In March, MEDB’s Women in Business Seminar Series celebrated Women’s History Month with guest speaker Angela Garmon, an award-winning business owner and philanthropist. The founder and CEO of ARG Coaching & Consulting Group LLC, a strategic change management consulting firm that supports diverse teams nationwide, spoke about how not only to handle change but to embrace it. The Women in Business Seminar Series is presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) in partnership with the Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) and supported by the SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program and the County of Maui.
“WBEC is one of the official certifiers for SBA Women Owned Small Business certifications,” said Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO. “Businesses can get certified as being a 51% owned and operated (Minority, Women, Veteran) in order to qualify for special consideration in government and private contracts and to participate in a sponsor company’s Supplier Diversity programs.”
Garmon described how to use SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) Analysis when you are setting new goals, rolling out new products, services, and identifying your next move. “To stand out in your field, explore ways to leverage your strengths to drive competitive advantages and opportunities,” she explained. “Understand the weaknesses that may leave you vulnerable to the competition, and identify ways to expand the share of the marketplace by minimizing the threats. In addition, use SWOT to create a solid plan of action. It will help you prep for opportunities and potential barriers, serve as a pulse check, as well as indicate that more work is required.”
Kat Tracy, Akakū Director of Education, said, “Today’s seminar inspired us to take action and consider what we need to start, stop, or change, no matter the size or the challenges in our businesses and lives.”
Brandy from Cajudoy Construction, LLC shared,” My WBEC certification and the MEDB Women in Business Seminar Series have both provided me with an abundance of opportunities. Today’s discussion offered help in how to use SWOT to evaluate my business going forward.”
President and CEO of WBEC-West Dr. Pamela Williamson added, “MEDB provided yet another conversation with great information and lots of food for thought.”
Our journeys should be measured not only by the number of years that we spend on earth but also by our abilities to persevere through the battles and conquer what seems to be insurmountable.
Angela Garmon, ARG Coaching & Consulting Group LLC, Founder and CEO
Women’s History Month, a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society, has been observed annually in March in the United States since 1987. The 2023 theme, ‘Celebrating Women Who Tell Stories’, recognizes women, past and present, who have used, and are using their voice and creativity to educate and inspire.
“Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) celebrates the talents and achievements of all the women in our community and nation,” said Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO. “By doing so, we uplift, honor, and embrace progress towards true equity.”
Every woman has a story to tell and gifts to share. This year, MEDB recognizes Maui resident Sissy (Kahakuhaupiokamakani) Lake-Farm, Executive Director of the Maui Historical Society/Hale Hō’ike’ike (House of Display), whose inspiring creative work in the museum and the community knows no end, and whose smile is contagious.
Lake-Farm, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner and Kumu Hula (master hula teacher), inherited her love for sharing Maui’s past, present, and future from her dad, John Keola Lake, a renowned Hawaiian historian, a Kumu Hula, and perpetuator of ‘ōlelo Hawaii. “My job at the museum is the honor of a lifetime,” she said. “I feel a deep kuleana (responsibility) and connection to the history of the land. Plus, in addition to its cultural and historical treasures, I am delighted the museum has become a gathering place for people of all ages to take part in educational workshops, presentations, concerts and other community events.”
Over five years ago, Lake-Farm was approached to join an innovative collaboration, Small Town*Big Art, to develop an arts district that celebrates the distinctive sense of place, history and culture of Wailuku Town. She reflected, “As the recipient of many gifts from my Hawaiian upbringing, I felt called to this new creative endeavor.”
Recently, Lake-Farm was chosen by the Hawaii Visitor’s Convention Bureau as an Aloha Ambassador from Maui, to share stories about her beloved island on the mainland. “I am glad to be in a position to give back to the community,” she added. “As a Hawaiian woman on Maui, to be part of the preservation of our history and culture is priceless!”
Women’s History Month is a time to honor our role in preserving the cultural roots and history that will define our community for future generations. It’s my passion!
Sissy Lake-Farm, Maui Historical Society, Director
Michael A. Lilly (Captain, U.S. Navy, ret.), lawyer and writer, is an honor graduate of the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. He served as Hawaii’s Attorney General and First Deputy Attorney General (1981-85), and was a partner in the Honolulu law firm Ning Lilly & Jones until his retirement on Maui in 2019. A decorated Vietnam War Veteran, Lilly is also a founding director emeritus of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, which operates the Missouri as a memorial and tourist attraction. He retired from the Navy after 30 year of service, active and reserve.
