Maui Economic Development Board, Inc. (MEDB) is hosting its annual Ke Alahele Education Fund Benefit Dinner and Auction, themed “Pathways to Our Future,” on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Kāʻanapali. The evening will begin with a reception and silent auction at 4:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m.
During the event, guests will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of items in the popular Apples for Education Auction, compete in teams during MEDB’s signature interactive game, and hear inspiring stories highlighting the remarkable accomplishments of students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
“Our community’s future depends on equipping the next generation with the skills to thrive,” said Leslie Wilkins, president and CEO of MEDB. “Through STEM education, we’re empowering our youth to become problem solvers, innovators, and leaders who will shape a resilient and prosperous future for our islands.”
Proceeds from the event will directly support MEDB’s comprehensive STEM programs, which provide Maui Nui students with educational opportunities from kindergarten to career. These programs play a crucial role in shaping the students’ futures and fostering a thriving, resilient Maui.
The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Kāʻanapali is offering a special room rate of $349-379 from August 22-24 for guests attending this year’s fundraising dinner. A complimentary shuttle service will also be available for guests traveling between Central Maui and the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort. To reserve dinner seats, become an event sponsor, or donate an item or gift card for the Apples for Education Auction, visit www.medbpathways.org, contact MEDB at 808-875-2300, or email pathways@medb.org.
Maui County public school students in grades 6-12 (including those who graduated this spring) are also invited to submit STEM community service projects completed during the 2024-25 school year for the Daniel K. Inouye Innovation Award. The award finalists will be invited to attend the Ke Alahele Fund Dinner. The winning individual or team will receive $5,000 to support their school’s STEM programming. For more information, visit www.medbpathways.org/2025dkii.
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
Interacting with houseless individuals on the streets can often leave one unsure of how to offer assistance. In a world where even simple gestures can make a big difference, an act of caring can help foster empathy and genuine connections. The County’s Clean & Safe program in Wailuku seeks to do just that. Coordinated by the nonprofit Ho‘omaika‘i Services and guided by the dedicated leadership of its program director and retired Maui police officer, Lawrence Kauhaʻahaʻa, this program works hand-in-hand with property owners to ensure their buildings and land are safe and secure. Most importantly, it offers help to those in crisis by connecting them with essential social services and housing programs. Clean & Safe also hires houseless and mental health clients to sweep, clean, and maintain the area, providing them with a sense of purpose.
“Born out of necessity in 2016, the program emerged during a challenging time for Wailuku Town,” Kauhaʻahaʻa explained. “The streets were becoming home to more vagrants, individuals with mental health issues, substance abusers, and the houseless. Merchants were uneasy about walking to their cars after hours, businesses were struggling, and residents were voicing their safety concerns to their councilmembers.”
That’s when Erin Wade from the County of Maui Department of Management reached out to Kauhaʻahaʻa, who stepped up to lead the program with his dedicated team of coaches and a supportive network of social service providers like Mental Health Kokua, which has been serving the community for 52 years.
“Thanks to their collective efforts, the program has transformed Wailuku,” Kauhaʻahaʻa said. “Today, the Clean & Safe program is a beacon of hope and safety, playing a vital role in keeping our community vibrant and secure while making a significant difference in the lives of those in need.”
Dr. Tom Vendetti, retired director of Mental Health Kokua, added, “Prior to the program, the store owners on Market Street viewed the mentally ill clients as lazy, crazy, and bad for business. Once the clients started cleaning and securing Market Street, the community got to know and appreciate their work and saw their dedication to the job. Like most, people with a mental illness want a job, to be loved and to be part of the community. This program could be a model for communities all over Hawaiʻi.”
In essence, the key to meaningful interaction lies in empathy, respect, and understanding. The sincerity behind our actions can truly make a difference in someone’s life.
