors of Maui Cultural Lands. Sparkman’s consulting company, Edaphic Perspective, assists homeowners, landowners, and municipalities as they transition to organic landscape practices. He is also the project manager for a 72-acre Hawaiian cultural reserve called Kipuka Olowalu and partners with Maui Nui Marine Resource Council to assist them with their organic land management division.
“Treecovery represents my hope to keep trees in the Maui wildfire zones alive and to provide trees to the residents and businesses in Lahaina and Kula that lost their trees in the fires,” said Sparkman. “Treecovery also stems from my passion in seeing thriving and healthy ecosystems from mauka to makai. I believe in sharing my knowledge with other organizations and people throughout Maui. It’s important to me to respect and advocate for Hawaiian culture while improving sustainable landscape practices within Hawaiʻi’s resort industry.”
Sparkman added, “There is a lot of work to do, and we always need volunteers. Currently, numerous properties have been cleared for replanting in Kula. While caring for trees, we are growing an ‘ohana that we are all part of. We are working towards a healthy Maui Nui for generations to come.”
From the ʻāina, we learn who we are, and what we put into its restoration, we get back.
Duane Sparkman, Founder and President, Treecovery
During a recent Maui TechOhana meeting organized by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and supported by the County of Maui, participants learned about the inspiring work being done at the Maui Food Innovation Center (MFIC) located on the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College (UHMC) campus. Ian Stewart, UHMC Entrepreneurship and Business Development Specialist for the Pā‘oihana Program, was joined by Chef Douglas Paul to explain the work being done at the MFIC. Attendees discussed the benefits of the first value-added food manufacturing incubator and accelerator in Hawaiʻi and learned about the entrepreneurial programs and services available at MFIC. The presenters also shared some of the success stories emerging from the program.
The work done in the MFIC Laulima Education, Research, and Test Kitchen facility, with its attached classroom, is focused on the food and manufacturing industry. The 1,500 square foot space has $90,000 in specialized equipment, and MFIC plans to install a remote camera system to enable statewide distance learning. Along with the manufacturing facility, the program provides technological expertise, innovative training, and consultation. Serving as a resource hub for new and established food businesses, students, farmers, ranchers, chefs, and restauranters, the program also helps bring products to market locally, regionally, and nationally.
“Through education and access to industry leaders, our vision is to help develop cottage-size companies into medium-sized food manufacturers in the state of Hawaiʻi,” said Chef Paul. “The MFIC shared-use food business incubator and processing facility offers a vast array of resources and technologies to foster growth in our community.”
Stewart’s current role at UHMC has him encouraging entrepreneurship as part of a Minority Business Development Agency issued grant. “Supporting our Native Hawaiian food business owners, local food systems, and fresh produce industry is more important than ever,” Stewart noted. “Maui’s wildfire challenges and the current economy make it vital for our island to be self-sufficient and resilient when it comes to growing food.”
Dylan Schwarzmeier of Veg-Out shared, “MFIC is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who wants to bring a small-idea food product and turn it into a scalable market. MEDB’s TechOhana meetings provide an essential boost to help our local community succeed in every way possible.”
This excellent Maui TechOhana meeting gave everybody the opportunity to see innovation happening, not only in technology, but also in Hawaiʻi’s agriculture and food production.
Candace Shaw, CEO, Astute Consulting
This spring, Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks™ program organized three Healthcare Exploration Day events with Maui Health. The events, hosted by the Maui Health team at Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC) and made possible by generous funding from the County of Maui, aimed to inspire and educate students from middle and high school campuses across Maui, Molokai, and Lāna’i. In total, 11 schools, 260 students, and 20 healthcare professionals participated in hands-on activities, seeing first-hand how students can make a difference in their communities by learning life-saving skills.
The events began with moving pules by Kumu Iolani Kuoha and Kumu Luana Kawa’a, which acknowledged the land served by Maui Nui’s healthcare professionals. The students then learned about the dangers of distracted driving from MMMC nursing staff. Additional breakout sessions were held on stop the bleed skills, hands-on compressions, automated external defibrillator (AED) use, recognizing signs of stroke, trauma resuscitation techniques, the role of respiratory therapy in healthcare, imaging technology, and volunteer opportunities at the hospital.
The third event in the series also featured Marian Horikawa-Barth, Chief Nurse Executive for MMMC. She spoke to the students about her role and the critical need in Maui County for more medical professionals. “As we face a growing shortage of healthcare professionals, this event is not just an educational opportunity, but a crucial step towards inspiring the next generation,” said Lalaine Pasion, STEMworks program specialist. “By bringing together Maui’s health professionals to demonstrate a variety of medical fields, we aimed to spark interest in healthcare careers at an early age.”