Not many people realize that Lilly is also a fifth-generation Hawaii resident and a direct descendant of Hawaiian Kingdom Nationals. Several of his ancestors were advisors and confidants to Kamehameha V, Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani. In 2019 Lilly wrote his second book Nimitz at Ease, chronicling the unpublished story of a grand relationship between Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who commanded the armed forces in the Pacific during WWII, and his grandparents, Una and Sandy Walker, whose friendship helped relieve the Admiral of some of the tremendous pressures of war. Lilly brings this narrative to life in amazing detail.
Lilly noted, “Drawing on my grandmother’s diary, extensive collection of letters, photos, documents, oral history, memorabilia, and memoirs never before published, I was able to chronicle Nimitz’s daily activities in war and peace. I grew up mesmerized by the fascinating tales of the lifelong friendship between the Admiral and my grandparents, which became family legend.”
Currently, Lilly is an active member of the County of Maui Council on Aging. The council advises the County Executive Office on the needs of older persons in the community. “We meet every other month to discuss plans for helping the aging through programs, legislation, and other resources,” Lilly explained. “I am one of 15 members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the County Council. We are dedicated to promoting and protecting the well-being of older adults in Maui County. Together, we all work to assist our kupuna and caregivers to lead dignified and meaningful lives.”
Lilly’s Nimitz at Ease is an important contribution to the history of the U.S. Navy in WWII and Hawaii during the 1940s.
William J. Cassidy, Jr., Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Maui resident Cindy Walter is an author, television host, and international master teacher of traditional and contemporary quilt techniques. She has authored 10 books, and also designed a fabric line and patterns. “Two of the books I co-authored, Fine Hand-Quilting and Attic Windows, promote traditional quilting,” she explained. “The techniques passed down to us by our elders are a very important part of our heritage. I alternate between teaching and creating both traditional and contemporary quilt styles, and I especially enjoy encouraging students to create their own unique designs.”
Walter often spends her free time designing quilts, writing books, and teaching workshops on boat cruises. Her books include new tools on the market, and refined techniques. Her fondness for contemporary quilting is how her book, Snippet Sensations, began. “I wanted to create a quilt that looked like a Monet painting, and began pondering fabric and paint methods. I cut pre-fused pieces of cloth up into little bits like dabs of paint, and applied them to my quilt. Wow! My idea worked and once I perfected the technique I wrote Snippet Sensations to plant the seeds of inspiration in others.”
Then, it came to Walter to actually try to paint on fabric Another of her books, Fabric Painting, teaches basic information to help understand paints, supplies, and how to set up the workspace. “Living in Hawaii makes it easy to find inspiration for Hawaiian quilt patterns,” Walter said. “As much as I enjoy the traditional Hawaiian needle-turn method, I could not resist painting the Hawaiian quilt. The project is rewarding and fast. It is directly painted, so there is no guesswork. You simply spread the paint as evenly as possible within the lines. You can highlight the painting with machine quilting, using the traditional echo pattern, to get a quilt with a true Hawaiian feeling. Hawaiian quilt tops are made by folding fabric into eighths, like a pie wedge. The pattern is then pinned on top of the fabric wedge, and the entire quilt top is cut out at once, snowflake style.” Go to www.cindywalter.com for teaching information, books, and inspiration.
I come from a long line of quilters and truly love every aspect of the art.
Cindy Walter, Author, Lecturer, TV Host
On Maui, Black History Month began with the reading and presentation of a proclamation by County Managing Director Kekuhaupio Akana on behalf of Mayor Richard Bissen, Jr., declaring January 16th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Meeting at the Stone of Hope monument fronting the County building, organizers of the commemorative gathering were led by the African Americans On Maui (AAOMA) vice-president Leslee D. Matthews, Esq., andothers from the community. The mission of the association is to enlighten and inform communities across Hawaii and the globe about the history, culture, contributions, and experiences of people of African descent.
AAOMA also celebrated Black History Month with community service programs and an online event featuring keynote speeches, prayers, poems and songs. The theme for 2023, “Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems”, is also the vision of Matthews. Attorney, social worker and advocate, Matthews is president of the Maui County Bar Association, is the immediate past president of the African American Lawyers Association of Hawaii, and also serves as Special Counsel to the Judiciary. Additionally, she is a lecturer at the University of Hawaii, where she earned her Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law.
