For the 20th Annual Invitational Art Exhibit, “Celebration of Hawaiʻi 2025,” at Viewpoints Gallery in Makawao, painter Suzy Papanikolas highlights the life of master carver and Native Hawaiian historian Sam Kaʻai in her artwork. “Kaʻai is someone I greatly admire,” said Papanikolas. “He truly believed navigation was done and could still be done by the stars and that the Hōkūleʻa voyage would serve as a cultural revitalization of Hawaiians and other Polynesians.”
Born in Hāna and brought up in Kaupō, Kaʻai’s family grew their own food and made many items by hand using traditional Hawaiian techniques and tools. Sam Low, author of Hawaiki Rising: Hōkūleʻa, Nainoa Thompson, and the Hawaiian Renaissance, explains, “Sam’s father and grandfather made canoes. Sam continued in this tradition, although as a carver of fine sculpture. He used adzes, files and drills that came down to him from his ancestors. They were fashioned a century or two ago.”
As a carver, Kaʻai became involved in the now world-renowned Hōkūleʻa project led by Herb Kāne. “In 1973, Kaʻai went to Maui Community College to listen to Herb’s talk…later, a letter arrived from Herb: ‘If you come from a canoe family, please dream and make your own design for the kiʻi,’” writes Low. “Sam carved two kiʻi — a man and a woman. The female figure would be lashed to the port manu, the male kiʻi to the starboard. When Sam carved the male figure he fashioned his hands reaching up to the heavens in supplication.”
In the years that followed, Kaʻai grew to be a highly respected Hawaiian artisan, cultural expert, and community leader. He sailed as a crew member aboard the Hōkūleʻa in 1978, 1980, and 1985 and planned the 1991 celebration of unification at Puʻukoholā Heiau, a national historic site on the Big Island. Recognized as a Living Treasure of the Hawaiian People by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in 2017, Kaʻai continues his work as an historian to preserve rare Hawaiian artifacts. Tragically, many of these priceless cultural treasures and documents were lost when the Nā ‘Aikāne o Maui Cultural Center was destroyed during the 2023 Lahaina wildfire.
Papanikolas’s painting celebrates Kaʻai’s ongoing legacy, featuring the kiʻi that Kaʻai carved for the Hōkūleʻa over 50 years ago. An online gallery of her work can be found on her website, https://www.papanik.com/. The Viewpoints Gallery’s “Celebration of Hawaiʻi 2025” exhibit in Makawao, featuring over 40 artists, is open until the end of April.
My painting is a tribute to the ancestors and the revival of a whole culture, of which Kaʻai is a representative.
Suzy Papanikolas, Artist
A recent Maui TechOhana event featured Maui-based Google software architect, Stefan Kuhne, who spoke about “Finding Opportunity for Success” to over 40 attendees. Working in the computer industry since 1986, Kuhne shared his long career in tech, including the last 18 years at Google. He has given keynote presentations at events such as Google I/O with more than 10,000 viewers and has been a tech pioneer, starting his own company for fun and, as a new entrepreneur, selling over 200,000 original computer games.
Kuhne had many tips to share with the audience based on his experiences. He is currently the holder of about 20 patents, many of them worldwide, ranging from his early work in electronics and circuit boards to becoming one of the world’s experts in computer graphics with Google, where he has worked on Google Earth and Chrome OS projects.
“To be successful, you need motivation,” Kuhne noted. “The ability to identify good opportunities and make the best out of them has served me well. First, I realized early on the importance of being good in school…During the 70’s/80’s when I was still in school, computers were new and cool, so I was motivated to get my own computer and create chips.”
Kuhne continued, “The next phase for me was finding opportunities for success and learning to look for disruptions, which are…Back in 2007 when the iPhone, and, shortly after, Android, entered the market, a new opportunity segment opened. Application developers jumping in early cashed out a lot really quickly. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are huge. Big companies are investing heavily, so it’s a perfect time to jump in.”
After the meeting, Maui realtor Steve Bond commented, “Be open for change, learn from failure! Khune’s message was inspiring, encouraging me to focus on my own projects. Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) is doing a fantastic job by bringing the entrepreneur community together.”
Shirley Ramey, LPN, said, “I liked the information Khune shared. Things have changed because of Chat and AI, and his experience is so helpful. I’m looking forward to future TechOhana meetings.”
Organized by MEDB and supported by the County of Maui, TechOhana is free to the public and invites guest speakers to give presentations on topics related to business or technology. For more information, visit online at http://www.mauitechohana/.