Lawrence Kauhaʻahaʻa, Program Director, Clean & Safe
In a recent Maui TechOhana meeting, organized by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and supported by the County of Maui, Maui native Nick Ponte, founder of Myna Marketing, presented “How to Get Your Business Found on Google.” Ponte, an expert in digital advertising and marketing for local businesses, discussed practical, easy-to-implement strategies with the 43 in-person and 27 online attendees.
In his power-packed session, Ponte, recognized by Pacific Business News as running Hawai’i’s second fastest-growing business in 2024, broke down simple, effective approaches to help attendees rank higher on Google search results and attract more customers. He explained that if a business isn’t showing up on Google‘s first page, it’s losing potential customers to competitors.
“At Myna Marketing, we provide exceptional digital marketing services,” Ponte said. “We have helped over 500 local businesses grow their online presence and grow their revenue. It’s important to know whether SEO (search engine optimization) or Google Ads is the right fit for a business and how to optimize a website for local search and customer engagement. Simply put, it’s important to discover what is the right fit for each business to be relevant.”
Ponte explained the fast-paced demands of competitive markets. Using some of his local clients as examples, he showed the biggest SEO mistakes business owners make and how to fix them, even for business owners who are not tech experts. In addition, he shared steps needed to boost online presence, such as how to optimize a website for local search, how to backlink, the importance of reviews, and customer engagement with Google My Business.
“The internet has become the go-to method for individuals to get their information,” he noted. “Every day more users are utilizing search engines like Google, which is why more online presence is needed to succeed. Clientele need to locate your business quickly and easily.”
Attendee Tara Lee from Tara Lee Photography shared, “I’m presently doing a complete rebrand of my business, so it was great to learn about SEO, Google Ads, and much more. It was a great learning experience.”
Sherri McCollum from Maui Mermade Jewelry added, “I’ve been stuck with my website and Google placement. Nick explained everything in simple terms and now I understand what to do. If I need more help I’m going to hire him. Thanks, MEDB, for such an informative talk.”
For information about future Maui TechOhana events, which are free and open to the public, visit https://www.medb.org/techohana/ to sign up for the Maui TechOhana mailing list.
I have a passion for helping businesses thrive in the digital world and succeed in competitive markets.
Nick Ponte, Owner, Myna Marketing
Founded in 2019 in Wailuku, Jamie Anderson’s Friends & Faire (F&F) is an in-studio space where people can gather to create, learn, and share their craft. In 2023, F&F also began focusing on mobile workshops, bringing creative experiences to private parties, team building events, and pop-up locations. Now, F&F is settling into their new home on Market Street in Wailuku, where they’ll continue to cultivate a community of creativity.
“Creativity, entrepreneurship, and teaching run in my family on both sides,” Anderson explained. “Together, my mom and dad, Arsie and Bruce, have made F&F possible by fueling my own creativity. I started making gifts, clothing, and jewelry at a young age with my artsy mom and helped her sell at numerous craft fairs. That led to eventually selling my own creations. Occasionally, mom teaches a workshop or two and is the best helper for big workshops. My retired school-principal dad has his hand on every wood piece that is used for workshops, from sourcing the wood to cutting and sanding every piece.”
As a part-time middle school art teacher, Anderson has gained much experience as an instructor with community connections. She loves crafting and making memories with everyone who signs up for a workshop. “I love creating something cool with my clients,” she noted. “F&F presents classes for adults and keiki, which include ceramics, wood burning, stenciled wood signs, block print, mixed media, lei-making, and numerous other craft-related items. We love hosting birthday parties, girls’ night out, bridal/baby showers, bachelorette parties, staff holiday parties, or team-building activities with community members. We can create a craft experience that caters to any group, no matter the size.”
Anderson’s vision is to have a community of crafters and artists in her new space, both making and selling crafts. “We can plan something in our Wailuku space or a location of choice,” she added. “Let’s plan a creative gathering! F&F is the right place for those who like to make all kinds of things.” Upcoming workshops include a Keiki Craft Camp on May 26 and Upcycle Crafts workshops every Saturday from 10am-12pm.