Lynn A. Fulton, Maui Health CEO, noted, “Maui Health provides a great opportunity for students to be able to build a career. There is nothing like seeing what happens in a hospital through interactions with the people who work here.”
Maui Health Human Resources Leader Tara K. Cole shared, “Healthcare Exploration Day is designed to provide students, who are interested in healthcare but are perhaps not sure which field will best suit their gifts and goals, a chance to learn about all that our programs have to offer. Positions are available right out of high school.”
For more information, visit mauiheath.org/careers online or call 808-242-2251 on Wednesdays to speak to a recruiter.
I’m very interested in the medical field. Today I learned the importance of vital life-saving skills and that emergencies can happen to anyone, at any time. I want to be prepared!
Jaiden Ibañez, 8th grader, Maui Waena Intermediate School
Recently, all the Rotary Clubs on Maui were invited to gather at Lahainaluna High School to welcome the Rotary International President Gordon McInally, his wife and fellow Rotarian, Heather McInally, and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen. Over 150 Maui Rotarians, as well as some from other Hawaiian Islands and Canada, heard about a multitude of ways that Rotarians have met the needs of people harmed by the fires in Lahaina and Upcountry.
Mayor Bissen said, “I’m here to recognize the extraordinary work that Rotary District 5000 has done to help the Maui Fire Relief Fund. Your model of ‘service above self’ has transformed aloha into action in the aftermath of the August 2023 wildfires. Your response efforts, handing out hundreds of food and gas gift cards, and helping with internet connectivity, keiki supplies, and so much more in financial help, has been outstanding.”
The August 8th wildfires were a life-changing tragedy for many Maui families and friends. “Rotary members took immediate action,” said Joanne Laird, Maui Rotary Advisor. “As we came together to recover and rebuild, we formed a Fire Relief Fund through the Hawaiʻi Rotary District 5000 Foundation. A committee was organized shortly after to find the greatest needs for distribution of the $3.2 million collected.”
The Rotary Club plans to use $2 million for long-term projects such as rebuilding and a memorial park. During the event, McInally presented the Kanikapila Project – a ukulele program funded by Rotary to provide ukuleles and instruction to fire-survivor students – with a check for $20,745. In addition, he presented a check for $10,000 to support David Malo Day at Lahainaluna High School.
McInally concluded, “The money Rotary has raised and the work being done is a great service to Maui relief victims. We have to work into the future together. I believe that an organization like Rotary can make a difference in the world. I believe that we all have the spirit of caring in our hearts, and Rotary is a wonderful way to deliver that care for people. We can improve things and ultimately create hope worldwide.”
There are more than 1.4 million Rotarians in over 200 countries who have donated more than $3 million to help Maui’s recovery.
Gordon McInally, Rotary International President
On a beautiful Maui morning in Sprecklesville, Sarah Shim, retired Kaunoa Senior Services Specialist for Assisted Transportation and Meals on Wheels, presented an on-site fashion show with designs from Hawaiʻi’s past and present. A division of the County of Maui’s Department of Housing and Human Concerns, Kaunoa provides services and activities for seniors with diverse needs seeking to learn and grow through a variety of ongoing programs offered across the county.
Roland Prieto, Kaunoa Senior Services Assistant Administrator, said, “What a wonderful event this was! We have been looking forward to inviting our seniors back to events here since Covid. Sarah Shim did an amazing job, along with the models and guest speaker, Agnes Terao-Guiala, the 2021 Pele Award winner for her book, Hawaiian Women’s Fashion: Kapa, Cotton and Silk. The musical entertainment was provided by Richard Tom and Mele Fong.”
Shim explained, “Hawaiʻi, being very unique when it comes to fashion, has a rich and fascinating history. Hawaiian fashion from the past to present was showcased with traditional styles, patterns, and motifs relating to island history. The fashion show took attendees on a journey through time to show the evolution of Hawaiian fashion.”
Terao-Guiala shared, “Growing up I was inspired by my love for the beautiful fancy holokū, and I began to research the origin and evolution of all Hawaiian attire. I purchased and collected over 200 Hawaiian garments, mostly the muʻumuʻu (a loose-fitting flowy dress) that was introduced to Hawaiʻi in the mid-1800’s. Today’s fashion show showcased a remarkable chronicle of the fabrics and styles of Hawaiʻi, all interwoven with stories of the islands and its people, from early Hawaiians to historic royalty, to modern designers. Presently, Hawaiʻi’s contemporary designers are popular within the local and global fashion industry.”