As founder and managing attorney of Speak Out & Up Law, LLLC, Matthews’ legal empowerment law firm, her focus is on working to end violence against women and girls and enhancing services provided to underserved communities.
“Growing up on Maui, I always believed that the law should be used to do more helping than harming,” Matthews noted. “As an advocate for social justice, it is a blessing for my law firm to partner with members of the community, and to speak out for and elevate the voices of those who have been silenced. As vice-president of AAOMA, I hope to continue serving the community with nonprofit organizations, schools, and whomever calls on us. From time spent planting and harvesting kalo, to helping restore native forests in Kahikinui, to spending time working in communities, I am so thankful for all the life lessons that ‘ohana along the way have taught me.”
AAOMA guest speakers gave a heartfelt overview of the importance of African American history, culture and education, all bringing more awareness to what really matters: a community where love prevails.
Leslee Matthews, Lawyer, Social Worker, Advocate
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Maui and the Kwock Hing Society in Kula, the annual effort to re-establish the fragrant sandalwood trees in Kula has become an earnest community project for this team. Their tree-planting project was a huge success this year. During the early 1800s, the royal sandalwood ‘ilahi’ became a valuable trade commodityand was quickly over-harvested. In later years, the trade in sandalwood had collapsed and the forests were exhausted. Thanks to conservation efforts over time, the remarkable sandalwood trees have made a comeback.
“It is important to honor our ancestors by gathering the community to re-plant the sandalwood, teach its history, and educate the younger generation about its importance,” said Sarah Shim, president of the Kwock Hing Society and board member of the Maui Chinese Club. “One of our goals at Kwock Hing is to restore Sandalwood Mountain. We are thankful that the Rotary Club of Maui offered to help. They are the primary people that started this project with us. They have been a joy to us and also helped us make needed repairs in our very old building. Built in 1907 in Keokea, the Kwock Hing Temple has been a place for traditional celebrations and community educational programs. The building was placed on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places in 1982, and the National Register of Historic Places later that year.”
Rev. Heather Mueller, president of the Rotary Club of Maui, noted, “We had approximately 60 people helping to plant trees at the temple cemetery and in the surrounding Kula area. Unjust demands in the 1800s caused so much hardship that the Hawaiian sandalwood trade had come to a halt. Therefore, we feel the need to restore our mountain again with sandalwood trees. Besides beautifying our island, trees absorb carbon and release oxygen, reducing the effects of climate change. They also bind the soil, which will help if we have extreme upcountry weather events. To see so many volunteers come out to plant, and be part of something to help mitigate the harmful effects of climate change, is wonderful!”
Our purpose is to create and maintain a balanced environment, preserving the natural wealth of our ‘āina.
Rev. Heather Mueller, President, Rotary Club of Maui
Shaka, A Story of Aloha is a full-length documentary about the origin and meanings of the Shaka gesture, currently recognized in Hawaii and around the world. The film features an award-winning team of production artists including Henry Kapono as Music Director and Robert ‘Lono’ Ikuwa as Cultural Expert. Produced by Steve Sue, Chairman of Bizgenics, a Hawaii-based nonprofit organization specializing in creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship programs, the film is a call to serve one’s community through positivity and sharing the aloha spirit.
The film explores multiple versions of how the Shaka gesture came about, how it progressed to global use, the origin of the word, and how it has been used to share the aloha spirit. Kapono said, “This project is going to connect everyone. The music in the movie is uplifting, the message is great, and I’m proud to be part of it.”
Sue explained, “The story started as a passing curiosity when a friend introduced me to kupuna (elders) who, as keiki (children) in the 1930s and 1940s, knew the Shaka Man, Hamana Kalili, known as the father of the Shaka sign. Kalili lost three middle fingers on one of his hands. How he lost the fingers is a subject of local legend. However, when he waved to people he held up the hand that had only a thumb and pinky finger. The wave caught on, was soon adopted by others, and the rest is history!”
While the above storyline is well-documented, alternative origin stories abound, including a Maui-based version that centers around David ‘Lippy’ Espinda. There is also a Molokai-based Kalaupapa leprosy colony version, and a Portuguese drinking gesture version. As documentarians, the crew presents all credible findings so audiences can decide for themselves.
