With headquarters at Honokohau Bay on Fleming Beach, the Kahākūkahi Foundation has built a community that empowers keiki (youth) through ocean sports, environmental stewardship, and a deep connection to the ʻāina (land) and kai (sea). Founded in 2000 by Zane Kekoa Schweitzer, the nonprofit has equipped their facility with surfboards, stand-up boards, windsurfers, and outrigger canoes for the keiki to enjoy while learning about ocean safety and marine science. Their programs run Monday to Saturday, 11am-5pm.
Schweitzer grew up in the Maui ocean. He has earned approximately 15 world championships in water sports and is a two-time Ultimate Waterman. His unique experiences, from traveling around the world for international competitions, to team-building, to ocean conservation, inspired him to publish his first book, Beneath the Surface. Beyond the waves, he collaborates with local artists, healers, and other community members who amplify the message of ocean preservation. Now, he is determined to give back to the community he loves and its future generations.
“Since the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires in Lahaina, Kahākūkahi Foundation has refocused its mission on uplifting the physical and mental well-being of the Maui keiki,” Schweitzer explained. “Since February 8, 2025, we’ve hosted over 12 different schools, over 700 students during outdoor school field trips, and over 1,500 people total including adults. We believe every child in our community should have access to these ocean activities and cultural practices, which is why we provide mentorship and all necessary equipment at no cost to them!”
With a full-time staff and structured curriculum, Kahākūkahi makes science and conservation fun, engaging, and impactful. This allows keiki to develop skills and healthy mindsets that extend into their daily lives. Along with ocean activities and environmental stewardship, the Foundation has also developed a Hawaiian language program, featuring storytelling with kupuna. Schweitzer added, “Through all our endeavors, we hope to display the conviction behind our beliefs and share it all with the wider community.”
For those interested, Kahākūkahi Foundation offers internships, scholarships, and ongoing mentorship. For more information, visit online at https://www.kahakukahifoundation.com.
At Kahākūkahi, we aim to inspire our keiki to experience the ocean and feel the connections among our islands, friends, and ‘ohana across the world. I have seen our programs uplift spirits and help heal where needed.
Zane Kekoa Schweitzer, Founder and Executive Director, Kahākūkahi Foundation
Emergency Animal Care & Help (EACH) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that was founded by Ayla Mader early in 2023. The Board of Directors, all women, has been working hard to provide services to low-income Maui residents who are struggling to pay for emergency veterinary bills. They have quickly gained local recognition for their work and were selected by 100 Women Who Care Maui to receive a $20,000 nonprofit award in December 2024.
“Since the tragedy of the fires that took place in August 2023, we have been using our resources to aid fire victims as well,” said Mader. “Here at EACH, we recognized that despite her small size, Maui has a huge need for more animal resources. Organizations like the Maui Humane Society need all the help they can get. There has been a huge void created by the closing of the Hawai‘i Animal Rescue Foundation at the end of 2024. EACH is here to fill in some of the gaps. We step in when animals are falling through the cracks and keep them where they belong, with their people. We make it so families do not have to euthanize or surrender their beloved pets, which also helps alleviate the strain on other organizations, including our local veterinarians. EACH wants to help not just animals, but their people and our community.”
Mader shared that Hawaiʻi has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the US, with over 60% of households owning pets. EACH is striving to ensure that every animal is able to receive care and that pets are not neglected when ill or injured due to financial hardships. They also help educate people about pet ownership and address the root causes behind animals’ suffering on island.
“Our amazing team of regulars and part-time volunteers are committed to helping the families on Maui and their animals,” Mader added. “With aloha, we have created a solution to give animals a second chance. Seeing this urgent need on Maui, for residents and their pets, is the reason we formed our organization. Our commitment is to continue to provide solutions to the people and animals on the island. We are consistently growing, all thanks to the helping hands of our amazing Maui community.”
For more information, including how to request assistance, see a list of other Maui-based animal resources, and sign up to volunteer and donate, visit EACH online at each808.com.
EACH focuses on making the maximum positive effort for people to care for their pets. Every person, regardless of economic status, deserves to experience the love of an animal.
Ayla Mader, Founder and President, Emergency Animal Care & Help
As local, national and international communities navigate a changing energy landscape, the 12th annual Hawaii Energy Conference brings industry leaders together to offer solutions addressing the most pressing energy challenges of today.