A fashion show attendee exclaimed, “The show offered more than beautiful fashions! We were educated in how and when the styles came about. Even the men modeled Hawaiian shirts from different periods, including the famous Palaka shirt. Plus, the lunch and musical entertainment were great!”
The models wear a blend of Western, European, and Eastern cultures, truly representing the spirit of aloha in our island history.
Sarah Shim, Host, Hawaiian Fashion Show at Kaunoa Senior
In December 2023, Maui Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) started construction on its new black box theater at 2027 Main Street in Wailuku. Completion is scheduled for March 31, 2025. The culmination of a 30-year dream, the Naylor Family Theatre will seat 185 audience members with a flexible seating system that can be re-configured to accommodate different types of performances. In the heart of historic Wailuku, the theatre will serve people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and economic circumstances.
“Recently, MAPA received a $1,000,000 donation from philanthropist Susan Naylor Moulton for the black box theatre,” said Carolyn Wright, MAPA Executive Director. “When tragedy struck Moulton’s family 17 years ago on Maui, she said it was the people in the arts who lifted her up.”
David Johnston and Carolyn Wright, MAPA
Named in memory of Moulton’s two sons, the facility will also include state-of-the-art audiovisual and lighting systems, lobby, box office, concessions area, dressing rooms, rehearsal studios, restrooms, and storage. Moulton shared, “The arts are the voices of the island. We have so many creative people here, from cultural practitioners, to chefs, to painters, to performing artists. I’m honored to be involved in building this new theatre in Wailuku where the community will experience the healing power of artistic performance at every level.”
In addition to the economic benefits of the project, MAPA’s artistic director, David Johnston, also underscored the healing power of the arts. “MAPA’s Naylor Family Theatre will be a space for the community to experience the creative benefits that stretch beyond just entertainment,” Johnston shared. “I believe that the arts can be a powerful force for helping us navigate the uncertainties of these times, providing solace, awakening curiosity, and inspiring us to imagine a new future in a thriving community.” Wright added, “The theatre will infuse a new vibrancy into Wailuku, sparking more economic activity for existing restaurants and shops while attracting new businesses to fill vacant storefronts. By creating jobs in the creative arts sector, our theatre will bring renewed energy to the town through creative expression and community engagement. Plus, it will foster a resilient local economy on Maui.”
The Naylor Family Theatre will be a gathering space where the community can generate a sense of collective healing.
Carolyn Wright, MAPA Executive Director
In one of its most informative sessions to date, Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) recently presented a Maui TechOhana meeting with guest speaker Dr. Erin Hughey, Director of Global Operations for Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), during which she shared about the extraordinary work that PDC does on Maui and globally. A 28-year-old applied research center now managed by the University of Hawaiʻi, PDC supports both governmental and nongovernmental organizations worldwide to help create a safer, more disaster-resilient world.
Hughey talked about her career journey as a recognized leader in global disaster management and risk reduction, including PDC’s involvement in the ongoing Maui wildfire recovery process. With a PhD in geography, focusing on natural and technological hazards, she has dedicated her life’s work to the creation and application of new science and technology for disaster management. Her goal is to empower practitioners and senior leadership alike with the tools and information needed to support data-driven decision-making.
“PDC’s DisasterAWARE software application is used by tens of thousands of disaster management professionals,” said Hughey. “It provides global multi-hazard early warning, hazard monitoring, and risk intelligence to support rapid and effective disaster response, preparedness, recovery, and mitigation. We partner with over 75 countries around the world, have over 300 projects, over 3 million downloads on our apps, and also partner with NASA for global coverage of floods, landslides and fires.”
Hughey continued, “On Maui, officials and community responders at ground zero needed updated maps and data to aid the wildfire search, recovery, and relief efforts. Days after the catastrophic wildfire event unfolded, PDC’s existing data, mapping expertise, and DisasterAWARE platform took on the support role to provide expertise and tools for the emerging needs. A lot of things went wrong with the immediate response to the fire; however, the extraordinary coordination of the community filled the gaps.”
PDC won the 2022 United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction, the only U.S. agency ever to win this award. Hughey added, “We have a small staff of 60 people. We offer paid internships and job opportunities, and we are working with MEDB to do outreach in the community to help keep home-grown talent on-island.”