Workshops are led by talented Maui artists, crafters, and teachers. Whether in our new space or a private home, workplace, or event venue, we welcome all fellow makers!
Jamie Anderson, Founder and Owner, Friends & Faire
Lynn Fulton, Maui Health CEO, was awarded the prestigious Pacific Business News Women Who Mean Business award for 2025. Presented annually, the award recognizes women making a significant impact in their industries and communities by excelling in both business and community leadership. A Maui Health representative shared, “Fulton has been at the helm since January 1, 2024, and is a transformative leader. Under her direction, Maui Health has made substantial strides in improving operational efficiency by fostering a culture of support, growth and development.”
Fulton has been leading hospitals, ambulatory sites, and related ventures in operations, strategic planning, finance, business expansion, and team development for over two decades. “I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition,” Fulton said. “I believe that successful leadership is rooted in collaboration and empowerment. I am deeply committed to the people of Maui Health—our staff, community physicians, residents and visitors to Maui County—and am excited to continue driving positive change in our hospital and community.”
Perhaps most significant has been Fulton’s commitment to investing in Maui Health’s workforce to improve internal culture and empower staff to reach their fullest potential. Within a few months joining Maui Health, she launched a comprehensive leadership development program, providing regular education, training, and resources for department leaders, supporting their future career growth.
Fulton is also dedicated to investing in local students’ success and working to stabilize Maui’s workforce with healthcare career awareness and training programs. Maui Health recently partnered with Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks™ program to organize 3 healthcare career exploration events at Maui Memorial Medical Center for 187 local middle and high schoolers. The students learned life-saving skills directly from healthcare professionals, including CPR, techniques to stop serious bleeding, and how to recognize a stroke. Maui Health staff also reenacted an emergency room scenario to show students the critical roles of every member of the ER team.
Maui Health is also offering a paid summer internship program this year. The program will offer hands-on experiences while providing an inside look at the vital non-clinical roles that support patient care. It is designed for college and graduate students who want to explore the healthcare field and those looking to have a career on Maui.
Maui Health provides a great opportunity for students to be able to build a career. There is nothing like seeing what happens in a hospital through interactions with the people who work here.
Lynn Fulton, CEO, Maui Health
Maui’s youth are taking center stage at this year’s Maui Matsuri Children’s Festival. The free multicultural events will take place on Saturday, May 10, at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center, and this year’s event will feature Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks AFTERschool program with students and teachers from across Maui County. The students will showcase a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) projects through hands-on activities that honor both Hawaiian culture and STEM innovation.
Each STEMworks AFTERschool site will host a table featuring interactive displays and student-led presentations. Participating schools and activities will include:
Iao Intermediate: honoring Mother’s Day through a hula performance and tribute to Queen Liliʻuokalani and presenting projects in coding, entrepreneurship, and healthcare
Kalama Intermediate: hosting a special hula performance as well as robotics, art, 3D printing showcase, and optical illusion photo and video activities
Lokelani Intermediate: providing beaded bracelet activities and a showcase of digital art, interactive student video games, and 3D printed designs
Maui Waena: highlighting media and entrepreneurship student projects
Molokai Middle: showcasing native Hawaiian plants and agriculture, robotics
Pukalani Elementary: providing introductory STEM activities and robotics demonstrations
This community event is a chance to support local students and see the impact of the STEMworks AFTERschool program. Families, educators, and community members are all invited to enjoy the day, celebrate keiki, and be inspired by local STEM students’ talent and dedication to learning.
The festival will start at 10am, with other performances and activities including a Chinese lion dance, a cultural parade, a Bayanihan folk dance, and a wide variety of craft tables run by local organizations. For more information about the Maui Matsuri Children’s Festival, including the event schedule, visit https://mauimatsuri.com/. To learn more about the STEMworks AFTERschool program, visit https://www.stemworkshawaii.org/afterschool.
Community members are also invited to mark their calendars for the Maui Matsuri Japanese Festival, which will take place on Saturday, May 24 from 3pm to 9pm at UH Maui College.
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
