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
November marked Ho‘i Koholā, ‘welcome back whales month’, and the traditional start of the 2022-2023 whale season in Hawaii. Humpback whales are generally seen in Maui waters from November into May each year, with the peak season running from January through March. This November was also the 30th anniversary for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS). Designated in November of 1992, HIHWNMS is one of the world’s most important whale habitats, and the only place in the United States where humpback whales mate, calve, and nurse their young.
“HIHWNMS works to protect humpback whales and their habitat through research, education, conservation, stewardship, and entanglement response,” said Kim Hum, HIHWNMS sanctuary superintendent. “We are excited to join the community in welcoming nā koholā, the whales, back to the islands. A few early sightings of humpbacks have been reported in recent weeks, with more whales anticipated to return soon.”
HIHWNMS hosted a virtual pre-whale-season webinar about their current research and how to care for our magnificent visitors. Presenters Dr. March Lammers, research ecologist, Eden Zang, research specialist, and Ed Lyman, natural resource specialist, each gave a briefing on the sanctuary’s activities. “Acoustic monitoring is very important because sound transmits well underwater,” Dr. Lammers explained. “Many male humpback whales sing during the breeding season, and the volume of song chorusing measured on moored recorders is correlated with whale abundance. Additionally, many whale behaviors are not observable from the surface or at night, leaving much still to be learned. A promising approach is to use instrumented tags to study behavior.” Zang added, “We also focus on entanglements and whale-vessel contacts. Based on community monitoring efforts, the sanctuary uses historical known outcomes from threats like entanglement and collision to quantify the impact of present cases and serious injury determinations.”
Lyman concluded, “This season had the largest use of drones to help staff respond to and record entanglement reports. Our goals include releasing large whales from life-threatening entanglements, increasing awareness, and gathering information to better understand the threat. Plus, HIHWNMS continues to develop many partnerships with the on-water community to protect the humpback whales and their habitat.”
Our motto, ‘Go Slow—Whales Below’ is for boating vessel speeds necessary to keep the whales safe. For more information, visit https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/boating-with-whales.
Dr. March Lammers, Research Ecologist, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
A new year can bring renewed optimism and hope – a time for a clean slate and to put the cares of the past year aside. It can be a time to set resolutions, intentions or goals for the year ahead. Did you know that people who write down their goals are 42 percent more likely to achieve them? This was demonstrated in a study on goal-setting by Dr. Gail Matthews of Dominican University in California.
You may have heard of SMART goals – goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound – that help to give better results. Often the important (and sometimes most challenging) step is getting clear on what you want. Writing this down inspires clarity and helps you to get specific. This is about what you want, and not what others want for you, or what you think you should want.
When you set a goal that you truly want you trigger an important ingredient – DESIRE – that helps you align with your goal and what you have to do to achieve that goal. Desire can be the difference between achievement and a failed resolution. Belief in your goal and your ability is another factor that can make or break your success. Whether a goal is attainable or realistic all depends on your belief. Lofty goals are possible when you set your mind to it.
You can resolve now to create more of what you want in 2023 by writing down goals in any area of your life that is important to you – career, health, family, giving-back, recreation, hobbies and more. Less is more when it comes to setting goals, with no more than three major goals recommended. Once you have written them down, create a picture in your mind of how your life may look now that you have achieved your goal — what will the end of 2023 be like for you as you look back on the year that was?
The Maui Economic Development Board `ohana would like to be among the first to wish you “Hau`oli Makahiki Hou.” Happy New Year!
The Maui Economic Development Board ‘ohana would like to be among the first to wish you “Hau`oli Makahiki Hou.” Happy New Year!
MEDB Team
Rev. Dr. Cindy Paulos is a Maui radio personality, minister, artist, composer, lyricist, and author. Her CD, Practicing Aloha won the Hawaii Music Award in the Inspirational Category, and was nominated for a Hoku (her 6th nomination) by the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts. Recently, Paulos and composer Stephen Melillo won two gold medals at the Global Music Awards and the 2022 Hollywood Music in Media Award in the Epic/Orchestral category for their CD, Love Conquers All.
In Paulos’ latest book release, The Christmas Gift: When Heaven Merges with Earth, a companion for the latter CD, she brings the light and spirit of Christmas into the hearts of all people and all faiths. “The meaning of the holiday is a human one of experiences, tolerance, kindness and love,” she said. “The gift of Christmas transforms lives. When people live with more understanding of these qualities, they naturally bring more compassion into their daily lives. These are the kinds of gifts at Christmas which we need to relate to, every day of the year. I hope my book inspires others to see that ‘Love’ merges heaven and earth.”
After reading the book, Melillo said, “What would be the use of great accomplishment, success, degrees, massive output, or any measure of accolades and gifts without love and kindness? Paulos looks at the world and hears words, looks up to the stars and sees poetry. She congeals these messages with great tenderness and releases them into her music and books. Her flow of words spread much needed lovingkindness and goodwill into our world.”