Our mission is to take the best science and get it into the hands of the decision-makers so they can focus on what action to take, such as moving people and supplies quickly.
Dr. Erin Hughey, Director of Global Operations for Pacific Disaster Center
Two thoughtful and concerned students from Baldwin High School launched a campaign to promote a Pledge To Our Keiki. Through the pledge, senior Anica Ancheta, the Hawaiʻi State Student Council Representative, senior Penelope Tupou, the Baldwin Student Body President, and their advisor, Student Activities Coordinator Donna Vierra, are working hard to have students, their families, locals, and visitors preserve and protect Hawaiʻi’s environment and culture.
Ancheta explained, “Working with student leaders and ambassadors from across the state is how we implement important opportunities at our own schools. I learned about Pledge to Our Keiki, a statewide initiative, at one of the Hawaiʻi State Student Council leadership workshops and immediately knew I wanted to bring it to my school and island. In addition, I knew I wanted to make a difference.”
The Pledge was modeled on the success of the Palau Pledge, a commitment to personal action towards environmental responsibility and sustainable tourism. The Palau Pledge amassed over 900,000 signatories and the support of major global organizations, including the UN, the World Economic Forum, and Greenpeace. In Pledge To Our Keiki, the student leaders of Hawaiʻi are asking their communities to pledge to their future. It’s a commitment to show up, volunteer, donate, and strengthen our ability to respond to unforeseen challenges. The pledge is also a platform for every school and nonprofit in Hawaiʻi to help Maui recover and rebuild. It empowers student leaders to shine a light on their creativity and gives them a sense of responsibility that focuses on the culture and environment.
Tupou added, “When I read the pledge, I realized this is something I want to be part of because I truly believe in it. A statement in the pledge that inspired me is: ‘From our children we learn that Hawaiʻi is not just inherited from our ancestors, but borrowed from our future generations’. This inspired me to pursue a career in civil engineering. I want to develop sustainable infrastructures and projects on Maui that can help us adapt and be more resilient towards climate change and whatever may come our way. It’s about letting our keiki know that we care now about their future.”
Working together, we can create waves of positive change.
Anica Ancheta, Baldwin H.S. Hawaiʻi State Student Council Representative
Penelope Tupou, Baldwin H.S. Student Body President
As we celebrate Women’s History Month and Agriculture Week, Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) is happy to introduce a remarkable individual who embodies resilience, leadership, and a passion for community impact. Tambara Garrick, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Hawaiʻi Farm Project’s Maui Gold Pineapple, is not just leading market initiatives, she is crafting a narrative of empowerment and sustainability in the agricultural sector. She was recently acknowledged for her contributions to a thriving future for Maui Nui by Pacific Business News as one of their 2024 Women Who Mean Business honorees.
A 2017 Ka Ipu Kukui Fellow, Garrick participated in the year-long leadership development program and now serves on their board of directors. The uniquely designed program addresses the many challenges that face Maui. Garrick’s journey, from a childhood farm stand to becoming CMO at Maui Gold Pineapple, is a testament to her deep-rooted connection to agriculture. She is passionate about supporting small businesses and sustainable practices for our future generations. In addition to her long-time involvement with Future Farmers of America, she serves on numerous boards, including those for County of Maui Workforce Development, Chamber for Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association, and Lahaina Town Action Committee.
“It’s all about being able to navigate challenges, including the recent Maui wildfires, which call for an enormous amount of resilience and strategic thinking,” Garrick said. “In response to the devasting fires, I helped initiate the Pineapple Pledge. With every purchase of a Maui Gold Pineapple the company donates to the relief organizations providing aid to the affected community. This initiative not only supports those in need, but also helps protect farm jobs and pineapple production operations. Additionally, Maui Gold recently contributed $2,000 to support Lahainaluna High School’s Robotics Team, assisting promising STEM students with travel and opportunity costs.”
In her role as CMO, Garrick oversees the planning, development, and execution of marketing and sales efforts across the company’s family of brands. Her responsibilities range from creative influence on business strategy to driving the company’s growth. “Our future includes continued Maui Pineapple Tours, exporting, consulting with other farms, and ensuring legislature to protect them,” Garrick noted. “Additionally, working with the MEDB STEMworks™ Ag Internship Program, our manager, Rudy Balala, teaches our youth the importance of agriculture. We are grateful to MEDB for helping to set that up.”
We continue to send pineapples to Maui Food Bank, the Food Hub, and others in need. The future of agriculture on our island is more vital than ever.
Tambara Garrick, CMO, Maui Gold Pineapple
