MEDB and Hawaii have lost a dear friend and inspiring leader with the passing of Pono Shim. The President and CEO of our sister organization, Oahu Economic Development Board, Pono was a gifted and respected visionary and storyteller. We were honored to share his presentation on True Aloha at the Hawaii Small Business Conference where he said, “A true leader works to bridge the members of the community, giving dignity to whom they are and what they have to offer” – words he inspired through his own actions.
Pono shared Aloha insights with many an audience over the years where he would provide techniques he learned at a young age from Lahaina-born Auntie Pilahi Paki. Auntie Pilahi wrote the Aloha Spirit Law (Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 5-7.5) that was passed by Hawaii lawmakers in 1986. “According to the Aloha Spirit Law, all Hawaii citizens and government officials must conduct themselves with aloha, which is a real commitment to accepting others,” said Pono. Auntie Pilahi explained that the five values that make up the Aloha Spirit Law are: A: Akahai, meaning kindness, expressed with tenderness; L: Lokahi, meaning unity, expressed with harmony; O: ‘Olu’olu, meaning agreeable, expressed with pleasantness; H: Ha’aha’a, meaning humility, expressed with modesty; and A: Ahonui, meaning patience, waiting for the moment, expressed with perseverance.
Pono noted, “A person cannot do one of the principles without truly doing all. If you are not doing one you are not doing any. So, to be living Aloha is to live all of the principles.”
Pono served in leadership on many boards in Hawaii (Friends of Iolani Place, Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, Hawaii Green Growth, Hawaii Public Housing Authority and Small Business Development Corporation) with his knowledge and skills sought by every sector of Hawaii.
In the words of Auntie Pilahi who knew the world would look to Hawaii for healing. “Aloha would be its remedy,” she said. We send strength and healing to Pono’s family and his vast circle of friends and colleagues.
Pono’s Celebration of Life will take place at 10.30am on May 7th at Bishop Memorial Chapel of the Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus on Oahu. Masks will be required.
Maui residents Stephen Reyes and Savannah Forbeck started Tartaria Juice Company during the pandemic to stay healthy, share their knowledge of wholesome juicing, and grow their business. Once the community opened up again they were eager to get out and offer their nutritious and organic juices. “Our goal is to share the wealth of health with as many people as possible while supporting local and organic agriculture,” said Forbeck. “Our juices, 100% cold-pressed for premium quality, maintain their nutritional value and anti-inflammatory health benefits. We feel it is important to be fully transparent about our ingredients and where we source them. Grown locally on Maui, our ingredients are either certified organic, organically grown, or grown without the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides.”
Tartaria Juice came about as Reyes and Forbeck dove deeper into uncovering a healthy lifestyle for themselves. Starting the company aligned with their passion for removing obstruction from the body, especially in the time of Covid-19. “Juice became a center point for our own healing journey as we found it to be a very powerful tool in pulling lymphatic waste from our bodies as well as aiding in digestion and healing,” Reyes explained. “Our bodies finally had a well-deserved break. Cold-pressed juicing has become an integral part of our daily life and now we want to share its power.”
The method of extracting cold-pressed juice uses significantly less friction and heat than traditional forms of removal. Cold-press juicers are gentle in their extraction, leaving nutrients intact, with dramatically increased flavor and longer refrigerator life. “Most of the juice that you buy at supermarkets is pasteurized, meaning it has been cooked or heated to a certain temperature which eliminates most of the nutrients you need,” Forbeck noted. “The cold- pressed process boosts your energy levels, and improves your immune system while it retains more vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and antioxidants. Cold-pressed juice—liquid love—is a simple form of energy, a way to rehydrate and heal the body. Most importantly, this method of juicing helps us live in balance with nature and one another to stay healthy and happy.”
The benefits of cold-pressed juice are boundless. The nutrients immediately enter the body and provide a kick of energy!
Stephen Reyes and Savannah Forbeck, Tartaria Juice Company
Through April 16th, Viewpoints Gallery in Makawao is presenting Celebration of Hawaii 2022, an annual invitational exhibit featuring work from more than 60 artists. “The entire Viewpoints Gallery is redesigned around this presentation,” said Oliver and Joelle Perz, Viewpoints Gallery and Art Directors. “We are showing artwork of significance by some of the best artists coming from around the state. Every piece portrays diversity. craftmanship, and visual beauty, all focused on the theme of honoring our extraordinary Hawaiian islands and culture.
