Sep 29, 2011 | Community, Events
Roy Silva has accepted the role of Maui Fair Director for the first time this year. “I’ve always loved the fair. I think it’s the greatest tradition Maui has,” he says. A former county employee, Silva served for nine years as its Parade Committee chairman. As Fair Director, he takes charge of all the committees and dozens of volunteers who operate the event starting Thursday and running through Sunday at the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku. As many as 5,400 participants including five grand marshals, Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz and Mayor Alan Arakawa are scheduled to appear in Thursday’s parade, scheduled to begin at 4.30 p.m.
Silva said he wanted to serve his community in a unique way and took the opportunity to lead the Fair when he was offered the chance. This year’s Fair theme “A Timeless Tradition” represents what the event has meant to the thousands who have come to enjoy rides, learn from exhibits, indulge in local food and support nonprofits that use the Fair to raise money. “The Maui Fair is the oldest family tradition on island. You just can’t beat it,” Silva said. “There’s always a chance you’ll run into someone you know or haven’t seen for a long time.”
FOCUS MAUI NUI will be at the Fair again this year, gathering the opinions of the community with its Annual “Pulse of the People” 2011 Poll. FOCUS MAUI NUI is a voice, a plan, a vision for Maui County’s future created for and by the people who live here – people like you. Participate in the process by letting your views be known. Youth Alliance members and other volunteers will be on hand to help gather your points of view. Visit FOCUS MAUI NUI at the Entrance Lanai of the War Memorial Gym during Fair hours.
Sep 22, 2011 | Environment, Events, Small Business
This year’s Advanced Maui Optical and Space Technologies (AMOS) Conference provided an unmatched opportunity for Maui Oceanit Program Manager Curt Leonard. “To remain relevant in any business environment it is important to maintain close ties with “old friends” from industry while at the same time exploring new companies and emerging technologies,” Leonard said. The AMOS Conference is a program of the Maui Economic Development Board, whose mission includes taking innovative actions that strengthen existing industry as well as diversifying through new opportunities. The event held in Wailea earlier this month drew more than 600 participants from across the United States and countries such as Spain, Germany and Italy. The growing interest in the event is testament to its worldwide reputation as the premier space situational awareness conference in the world, taking full advantage of its location on Maui and the island’s cutting-edge telescopes atop 10,000-foot Haleakala.
Oceanit typically sets up an exhibit booth during the conference to help facilitate introductions to the company’s capabilities and serve as an ice breaker for business development discussions. Leonard said the event also gives Oceanit a chance to give back to the local community. “As a company we are committed to making a difference in our community, a mantra that is woven into Oceanit corporate fabric,” he said. This year Oceanit volunteered staff to guide students making a tour of conference exhibits and attending a session with an astronaut. “This is a huge hit with middle school students and Oceanit is proud to play a small role in a wonderful opportunity to expose and encourage Maui students to consider career paths in science, technology, engineering and math,” Leonard said. He added that part of Oceanit’s vision is to contribute to a thriving technology industry in Hawaii, to diversify its economy, and ensure that students who go into science and technology fields have a place to work in Hawaii. Oceanit’s Maui office has expertise in optical sciences and design, robotic systems, and consulting engineering; it currently has a contract to evaluate Kahului Harbor shoreline protection options to prevent beach erosion.
Jun 16, 2011 | Community, Events
This week, as the Maui Film Festival begins, movies will pay tribute to people who take effective action for a better world. It’s what the Film Festival Founder and Co- Director Barry Rivers said has been always been the focus of the annual event that entertains and enlightens Maui audiences. “The intent is to address issues that include the environment and the interpersonal relations of the people in the islands,” he said. “At the end of the day, we want to share a window on the world that they may not have seen yet.”
The Festival runs June 15-19, with movies playing at the Celestial Cinema in Wailea and at the Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. More information is available at www.mauifilmfestival.com. Children 12 and younger are admitted free on opening night and the closing day of film showings. There are also special events featuring award presentations for outstanding artists, actors and moviemakers, a Taste of Chocolate experience and a panel discussion by filmmakers. This year’s movie lineup includes six films with a Hawaii connection. All the movies attempt to entertain while seeking truth and shedding light on stories and issues, which is the core of the mission of the Maui Film Festival. “It is this belief in the power of creativity that gives the Maui Film Festival its character, its energy and its soul.”
Rivers and his wife, Stella, who live in Haiku, have received accolades for their event, now making its 12th run on Maui. The Celestial Cinema setting in Wailea is a deliberate part of the festival’s vision of showcasing movies in the natural beauty of the island. “Visitors and residents alike tell me that this is the most unbelievable movie-going experience,” Rivers explains, adding that many plan their vacation schedule or entertainment budget around the festival. Rivers credits sheer willpower and the passion and energy of some 300 people, many of whom are volunteers, for the success of the festival.