Featuring ten dynamic panels and one Deep Dive session over two days, the program will cover topics ranging from utility-scale renewable energy deployment to community-based initiatives, and the economics and advancements of grid independence. Discussions will also tackle energy efficiency, sustainable financing strategies, alternative energy sources, job creation, training, and more.
Complementing the main stage discussions, the new Deep Dive session provides an intimate setting for up to 40 participants to engage directly with experts and explore complex issues like time-of-use rates.
The Hawaii Energy Conference offers networking and exhibiting opportunities to connect with key stakeholders, industry experts, innovators, policymakers and more. Join us on Maui to gain insights, share ideas, and collaborate on actionable solutions to building a sustainable future for Hawaii and beyond.
We are honored to have Governor Green join us as the keynote speaker at this year’s Hawaii Energy Conference.
Jacqui Hoover, Conference Chair and Executive Director and COO Hawaii Island Economic Development Board (HIEDB); and President Hawaii Leeward Planning
Olena Alec is the Executive Director of the Haleakalā Conservancy, the philanthropic partner to Haleakalā National Park. Alec leads the Conservancy’s efforts to provide funding for projects of critical importance to the park and its unique and endangered resources.
“Started in 2019, our nonprofit raises money for projects the park cannot fund,” Alec explained at a recent Kihei-Wailea Rotary meeting. “Conservation, preservation, and education are our main goals to help support our incredibly unique national park.”
Born and raised on Maui, Alec came to the Conservancy from The Climate Reality Project where she served as Director of Engagement. She also sits on the board of Students for Climate Action. She holds a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from University of Southern California.
“It has been my lifelong goal to be back on Maui contributing to the community and landscape that is home,” Alec said. “The Conservancy, dedicated to raising funds specifically for the park’s initiatives, goes beyond what government funding and entrance fees can provide. Haleakalā National Park faces perennial challenges: invasive species, climate change, and a lack of sufficient government funding.”
Saving Haleakalā’s forest birds such as the kiwikiu, which is on the brink of extinction, is a current concern of the park. Extra funding supports programs that buy tools for forest biologists protecting the birds. The Conservancy also works to preserve trail space to keep people safe and on the correct paths. Alec added, “The need to provide school buses, especially for the Hawaiian immersion schools, is very important. We want the students to know that this is their park, in their backyard. We hope to continue having all Maui students visit and learn from our programs. With community support, the Conservancy’s efforts will ensure Haleakalā National Park thrives.”
For members of the public looking to support the Park, there are several options, including monetary donations and purchasing a Haleakalā specialty license plate. More info can be found online at https://www.haleakalaconservancy.org/support.
As the park’s philanthropic partner, we support programs that preserve wildlife, ecosystems, history, and culture, and we appreciate the community’s support to ensure the continued success of our conservation efforts.
Olena Alec, Executive Director, Haleakalā Conservancy
As a local non-profit organization, Ka Hale A Ke Ola (KHAKO), “The House of Life,” has been breaking the cycle of homelessness on the island of Maui for over 30 years. KHAKO, dedicated to serving the needs of the homeless and disadvantaged on Maui, is a housing-focused, comprehensive resource center that provides emergency shelter, life skills training, case management, a primary-care medical clinic, and affordable housing facilities for families with children.
KHAKO’s Executive Director Sue R. Sadecki said, “In light of losing one of our two shelters in the August 8, 2023, Lahaina fire, we remain committed to working tirelessly to expand our programs and services as we continue to advocate for policies that address the root causes of homelessness in our community. Our properties consist of a homeless shelter on one side and affordable housing units on the other side. As the wildfire engulfed Lahaina town and destroyed our 78-unit shelter complex, our agency employees displayed acts of heroism by helping approximately 220 Lahaina shelter residents evacuate and move into our Wailuku site.”
As KHAKO continues to rebuild in Lahaina, they are grateful for the help offered by FEMA, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, numerous community organizations, and individuals. “Many people are not aware of the amazing services we provide,” Sadecki noted. “For example, the KHAKO case management team assists guests in finding immediate and permanent affordable housing. Childcare is provided for the benefit of the parent to seek employment and go to work. The Children’s Services Coordinator assists families with resources they may need in the community, offers events and programs that delight the keiki who live on-site, and high school volunteers visit to provide tutoring to all the school age children.”
County, state, and federal grants are helping KHAKO move forward to rebuild; however, there is still a long road ahead. Now that the debris removal is finished, they need additional funds to complete the rebuilding. “We provide essential services that need to happen in Lahaina as soon as possible,” Sadecki added. “One of my favorite quotes is by Coretta Scott King, ‘The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.’”