As part of an on-going program started by Joelle, called the ‘Reaching Out Project’, artists were asked to collaborate with someone from the community to create a piece for the exhibit. Maui artist Jeanne Bitz worked with the Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society (HOCVS), whose mission is to promote sustainability and respect for the earth, humanity, and the Hawaiian culture through voyaging and the way of life on the canoe. Bitz’s collaboration with HOCVS and her experience of paddling into the full moon proved uniquely inspirational for expressing the Hawaiian culture artistically.
Bitz explained, “My work, titled Hina, an oil on gallery-wrapped linen, 96 x 48 inches, follows the story of Mahina as I learned it while searching for wisdom from ancestors, and listening to the present need of others, myself included. Throughout the Oceanic cultures, Hina has represented a fluid, powerful, extremely diverse woman who faces challenges, makes her own path going forward, destroys barriers to equality, and works to make the world a better place. Every woman in that canoe has faced and overcome challenges that seemed insurmountable at the time. If not for the canoe, our paths might never have crossed. We come together to be stronger, to learn, to grow, to embark on grand adventures, and sometimes we come together to be the change we want to see in the world. Beyond that, when we work together, that feeling of the canoe taking flight and gliding over the water is visual poetry. Mahalo nui loa for my chance to collaborate with HOCVS, and those shared moments that allowed our stories to intertwine on this grand adventure.”
Mahalo to Viewpoints Gallery for providing a space and a nurturing spirit that truly celebrates the rich culture of Hawaii.
This year, 2022, marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Surviving many challenges through the decades, it is arguably one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in America’s history. Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), recognizing the enormous importance of Title IX and celebrating Women’s History Month, pays tribute to the late U.S. Representative Patsy Takemoto Mink of Hawaii. Widely recognized as the major author of Title IX legislation, Mink introduced it in the U.S. House of Representatives, where it passed with a bipartisan voice vote. After her death in 2002, the official name of Title IX was changed in her honor to the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.
“Title IX is one of the most important laws passed for women and girls in Congress since women gained the right to vote in 1920,” said Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO. “Congresswoman Mink’s extraordinary achievements brought equal opportunity and other social justice issues to the forefront.”
During its 50 years, Title IX has been most associated with the dramatic increase in interscholastic and intercollegiate athletic opportunities for girls and women. The statute, however, prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving any type of federal financial support.
More broadly, Women’s History Month celebrates the contributions women have made to our country and recognizes their specific achievements in a variety of fields. In 1972, Time Magazine named Mink one of 100 Women of the Year who leveled the playing field, overcame oppression and worked to bring about changes in Hawaii and the world. Honored, Mink said, “We have to build things that we want to see accomplished, in life and in our country, based on our own personal experiences, to make sure that others do not have to suffer the same discrimination.”
Wilkins added, “Faced with her own encounters with discrimination, Congresswoman Mink devoted her life to advocating for gender equality and educational reform. She was the first Asian-American woman to practice law in Hawaii and the first Asian-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.”
MEDB celebrates Title IX and Mink’s inspiration to women and minorities. Even after her death, her life continues to inspire people who seek to ensure her enduring legacy.
Presented by the Maui Food Technology Center (MFTC), the Maui Sunday Market is an expanded island ‘ohana. At the core of the MFTC strategy is the goal of encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship among Hawaii’s local residents. The Market, supported by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development and sponsored by Alexander & Baldwin, helps to revitalize the community of Kahului while sharing aloha.
“Events happen all around the island,” said Luana Mahi, President of MFTC. “However, in Kahului, weekly community events are a rarity, especially in the evening. With the Maui Sunday Market, MFTC wanted to create an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to gather each week, engage with each other, share stories, and experience the diversity of Hawaii.”
One of the goals of the Maui Sunday Market was to create a place to share the creativity and talents of residents, wonderful food, and to absorb each other’s genuine aloha spirit in a safe and informal venue. The event draws visitors from the cruise ship that docks in the harbor earlier in the day, as well as visitors from around the island. “Often visitors crave an authentic island experience,” Mahi explained. “Our Market offers local foods, products, and live entertainment that especially resonates with this audience. Residents too are attracted to the weekly festivities, making Sunday evening a truly special time to spend with family and friends. Open to the public, with free admission, the event is held from 4pm to 8pm in the parking lot of the Kahului Shopping Center located at 65 W. Kaahumanu Avenue in Kahului.”