May 14, 2011 | Events
In partnership with Maui Economic Development Board, Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center
Date: Sunday, May 15, 2011
Location: Maui Arts and Cultural Center
Time: 11:00AM to 12:15PM
Submit your questions to the Governor when you RSVP.
RSVP: michelle.yamashita@hawaii.gov or call 808-243-5796 to reserve your seat.
Sep 28, 2010 | Events
Maui County is changing and many of us wonder if there’s a way we can have a say in the process. There is. It’s called Focus Maui Nui.
Focus Maui Nui is a voice, a plan, a vision for Maui County’s future created for and by the people who live here. People like you. Your family. Your neighbors, Your co-workers.
Focus Maui Nui enables all of us to play a role in making Maui County a model for sustainable living – where present and future generations can grow up and prosper, where our environment and core values can be protected and preserved.
PARTICIPATE!
Take the
Annual FOCUS MAUI NUI
“Pulse of the People” 2010 Poll
at the 88th Maui County Fair
Entrance Lanai
War Memorial Gym
Sept 30 – Oct 4, 2010
Sep 28, 2010 | Events
On Oct. 6, candidates Congressman Neil Abercrombie and Lt. Governor Duke Aiona will participate in a gubernatorial debate, entitled “Focus 2010: A Gubernatorial Conversation.”
The 90-minute forum will be broadcast live statewide; and is presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and Hawaii Public Radio (HPR), with the support of Akaku Maui Community Television, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, and UH-Maui College.
Focus 2010 live broadcasts:
Hawaii Public Radio stations – KHPR (88.1 FM), KKUA (90.7 FM) and KANO (91.1 FM)
Akaku: Maui Community Television – channels 52, 53, 54 (Maui County)
Hoike Community Television – channel 52 (Kauai)
Na Leo O Hawaii Community Television – channel 52 & 53 (Big Island)
Olelo Community Media – channel 49 (Oahu)
Video stream: www.medb.org and www.akaku.org
Live audio stream: www.hawaiipublicradio.org
Re-Airs broadcast schedule (on Akaku):
October 6, 6:15 pm – channels 52, 53, 54
October 8, 8:00 pm – channel 53
October 9, 1:00 pm & 7:30 pm – channel 54
October 10, 3:30 pm & 9:00 pm – channel 53
October 11, 7:30 pm – channel 54
In the forum, candidates will be asked to respond to questions submitted in advance by a cross-section of the community and MEDB; which will be presented by the moderator, HPR News Director Kayla Rosenfeld.
Questions will have a neighbor island emphasis and will be based on the Focus Maui Nui vision and values – a groundbreaking visioning process in our Maui County community that articulates five Key Strategies for action:
- Improve Education
- Protect the natural environment and address water needs
- Address infrastructure challenges, particularly housing and transportation
- Adopt targeted economic development strategies
- Preserve local culture and traditions and address human needs
We encourage you to submit a question to the candidates by leaving a comment on this blog post or through one of the channels listed below. Video or written questions are welcome.
Deadline for questions is October 1. Every effort will be made to ask the candidates the full range of questions received, in addition, all questions will be submitted to the candidates for their own follow-up.
All the ways you can submit your question:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/focusmauinui
Twitter: @FocusMauiNui (http://twitter.com/focusmauinui)
Email: info@focusmauinui.com Call: 808-875-2300
Fax: (808) 879-0011
Exercise your voice. It’s your future.
Sep 24, 2010 | Events
Mahalo to those who submitted questions for the “Focus 2010: A Gubernatorial Conversation” forum on Wednesday, October 6. Here’s the latest questions we’ve received from you:
Water is a key issue on Maui. Our bread basket farming region has been Upcountry Maui which depends on surface water diverted from East Maui streams. Kuleana users in both East, Central and West Maui rely on surface and spring water delivered through diversion works or directly from streams. HC&S, the last remaining sugar plantation also diverts surface water from streams in both East and West Maui. Central Maui groundwater sources provide potable and nonpotable water to arid South Maui. Do you agree with the current process for determining and allocating the reasonable beneficial uses of available water for all the competing uses?
The State of Hawaii has many buildings/properties that are slowly dilapidating in place due to low or none maintenance, age, usage, etc… Would you consider establishing a high priority maintenance education for those occupying these buildings and establishing more maintenance programs instead of constantly pouring millions of dollars into emergency funding? An example is the airport here in Maui which has received lots of funding in the last ten years to do repairs to items that could be taken care if the proper maintenance was in place.