KHAKO makes a difference in the community. We give people support and stability when they most need it to rebuild their lives and get back on the path to success.
Sue R. Sadecki, Executive Director, Ka Hale A Ke Ola
A new manufacturing center in Pāʻia was the topic of discussion at a recent Maui TechOhana meeting. Presented by Maui Economic Development Board Inc. (MEDB), and supported by the County of Maui, TechOhana meetings provide an informal networking opportunity open to anyone interested in business and technology topics. The Pāʻia Village Company, established in August 2020, is committed to transforming the historic Pāʻia Sugar Mill into a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing village. The idea to purchase the mill and restore it to a manufacturing center was the brainchild of Dan Ellis, managing partner of Pāʻia Village Company. Ellis and his business partner, Wayne Thibaudeau, presented key aspects of the project during the meeting.
“The Pāʻia Village Company is dedicated to addressing Hawaiʻi’s core needs through the development of a new manufacturing village,” said Thibaudeau. “By integrating modern industry with community values, we aim to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for all. We hope the community will join us in revitalizing Pāʻia and setting a benchmark for responsible development.”
Ellis explained, “Our vision is to support livable wages, build affordable housing, and revive community spirit, continuing the sugar mill’s 150-year legacy of responsible industry. Some key aspects of the project include developing a cutting-edge manufacturing hub that fosters innovation and provides high-quality employment opportunities…and promoting sustainable agriculture to enhance food security and economic resilience. The Village Center will be a community hub to enrich the lives of residents.”
Jerry Isdale, founder of Maui Makers LLC and long-time TechOhana attendee, said, “This is the beginning of an exciting new era for Pāʻia. Highly skilled workers will have a wonderful place to develop their craft and talents. Ultimately the thing that binds it all together is the communal aspect, a community working together again.”
TechOhana attendee Rachel Campbell shared, “The history of the sugar mill was interesting to learn about. The new Pāʻia Village Center will bring back the culture and traditions of village life. It’s a possibility to return to a more sustainable way of life.”
An Economic Development Administration grant was recently awarded to the non-profit, Maui Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (MAMA), in partnership with MEDB to support this project. The grant will be used for non-construction activities that will pave the way for a successful manufacturing center, including training and apprenticeships, manufacturing sector organizing, and business sustainability planning.
Pāʻia was a company town with a village lifestyle that we hope to re-invent for the future of our families and our community.
Dan Ellis and Wayne Thibaudeau, Managing Partners, Pāʻia Village Company
Remembering Lahaina, a touching, nostalgic, and beautiful coffee table art book compiled by the Maui Arts League, is a collection of high resolution photographs of original artwork from the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational events from 2006 to 2020 and 2023. It is a tribute to the places, people, and culture of the historic town as well as to the galleries that lost thousands of pieces of artwork due to the August 2023 wildfire.
“Measuring 10 by 12 inches, this 208-page full-color hardcover book contains 251 images of paintings created by acclaimed professional plein air artists,” said Lois Reising, President of the Maui Arts League, art collector, community volunteer, and publisher of Remembering Lahaina. “Plein air artists paint outside, not in their studios, creating works that document a point in time under natural atmospheric conditions. The book also shares messages from the artists, which include what neighborhood their scene is from, why they were drawn to the scene they painted, as well as the Hawaiian names of the locations.”
The collection offered in Remembering Lahaina documents not only Lahaina’s historic architecture, but also its rich multicultural community and endearing charm. Some of the 87 plein air artists who contributed to this book lost their homes, studios, and art inventories in the fire that destroyed Lahaina town. The dust cover features “Lahainaluna View” by Ronaldo Macedo. A prolific local artist, Macedo also recently won the 2024 Lahaina poster contest with his artwork, “I will always remember you this way,” a piece featuring Lahaina’s iconic harbor.
“Each section of the book – Places, Harbor, Culture, Lifestyle, ʻOhana, and Around the Island – offers readers a look back at the historical town of Lahaina, memorializing the town we once knew,” Reising added. “Net proceeds from sales of the first release of Remembering Lahaina will be used to benefit Maui artists, their families, and staff who were impacted by the Lahaina fires. This limited-run, first-edition, and one-of-a-kind commemoration of the Lahaina we love enriches lives and supports artists in need.” The book can be preordered at mauiartsleague.org/book.