Mahi added, “MFTC also just opened its new food truck hub, called the Maui STREET Market. This foodie hot spot is located in the south side of the parking lot at 150 Hana Highway in Kahului and is open seven days a week. Our new hub will give residents and visitors the opportunity to ‘eat the street’, Maui-style, all year-round, take-out or dine-at, with a diverse menu of ono food served with aloha. Attendees will be helping to support local entrepreneurs and the island’s economy. Hele Mai, hope to see you there!”
The MFTC team provides a variety of food industry and entrepreneurial services to help small to mid-sized companies grow and succeed through marketing, education and business strategies. Visit www.mauifoodtechnology.org for more information.
February has been a month dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the past and current achievements of African Americans. Black History Month is an annual observance originated in the United States by Dr. Carter J. Woodson in 1926. Since 1976, every U.S. President has designated this month to honor the contributions and legacy of citizens of African descent across American history and society, including the fields of medicine, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, politics, military defense, music, art, and literature, and have shaped the world with courageous and selfless acts of service.
The African Americans On Maui Association (AAOMA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, enlightens and informs the community, the people of Hawaii, the nation and the world about the contributions and experiences of people of African descent. “Our aim is to foster and teach all people about our history, arts and culture,” said Sandra Shawhan, Vice President of AAOMA. “To achieve this goal, AAOMA promotes high quality research, cultural exhibits, arts, scholarships, and teaching of the African American experience. We sponsor a wide variety of programs on topics and issues that are critical for better understanding including events about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Black History Month, Juneteenth, Kwanzaa Programs, and more. We remain inclusive, never exclusive. We invite everyone to learn about the heritage and rich legacy of African Americans through networking, education and mentoring.”
Each year, Black History Month has a theme to focus the public’s awareness on a particular current issue. “The theme for 2022 is Black Health and Wellness,” Shawhan explained. “AAOMA hosted a Zoom presentation featuring well-known speakers and contributors to draw attention to health and wellness which is crucial for strength and resilience, especially during the current Covid-19 pandemic. On this topic, we explored the legacy and achievements of the forerunners who worked in the medical and health fields. We highlighted the current activities and initiatives that African American communities are engaged in to encourage good health and wellness—physically, mentally and spiritually. I am very pleased with our presence in the community and the events that we sponsor throughout the year.”
The AAOMA vision is to include and count all races and ethnicities and to be an outstanding regional resource for authentic African American historical information.
Maui big-wave photographer Martin Caprile has a great passion for the sea. With a degree in communication and media he traveled the world to land the perfect photos capturing some of the world’s biggest waves. With a truly unique perspective on surf and sea, Caprile’s obsession with the ocean made him choose Hawaii as his home in 2013. Here on Maui, his zeal to capture the thrill and beauty of surfing at Pe’ahi ‘Jaws’ keeps growing.
“After spending countless hours in the water growing up, and also teaching kitesurfing, I was in search of something new and decided to buy a camera,” Caprile said. “Instantly hooked, I took photography courses, and realized that I could mix the best of both worlds: being out in the ocean while creating dramatic imagery and artful interpretations of the world’s most magnificent ocean environment. I love shooting at Jaws! It is a thrilling place where everyone takes care of each other. Egos are put aside, and comradery takes over due to the dangers of the huge swells.”
Caprile wants to make people feel they are in the water, looking at what he is seeing through his lens. He understands the importance of knowing the swell to get the best angles for the shot. Some of his recognitions include Big Wave Awards 2018- 2019 nominee by World Surf League for: XXL Biggest Wave Award, Maui’s Kai Lenny photo; XXL Biggest Wave Award, Carlos Burle photo; and XXL Biggest Paddle Award, Billy Kemper photo.
Giving ample credit to both his jet-ski driver and boat captain, Caprile explained, “The ferocity of the waves cannot be captured from the beach, making big-wave photography an adventurous challenge. The driver swings me right into the pocket to get close enough for a perfect shot without being too close to where the wave is actually breaking, which can be hazardous. The action is best documented from out in the channel, often yards or mere feet from where massive chunks of sea realize their full potential. A big-wave photographer must be equal parts artist, technician, and athlete behind the lens.”
Big-wave and family surfing photos are the most exciting things to shoot. A big-wave photographer must be equal parts artist, technician, and athlete behind the lens.