Setting ambitious goals is important; however, you also need to realize that mistakes are good if you learn from them.
Stefan Kuhne, Software Architect, Google
The World ʻUkulele Program will be holding a fundraising event at the ProArts Playhouse in Kihei on Sunday, March 9th at 2pm, including the premiere of Jeff Peterson’s new film, Concerto for Slack Key Guitar and Orchestra – Malama ‘Āina. The film features the first concerto ever written for slack-key guitar, and the screening will be followed by a live concert by Peterson and Maui’s famous luthier (a builder of stringed instruments), Steve Grimes.
Recognized as one of Hawaiʻi’s most versatile musicians, Peterson is at the heart of the Hawaiian music scene. Born on Maui, he grew up on the slopes of Haleakalā where he was introduced to the rich heritage of Hawaiian music by his father, a paniolo on the Haleakalā Ranch.
“My dad worked for many years as the manager at Haleakalā Ranch,” Peterson said. “I feel fortunate having grown up in such an amazing place and lifestyle…My background, including the many group jam (kanikapila) evenings, inspired me to play music,” he shared. “I got my first ʻukulele in fifth grade along with a more formal music education. Currently, I have an online instruction program, ‘Ukulele Corner, where I share my knowledge and offer free lessons.”
Peterson’s passion for the guitar has allowed him to shine as a solo artist and has given him the opportunity to collaborate with a wide variety of musicians. His focus on slack-key guitar, classical, and jazz music has allowed him to develop a unique style on the guitar while being deeply rooted in the traditions of his Hawaiian heritage. He has been honored with 14 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards in Hawaiʻi and with Grammy Awards in 2005 and 2010.
Maui musician and songwriter, Steve Grimes, a world-renowned luthier, has been building guitars and ʻukulele since the mid-1970s. He is known as a master of transforming wood into extraordinary guitars, ʻukulele, acoustic basses, flat top guitars, electric guitars, and mandolins. “It’s an honor to be playing with Jeff in the upcoming concert,” Grimes said. “It’s going to be a great evening!”
Tickets are on sale online at https://proartsmaui.org/event/slack-key-guitar-and-orchestra-malama-aina-film-and-concert/.
The island’s culture and beauty helped me to understand early on the importance of respecting and maintaining our ‘āina, and it still inspires my compositions.
Jeff Peterson, Guitarist and Composer
Many refer to Maui resident Sue Ann Loudon as magical. In her 40 years of teaching at Baldwin High School, she inspired and changed lives when she founded the drama club, later renamed the Baldwin Theatre Guild (BTG). During a recent Yakamashii Talk Story event at Nisei Veterans Center, host Kathy Collins and Loudon shared stories about those early years, the performances, and the students whose lives were changed. Loudon has mentored hundreds of Maui students, including Wayne Moniz, Lee Cataluna, Eric Gilliom, Amy Hānaiali‘i, Judge Joseph Cardoza, Chris Kepler, and Kathy Collins. Retired in 2005, Loudon was delighted when her former student Linda Carnevale became her successor as BTG director.
“Carnevale is doing an outstanding job, and I always look forward to BTGs performances,” Loudon said. “She is committed to pushing the boundaries of artistic excellence and nurturing the next generation of Maui’s talent. The most important thing for everyone to remember is that every child has the opportunity to experience theater and the arts to enrich their creative expression.”
Collins shared, “I was very active in speech and drama activities while attending Baldwin High School. Miss Loudon taught drama and built a remarkable program which spawned professional entertainers like Amy and Eric, as well as many of Maui’s community theatre performers. She put greasepaint in my blood, and I owe my career to her guidance and encouragement. The first time I stepped on stage before an audience, playing a munchkin in the Wizard of Oz, I was hooked! I knew then that theatre would be a lifelong passion.”
Paul Janes-Brown, host of Curtain Call and the Mana‘o Radio Alpha and Omega Show, said, “Sue Ann Loudon created one of the most remarkable high school theater programs that I have ever seen in my life. She made young people stars. You actually thought you were watching a Broadway performance. She provided enchantment. So many of the youth she mentored are in performing arts on Maui and all over the world. She just has an inspirational impact on the people she comes in contact with. She has real magic!”
Loudon’s legacy of excellence in the performing arts continues into 2025. For their spring musical this year, the Baldwin Theatre Guild will present Mary Poppins on February 28 and March 1, 7, 8, and 9. The full cast list can be found at Instagram.com/btgmaui/. Community members are encouraged to attend and support the continuation of performing arts education on Maui.