Paulos added, “It seems so many do not understand the significance of all the elements represented in the Christmas story and the deeper meaning of them. There is a mystical perspective to the timeless story. It is a tale of light for all mankind. If we go within and find the symbolism and the true gift of Christmas we realize it is a celebration, a time for giving and not simply a day on which we exchange gifts. It is a day we think about others—a selfless time, when we forgive, take stock of what’s important, and become better versions of ourselves.”
Christmas, a time of promise, generosity and hospitality, is the Yuletide hope for peace on earth and goodwill to all.
Cindy Paulos, Author, The Christmas Gift: Where Heaven and Earth Merge
Ten-year-old Moorea Winter Feliciano is both a dancer and an Upcountry junior rodeo participant. Dancing ballet since she was three years old with the Alexander Academy of Performing Arts (AAPA), she is also a member of the nonprofit Maui Youth Rodeo Organization (MYRO). Ballet and rodeo make such a unique and unexpected combination. Yet, they have a few important similarities: both take time and dedication, both take a specific skill level, both take passion, both have levels of difficulty that humble you greatly, and both take hours of extra practice.
Feliciano explained, “I spend many hours after my schoolwork practicing both ballet and riding. I help clean the ballet studio in exchange for extra classes, and I am a teacher’s assistant to younger dancers. Also, I volunteer time to help set up for rodeo, and fundraise for both ballet and rodeo. For me, it is being part of something greater than myself. Also, the number of friends from ballet who are coming to my rodeo shows, and the rodeo friends who are coming to ballet shows, makes my heart so full.”
MYRO provides opportunities for children on Maui to participate in rodeo events throughout the year: riding, roping and more. Members practice good conduct, sportsmanship, and a commitment to good grades. Morag Rice Miranda, Maui District-Hawaii High School Rodeo Association representative, always announces Feliciano as, “an accomplished dancer, our ballerina rider.”
This year, Feliciano landed the ‘every little girl’s dream role’ of Clara in AAPA’s 2022 annual holiday tradition, The Nutcracker. She will dance the role on Saturday evening and the closing performance, besides other parts. “A lot of hard work must happen first,” she said. “Both dancing and rodeo help me to set big goals for myself and see them through. My motto is: If you believe you can, you will!”
Paul Janes-Brown, Maui Curtain Call, said, “At ten years old, Feliciano is a young lady to watch. She helped choregraph a wonderful contemporary dance performance in the 2022 AAPA performance of Sleeping Beauty. I look forward to seeing her perform the role of Clara in this year’s Nutcracker.”
I love the magic that happens onstage and at the rodeo!” The Nutcracker will be performed December 16-18 at Seabury Hall’s ‘A’ali’ikūhonua Creative Arts Center. Visit Eventbrite for Nutcracker tickets and www.mymyro.com for rodeo information.
Moorea Winter Feliciano, Member, AAPA and MYRO
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, we are reminded of the grassroots community project started to reduce hunger during Covid-19 and beyond. Co-founded by Brad Kukral and Steven Calkins, the Hungry Homeless Heroes Hawaii (HHHH) uses quality excess food to fill the stomachs and hearts of Maui’s hungry rather than the landfills. Kukral and Calkins set up a food redistribution organization that receives food from community members and farms with surplus, besides growing their own food at Anuhea Chapel in Pukalani. Additionally, they have put together an all-volunteer team who garden, prepare nourishing meals and personally deliver them to the unsheltered on Maui.
In the midst of the pandemic, Kukral witnessed a homeless man get into trouble while trying to obtain food from a local grocery store. “This incident was the impetus of the project,” he explained. “The man was hungry and just wanted to eat, and was begging for help. So, the next day my friend Steven and I decided to cook and distribute meals. The operation increased literally overnight.”
Kukral continued, “The pandemic impacted the unsheltered community in its own unique way in terms of limited restroom facilities, the inability to comply with stay-at-home orders, and difficulties obtaining food. Through a Facebook network on Maui, we were able to collect donations and supplies. As the program grew, so did the area of response. Volunteers and donations rolled in from a variety of area businesses, organizations, and private citizens.”
Currently, the program can produce as many as 200 meals a day. However, a main ingredient that the homeless need is the feeling of not being abandoned. Kindness is as appreciated as food. “HHHH works with compassion to bring hope to the hopeless,” Calkins said. “Our future vision would be to take another step toward a permanent solution by galvanizing the community around this most dire issue. Ideally, we would like to find a self-sustaining property where families could come on a work-trade basis.”
In the meantime, the HHHH purpose is to feed the hungry with hope, one meal at a time. The staff have been mindful of sustainability and work to create an environment that recognizes, validates and enhances the dignity of everyone experiencing homelessness.
MEDB applauds all those in the community who serve to make sure no one goes hungry. We wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all.