It’s never too late to make music! Just ask Maui violist, violinist and music educator Teresa Skinner who began playing professionally and teaching in her native Southern California. On Maui since 1986, Skinner has become a celebrated local violinist. In 2015, she was honored with the Maui County Committee Women of Excellence Award for her contribution to music education in the community.
Currently, Skinner is principal violinist with both the Maui Pops Orchestra and the Maui Chamber Orchestra, and is part of a string quartet. Leading the string program at Haleakala Waldorf School, Skinner also teaches violin and viola at her private studio as well as at the Maui Music Conservatory in Queen Ka’ahumanu Center. Haleakala Waldorf School educators, Keith and Lynette McCrary said, “Skinner teaches with warmth, enthusiasm and artistry. She listens to her students, incorporating their ideas where appropriate, bringing laughter and musical discipline to their endeavors.”
Skinner started the Suzuki-Maui School of Talent Education and Ability Development and mentors students of varying ages. “The Suzuki Method, named after its founder, the late Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki, applies the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music,” Skinner explained. “A music curriculum and teaching philosophy, the method aims to create an environment for learning music which parallels the linguistic environment of acquiring a native language. Incorporated in the Method is the Suzuki Triangle, in which the parent helps the child practice and gives encouragement. The central belief of his language acquisition theories is that all people can and will learn from their environment. Some components to the Suzuki method include saturation in the musical community, developing friendships with other music students, and listening to recordings of professional musicians in the home every day.”
Skinner has seen the immeasurable benefits of music education firsthand and is quick to point out that there is more to it than scales and chords. “Music education is part of a well-rounded education,” she emphasized. “It fosters the development of self-motivation, as well as verbal and musical intelligence. It provides the life skills students need to make decisions, juggle multiple tasks, and foster excellent character.”
Maui Pops Orchestra is in rehearsal for the Winter Pops performance on February 20th and Spring Pops on March 13th. It is wonderful to be playing again for our Maui community!
Teresa Skinner, Principal Violinist Maui Pops Orchestra and Maui Chamber Orchestra
In celebration of their 30th anniversary in 2021, the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea launched Rooted in Aloha, a reforestation initiative in partnership with Skyline Conservation. Their goal, to plant native trees along the slopes of Haleakala, will help educate locals and visitors alike about Maui’s precious eco-system, its natural beauty, landscape, and history.
“Friends, family, and guests are welcome to join in our Rooted in Aloha initiative by sponsoring trees and planting seedlings that will be nurtured in the resort greenhouse and later planted on Haleakala,” said Michael Pye, Fairmont Kea Lani Area General Manager. “The Rooted in Aloha program is part of the resort’s long-standing history of prioritizing conservation of natural resources and community service to Maui. It focuses on three pillars: Mālama ʻOhana─supporting the welfare of the community, Mālama Maui─protecting native resources, and Mālama Pono─reducing environmental impact.”
To introduce the project, Fairmont Kea Lani planted the beautiful ʻŌhiʻa Grove at the resort and completed an installation of a Native Forest Display in the lobby, together with a Hawaiian blessing of the areas. “The Native Forest Display showcases higher-elevation trees including Koa and ʻŌhiʻa, along with Palapalai ferns to demonstrate the biodiversity of the forests,” Pye explained. “The seedlings will grow in the resort greenhouse until they reach a viable size, at which time they will be permanently planted in Pōhakuokalā Gulch at Skyline Conservation. When we plant 100 or 200 trees, we are not simply ‘gardening’ for aesthetic purposes. We are installing a regenerative forest system that will get better over time if we do a good job of managing during our tenure.”
Joe Imhoff, Conservation Manager at Skyline Conservation, noted, “Planting trees and shrubs in this restoration area will be most impactful when this sanctuary forest is eventually considered ‘old growth’. The Rooted in Aloha program, through education, fundraising, and voluntourism, is geared toward all who truly care about the future of Maui’s sustainability and want to give back. The program is directly supporting an ambitious mission to protect what remains of rare and endemic plants in Kula for future generations.”
The trees planted will include Koa, ʻIliahi (Sandalwood), ‘Aʻaliʻi and ʻŌhiʻa. To support the health of these trees, other native plants including Māmaki, Maile and Hala Pepe will also be planted to encourage the biodiversity of the area.
Michael Pye, Fairmont Kea Lani Area General Manager