I wholeheartedly believe in the power of theatre to enrich lives and foster community.
Sue Ann Loudon, Founder and Teacher, Baldwin Theatre Guild
STEMworks™, a program of Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), is gearing up for its 16th Annual Hawaiʻi STEM Conference (HSC), a two-day learning and networking event for students, teachers, and industry professionals. This year, HSC will be held at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center in Honolulu on March 24 and 25. It is open to middle and high school students statewide as well as K-12 teachers. Industry professionals are also invited to participate as exhibitors, breakout session presenters, networking event speakers, and sponsors.
Reflecting on the value of the event for students, one 8th grader who participated in HSC in 2024 shared, “Students would really benefit from attending conferences in general to meet new people and have practice with the protocols of attending conferences to gain information for their future.” A 7th grader from Lahaina who also attended HSC in 2024 commented, “The most interesting thing I learned during the conference was to get out of my comfort zone and try new things.”
Local industry professionals from a wide variety of STEM fields lead breakout sessions for students and teachers, provide interactive activities in the exhibit hall, and offer career and post-secondary education advice during networking opportunities. Breakout session topics include AI, forensic science, healthcare, computer programming, game design, agriculture, and creative media. Through these hands-on sessions, students discover career pathways and fields of study they may never have considered before the event.
A senior interested in healthcare shared about their experience during the 2024 HSC: “I learned about how to design games and code! I never took an interest before but now I got the opportunity to learn, I love it!” After hearing about the experiences of STEM experts at the conference, a junior also observed, “you don’t have to stick to one thing. I’m just starting my own career journey, and I’m making my own decisions and pathway.”
Registration is open for students and teachers, and STEMworks is also accepting session proposals and exhibitor registration from industry professionals who would like to take part in the event. More information can be found on the HSC website, https://www.hawaiistemconference.org/.
The students having access to industry professionals in STEM fields and being able to attend this type of event is a blessing for our students from Molokai who rarely have these types of opportunities.
Gandharva Mahina Hou Ross, Hawaiian Language Immersion Teacher, Molokai High School
During this festive time of year when many families look forward to school breaks, it is important to remember that for some students, time off from school means lack of access to free and reduced-price school lunches. The Maui Food Bank’s Aloha BackPack Buddies program is working to address this issue by providing students in need with healthy to-go meals for times when school is not in session, including weekends. The program operates in 34 schools on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi and provides over 90,000 meals throughout the school year.
To support this program, the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel in Wailea is celebrating the holidays while fundraising through its Tree of Hope campaign. Guests, staff, and locals are invited to adorn the hotel’s Tree of Hope with donations to benefit the Aloha Backpack Buddies Program. The funds raised will help provide meals to keiki in need, and donors will have their names featured on ornaments on the Tree of Hope. Every $25 donated to Tree of Hope allows the Maui Food Bank to provide 100 meals to the community.
Children of all ages can also enjoy Santa and Mrs. Claus’ arrival by canoe at Polo Beach near the Fairmont on Christmas Eve at noon. Chelsea Livit, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the Fairmont Kea Lani, shared, “The festive season at the hotel is a magical time filled with vibrant cultural experiences and heartwarming events. We are thankful to celebrate with our community, ‘ohana, guests, and friends of Maui from around the world. Besides the treasured tradition of Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving aboard an outrigger canoe, our beautiful Christmas tree lighting marked the commencement of our 11th Annual Tree of Hope campaign…Launching in early December, the Tree of Hope project runs through early January.”
Michael Pye, Regional Vice President of Fairmont Hawaiʻi and General Manager of Fairmont Kea Lani, added, “Locals and guests are also invited to Hale Kukuna, the hotel’s newly opened Hawaiian cultural center. It proudly represents a sharing of the origins, practices, and beliefs of the Hawaiian culture. Most importantly, it provides a place for our community and guests to join together for generations to come.”
In addition to the Aloha BackPack Buddies program, the Maui Food Bank offers services for all age groups, including their Senior Mobile Pantry and their Go Fresh “‘ohana drops,” with multiple drop-off sites across the county to provide easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Community members can support the Maui Food Bank by donating food at any of their locations across the island (listed online at https://mauifoodbank.org/food-drop-off-locations/) or by making a monetary donation at mauifoodbank.org/donate/.