Sue added, “In the end, we may never prove the actual historical origin, but what seems clear is that the Shaka originated in Hawaii and carries the aloha spirit to the world. And today, more than ever, the world needs love, optimism, tolerance, and living with aloha. We’re honored to be entrusted with this story of the Shaka attitude of Aloha.”
The film has spawned several Project Shaka initiatives, including Shaka-based education, scholarship, and sharing-aloha programs.
Steve Sue, Bizgenics Chairman, Shaka Executive Producer
Invited by the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC), two respected leaders of Hawaii’s government came to Maui to share experiences of their time at the helm of the Aloha State between 2010 and 2014. Former Attorney General (AG) David Louie was interviewed by special guest former Governor Neil Abercrombie about Louie’s new book, “From the Desk of the Attorney General: A Memoir.”
AG Louie, the country’s first Chinese-American state AG, featured excerpts from his book and Governor Abercrombie offered his unique expertise as an interviewer. “My book is a memoir of my experiences as a public servant—the challenges faced, the insights gained, the lessons learned,” Louie explained. “I wanted to share the behind-the-scenes account of the way things really get done, how issues are addressed and decisions made, how goals are achieved and power wielded. My historic koa wood desk in Hawaii’s state capitol gave me a front row seat for viewing and shaping landmark cases on environmental issues, Native Hawaiian rights, internet safety, same-sex marriage, human trafficking and more.”
Former Governor Abercrombie’s career spans five decades as an elected official. From 1975 to 1979, he served in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Later he was elected to the Hawaii Senate. He won a seat in the U.S. Congress in 1986 in a special election to complete the term of a resigning member of the US House of Representatives. Abercrombie noted, “In the pages of his book, Louie covers a wide range of political and governmental issues, both in Hawaii and across the country, all of interest to anyone who wants to make a difference and contribute to the common good. His Asian-American experiences and his standing as the country’s first Chinese-American AG greatly influenced his views on the importance of social justice for our communities.”
Deidre Teagarden, NVMC Executive Director added, “Louie’s account of his time as AG gives the reader a very special look into the inner workings of government at the highest level; the good, the not so good, and the humorous. We were thrilled that Governor Abercrombie was here in person to interview Louie.”
Serving as AG of Hawaii was both a serendipitous opportunity and a tremendous endeavor. I am forever grateful to Governor Abercrombie and to the countless others who helped me navigate the job in so many ways.
David Louie, Former Hawaii Attorney General
Maui resident and author Trish Michael wrote a children’s book, Find Your Happy, that enlightens, inspires and uplifts. The book playfully, yet powerfully, reminds us that finding happiness is possible, regardless of our circumstances. It puts the power of choice into the reader’s hands, simply by shifting into a better space, at times they might feel most powerless. It speaks to young children coping with trauma, to troubled teens who might need a nudge towards owning their decisions and behavior, and to adults who are trying to rebuild their lives and may have forgotten a bit of themselves along the way. Additionally, it is all cleverly packaged in a delightful children’s book that is fun and easy to read.
“Find Your Happy was born out of pain and struggle,” Michael explained. “My own journey of hardship, as a teenage mother in an abusive marriage and as a two-time cancer survivor, has taught me how my own mindset affects everything I do. Find Your Happy contains ‘CliffsNotes® to life’, as it were, to help us all find more happiness every day, no matter how hard it is. The book is about empowerment, seeing the good, and making the best of anything that comes our way. It follows Little Miss J and her pal Iggy Piggy as they learn simple, yet profound life lessons. The reader follows along as the characters find happiness by making better choices and owning their journey. Its rhythmic cadence and truthful message of encouragement leaves readers feeling empowered.”
Find Your Happy really is for everyone. Written and illustrated as a children’s book, it is a self- help book in disguise. “I see this as a book that people read to their children and then end up getting something positive out of it for themselves,” Michael noted. “The colorful and cheerful illustrations, relatable characters and comforting tone make it an enjoyable and instructive read for one and all, proving you can Find Your Happy at any age. Also, watch for my new book, Light, which helps readers feel lighter inside and outside in their daily life.”
I am working hard to inspire people to find their happiness and soak up every sweet moment in between the hard ones. Love yourself and use your true voice.
Trish Michael, Maui author