Founded in 1975, the Maui Arts League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Lahaina that showcases and builds appreciation for visual fine arts through a variety of community activities. They are most well-known for their Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational, first organized in 2006, which brings both local and visiting painters together on Maui to produce artworks that feature the unique landscapes and communities of the island.
We hope to encourage these artists to regroup and reshape their careers as they are faced with many daunting challenges.
Lois Reising, President, Maui Arts League
Thirty-eight delegates, including fourteen Hawaiʻi-based, participated in the 7th EMER-GEN® Program, presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) in September. A joint initiative of the AMOS Conference and the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), the program is designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship especially for young professionals and students who are enthusiastic about careers in space.
“The program encourages participants to think creatively, collaborate in teams, and develop innovative solutions at both a technological level and a policy level,” said Annette Lynch, MEDB Director of Communications. “The diverse range of activities and speakers helps participants enhance both their technical expertise and leadership capabilities.”
Maui resident Matthew Lugo, a Privateer Space engineer, EMER-GEN alumnus, and member of the EMER-GEN planning committee, emphasized, “EMER-GEN is also known for its focus on Hawaiian cultural subjects. I feel it’s important for those in the space industry to be stewards of the Earth environment as well. Space technologies should benefit the sustainability of the planet.”
Lugo continued, “This year, along with two international SGAC representatives, we invited Michael Nāhoʻopiʻi, Executive Director of Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) to share an update about the island. The island of Kahoʻolawe is just seven miles off the coast of Maui. It is managed by the KIRC team, who are working towards a restoration of the island.”
Nāhoʻopiʻi explained, “The history and culture of Kahoʻolawe is indeed rich. It is believed to have been inhabited since about 400 A.D., and the abundance of historical and archeological sites paints a picture of the island as a navigational center for voyaging and a center for agriculture. Modern times have been less kind. The island has been home to a penal colony, a sheep and cattle ranch, and a U.S. Navy bombing range. Those land uses were detrimental to the island’s delicate ecosystem and led to severe habitat degradation. The KIRC team has taken on the challenge to restore these habitats with on-the-ground hard work coordinated by expert assistance. In addition to physically restoring the island of Kahoʻolawe, we are undertaking the cultural restoration of the island.”
Space exploration provides us with more information about protecting our planet, our environment, and improving our day-to-day lives. Everything is connected!
Michael Nāhoʻopiʻi
Executive Director
Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
Maui resident and 2002 St. Anthony High School graduate Keith DeVey is the founder of Maui Walking Tours. The company, launched in early 2024, offers free guided walks through Kīhei and historic Wailuku town. The tours highlight each area’s origins and new developments, including details about local history, important landmarks, and street art. DeVey has done extensive research to uncover the best local stories, and his walks showcase the island through the eyes of a long-time resident who truly believes Maui is the best place on earth.
“Guided walking tours are a wonderful way to really get to know the place you live or are visiting,” said DeVey. “People get to hear stories that I collected firsthand through one-on-one meetings with historians, authors, local kupuna, historical practitioners, city officials, residents, educational outlets, and local architects. My sources include George Rixey, community architect and former president of the Kīhei Community Association; Lucienne De Naie, published Maui author and historian; Vernon Kalanikau, Maui County cultural advisor and lead organizer of the ahupuaʻa sign project; and Elan Vital, the artist who sculpted the Kalama Park whale.”
DeVey has assembled walking routes that allow participants to take a step back in time to better understand the present. He explains how land was divided and cared for by the early Hawaiians, the influence of the first missionary families, the formation of large plantations, the impact of the US military during WWII, and the transition to a tourism-based economy in the 1960s and 1970s. The Wailuku tour pays special attention to the revitalization of the town as a center for artists and the town’s numerous murals.
DeVey added, “I also want people to become more familiar with the colorful flora and fauna seen throughout the Hawaiian Islands, which are unlike anywhere else in the world. After each tour, participants routinely come up to me to personally share how much they enjoyed it. Some even tell me their unique history of living in or visiting Kīhei and Wailuku through the decades.”
Each tour is capped at 25 participants to ensure an enjoyable walking and learning experience. To sign up for one of the free upcoming tours, visit www.mauiwalkingtours.com.
Through my own travels, I discovered some of the most memorable takeaways were experienced through free walking tours guided by locals that lived in each community.
Keith DeVey
Founder and Tour Guide
Maui Walking Tours LLC