Together, let’s spread hope and joy to those in need in our community!
Chelsea Livit, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Fairmont Kea Lani
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
As the gift-giving season begins, Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) encourages the community to participate in Small Business Saturday (SBS), a nationwide initiative that aims to support small local businesses. Also called the “Shop Small” movement, it was founded by American Express in 2010 to promote small businesses during the holiday season and is observed annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
“We know that Maui small businesses need our support more than ever as they navigate the effects of the August 2023 Lahaina and Kula wildfires,” said Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO. “SBS reminds us of the prime shopping opportunities right in our own backyards.”
Maui’s arts industry in particular has suffered significant losses due to the wildfires. Local artist and Wailuku studio owner Taryn Alessandro shared, “Once supported by Front Street’s thriving, world-wide art market, local artists are now finding ourselves having to figure out new ways to get our work out there. Many of us also lost years, even decades worth of original work – so we are simultaneously re-building our collections along with our business models.”
Many of these local creators are now relocating to Wailuku. Alessandro explained, “I am right in the heart of downtown Wailuku, where many other artists are establishing themselves, as we collectively grow into ‘Maui’s Arts District.’ It is both a humbling and exciting time.” In addition to the Wailuku Arts District, weekly markets such as the Maui Swap Meet and the Upcountry Farmers Market offer additional opportunities for shopping small. “This is the place to find the real bargains on Maui,” said Cary, one of the Swap Meet vendors.
For those who prefer to shop from home, Pop-Up Mākeke is a virtual marketplace designed to support Hawaiian small businesses. Created by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), Pop-Up Mākeke features Hawaiʻi-based small business owners, artisans, and vendors. Kūhiō Lewis, President and CEO of CNHA, emphasized, “This mākeke helps keep that spirit of community that makes Hawaiʻi unique. In order for our community to succeed, we need to empower those businesses rooted here in Hawaiʻi.”
Even more local businesses can be found online using Shop Small Hawaiʻi’s directory of small businesses, available at shopsmallhawaii.com. Hawaiian Airlines’ Made on Maui Festival also maintains an online directory of all vendors who participated in the festival, available at https://www.madeinmauicountyfestival.com/our-vendors.
The support of the local community is crucial to us artists and small businesses. As recovery continues, we are here and we are open for business!
Taryn Alessandro, Artist and Studio Owner, Taryn Alessandro Fine Art LLC
Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) recent Ke Alahele Education Benefit event successfully raised funds for local STEM education programs. During the event, the Daniel K. Inouye Innovation (DKII) Award winners were announced. The DKII Award honors students who use their STEM skills in service of their community. This year, Jennifer Goto Sabas, the late Senator Inouye’s former Chief of Staff and director of the Daniel K. Inouye Insitute, presented the award.
The winners were Maui High School students Janette White and Keani Kina, who completed a project for a child with mobility restrictions. They adapted a motorized toy car, rewiring it to replace the pedal with a button and redesigning the car seat. Their goal was to ensure that the car kept its original functionality while optimizing safety and accessibility. White commented, “the car helped a local neighbor in Maui, allowing a disabled child the freedom of directing herself in a safe and fun structure.”
Honorable mention went to Kahakaʻiwa Williams, representing Kalama Intermediate School, for his Hawaiian video game project. He combined his ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi knowledge with his interest in game design to create a game that walks users through the legend of the goddesses Pele and Nāmakaokahaʻi. “My motivation…is that there are no video games in the Hawaiian language that I am aware of,” Kaha commented. “This project is designed to inspire community members to learn more about Hawaiian culture and language through a fun activity.”
Chelsey Miguel, a King Kekaulike High School student, also received honorable mention. With her computer science skills, Miguel used AI to create a coral monitoring system, which allows users to upload photos of coral and receive a health assessment. Miguel shared, “I stumbled on a documentary about coral bleaching and its implications…I wanted to intersect my passion of programming and machine learning to help solve this problem.”
Thanks to the generosity of donors during the event, MEDB is able to present monetary prizes to the winners as well as those who received honorable mention and their teachers. Donations will also support the Ke Alahele Education Fund grant program, which helps educators and students access STEM tools, participate in extracurriculars, travel to competitions, and engage in professional development that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive.
It’s wonderful to be back after all these years. These were really happy times for the Senator. He loved this event and to see it come back as strong as it is, especially with the students, is actually very exciting.
Jennifer Goto Sabas,
Director of the Daniel K. Inouye Institute