The State Water Code requires balancing various needs when making decisions regarding water. Development of new water sources has lagged in recent years while recent Commission decisions restore water to streams. How will you address the balance that is supposed to happen? How do you interpret the public trust?
Hawaii counts with many energy efficiency programs addressing the low hanging fruits per say and also there are tax incentives on energy systems (Photovoltaic, wind, bio, etc…) knowing that, what you would do to increase the direction of Hawaii’s households into energy systems and decrease Hawaii’s love for oil?
Aside from “balancing” the number of hotel rooms vs. time share to obtain the optimal mix, how would your administration assist the Hospitality industry in its recovery?
One of the few economic bright spots in the current recession has been the continued growth of technology jobs in Maui County. What steps will each of you be taking to stimulate and sustain additional high tech jobs in Maui County and throughout Hawaii?
What is the role of taxation in growing the economy?
The federal government has a large number of programs not reaching Hawaii because of the limited involvement at the State level. In many occasions Hawaii’s nonprofits have been told “No” to funding because the State of Hawaii hasn’t appoint a contact person in the specific depts. (i.e. DOE, ENERGY, DHS, etc…), would you consider developing a clearinghouse at the State level to reach out to most of the federal grants and be the mediator (grantor) to Hawaii’s nonprofits or appoint a contact person on each dept. so he/she can be reach by the nonprofits that are after particular federal funds?
What are your plans for reaching out to neighbor islands to involve them in your administration, listen to their concerns and address pressing needs?
What role do you see the State playing in supporting social and human service non-profit organizations during these tough economic times?
What will you do to clean up the polluted water that Maui is putting into the ocean via its injection wells?
Do you feel the benefits of the Akaka Bill is as good or exceeds the benefits currently received by the Native Americans by the US Government?
Small business carry the local economy. With all the payroll taxes, unemployment tax and medical benefits provided by the employer, what type of incentives would you propose to help Small Businesses owners survive and succeed?
What are 3 specific improvements you would make to help farmers thrive?
Lots of schools are eliminating or downsizing their Agriculture Departments due to cut backs, what do you plan to do to beef up Ag education in the schools along with supporting school gardens?
We’ve extended the deadline! If you have a question for Hawaii’s gubernatorial candidates, please send them to MEDB no later than September 30. Every effort will be made to include your question in this important forum. Don’t forget to tune in for live coverage of this event on October 6th!
Sep 7, 2010 | Events
Focus 2010: A Gubernatorial Conversation will be held on October 6, 2010 and you are invited you to participate in this important forum!
The event is presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) with support from Akaku Maui Community Television, the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, and the UH-Maui College. This forum will be a dynamic discussion between gubernatorial candidates of the two major parties.
MEDB will focus on topics that matter to our community, and will align those questions with the strategies developed through the Focus Maui Nui process:
- Improve education
- Protect the natural environment and address water needs
- Address infrastructure challenges, particularly housing and transportation
- Adopt targeted economic development strategies
- Preserve local culture and traditions, and address human needs
The 90-minute forum will begin at 6:30 pm and will be moderated by Kayla Rosenfeld, News Director for Hawaii Public Radio. The program will be broadcast live on Akaku Channels 52, 53, 54; the HPR stations of KHPR (88.1 FM), KKUA (90.7 FM) and KANO (91.1 FM); Skype via www.medb.org and www.akaku.org; with live audio streaming on www.hawaiipublicradio.org.
We encourage you to submit a question to the candidates by leaving a comment on this blog post or through one of the channels listed below. Video or written questions are welcome. Deadline for questions is September 24. Every effort will be made to ask the candidates the full range of questions received, in addition, all questions will be submitted to the candidates for their own follow-up.
Exercise your voice. It’s your future.
All the ways people can submit their questions:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/focusmauinui
Twitter: @FocusMauiNui (http://twitter.com/focusmauinui)
Email: info@focusmauinui.com
Call: 808-875-2300
Fax: (808) 879-0011
Mail: Focus Maui Nui, c/o Maui Economic Development Board; 1305 N. Holopono Street, Suite 1; Kihei, Maui, HI 96753
Sep 3, 2010 | Education, Events
This past Saturday, our Maui County community scored an A+ during the MEDB Ke Alahele Education Fund Benefit Dinner held at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa. Perhaps, numbers speak louder than words… over 560 people attended this awesome event, including Distinguished Educators U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, his wife Irene Hirano, and Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares.
Over 95 Silent and Live Auction items/packages were donated this year. And, drum roll please, over $230,000 was raised for a very worthy cause—Maui County’s students. Mahalo to all the sponsors, supporters, volunteers and attendees for making a difference!
