Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Ke Alahele Education Fund grantee, King Kekaulike High School, applied STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) funding towards Tower Garden® growing systems for an aeroponics project, “The Power of a Plant: STEM in the Special Education Classroom”. Aeroponics is the method of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil. The project supports at-risk special education students, but other students also reaped the benefits of this innovative learning experience using STEM concepts.
King Kekaulike teacher Dori Pritchett said, “I have been working toward developing programs and experiences that would empower my students with skills they need to thrive in their future careers. Thanks to the Ke Alahele grant, I was able to obtain the vertical aeroponic growing systems with seeds, nutrients, and supplies−everything we need to get growing. Instead of soil, Tower Garden® plants grow in a medium called rockwool, which provides plant roots with oxygen and consistent moisture.”
Throughout the project, Pritchett’s students were directly involved in creating state-of-the-art farming solutions, beginning with the biology of growing food. STEM concepts showed how constructing aeroponic structures leads to the idea of developing large-scale systems that are sustainable and productive. For example, NASA has been studying aeroponics for several decades, as a way of growing food in space habitats. “The students integrated local culture through the creation of healthy food dishes designed with their own produce,” Pritchett explained. “The project lends itself to teaching them how to become entrepreneurs, create income, and contribute to the community. I’m grateful to MEDB for helping me provide incredible experiences like this for my students.”
The students said that the Tower Garden® growing system was a positive addition to the classroom. Tenth grader Adryanna Kurosawa noted, “I learned about aeroponics and how to measure the pH which allows the plants to absorb nutrients.” Samuel Contreras, 9th grader, added, “The most interesting thing I learned was that plants can live, grow, and thrive indoors. The aeroponic tower was a positive addition to our class because all the kids got to work together.”
MEDB’s Ke Alahele Education Fund supports a myriad of STEM education programs. The annual Ke Alahele Education Fund Benefit Dinner & Auction, ‘Pathways to Our Future,’ will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2019 at the Wailea Beach Resort-Maui Marriott. For reservations visit www.medb.org/KAH.
Dodi Pritchett, Study Skills teacher, King Kekaulike High School
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the 2023 Hawaii Energy Conference (HEC), recently held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, was presented by the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) with the support of the County of Maui Office of Economic Development. Experts and stakeholders from Hawaii, Canada, the continental U.S., Asia-Pacific and elsewhere exchanged ideas on how to better serve our communities in today’s rapidly-changing, energy-conscious environment. Including a diverse range of speakers and topics, attendees gained new insights about what it will take for Hawaii to reach its mandate of producing 100% clean energy by 2045.
“Each panel and invited talk was designed to give attendees the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to make meaningful changes,” said Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO. “We have to commit, incentivize innovation, and work together to reach our sustainability goals for a brighter future for Hawaii.”
According to Hawaiian Electric, 32% of electricity generated on Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui County was from renewable resources last year. Hawaii Island generated 48%, Maui County generated 36%, and Oahu generated 28%. Kauai County led the state, achieving more than 60% last year through its own cooperative that also has a planned pumped storage hydroelectric project in West Kauai. Brad Rockwell, COO, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, explained, “One hundred percent of Kauai’s daytime demand for electricity is met by renewables. Long-term storage will be the water reservoir, which runs a 4MW hydroelectric generator and a 20MW. This long-term storage can bring Kauai to 100% renewable.”
Additionally, hydrogen proposals and on-going projects on how to make, store, and use it in Hawaii were discussed. Mitch Ewan, Hydrogen Systems Program Manager at HNEI, shared, “On the Big Island, hydrogen-fueled vehicles are already operating. HNEI buses and trucks have an infrastructure for public transportation, they fuel rapidly and provide long-endurance energy storage. Hydrogen offers energy security for Hawaii.”
Keynote speaker Daphne Frias, a youth climate justice activist from New York, emphasized, “We need to include more youth and those with disabilities in the climate conversation. At the end of the day, we all live on this one planet.”
The community can be involved in the Hawaii Legislature, not only by testifying, but also by engaging specific legislators who stalled bills on issues of concern. We need to solve problems together.
Senator Lynn DeCoite, Chair; Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development and Tourism; State of Hawaii
“Poetry,” as the late Maui resident W.S. Merwin said, “is a way of looking at the world for the first time.” These oft-quoted words have come alive again for Sonnet Kekilia Coggins, Executive Director of The Merwin Conservancy. In recent days she has come to think of The Conservancy as a poem, a space distinct and discrete in form, elusive and inexhaustible in content. The Merwin Conservancy inspires innovation in the arts and sciences by advancing the ideas of W.S. Merwin and his palm forest── as fearless and graceful examples of the power of imagination and renewal. “It is a place of agency, evolution, and possibilities beyond its own imagining,” Coggins said. “A walk here in this poetic place, particularly in the company of the writers, artists, and scientists who come to dwell here for a time, is most certainly a way of looking at the world anew.”
The Green Room Series, offering sparking conversations about language, nature, and imagination, are back in-person at the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center in Makawao after a long hiatus. Thanks in part to funding from the Hawaii Council for the Humanities, The Conservancy also produced a virtual walk through W.S. Merwin’s palm garden. Moreover, the garden is now open again once a month to the public. The Conservancy has hosted creative writing classes from UH and looks forward to hosting Maui County school groups again.
“We are happy to share the experience of this place across the islands, the continent, and the world,” Coggins noted. “As we are mid-way through 2023, I look back at the first full year of The Artists in Residency Program. It has been such a great way to continue the vibrant creative life of the house and garden that Merwin created here. It is not only for writers, but all kinds of people who, like Merwin, can see beyond the present moment and see into things that are possible. The imagination is an essential key to solve problems and envision new ways for the future, so it is natural that this program supports the people who do that across all aspects of the arts and sciences.”
We are grateful to all our special guests. May this place open the world around you, ahead of you, and under your feet.
Sonnet Kekilia Coggins, Executive Director, W.S. Merwin Conservancy
Sean Na’auao, multiple time winner of the prestigious Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award, is the concert headliner on Friday, June 30 at The Shops at Wailea. The live performance will take place from 5:30-7pm to benefit Hospice Maui, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing care to local families experiencing a bereavement state. Na’auao, a multi-talented performer, is one of Hawaii’s most beloved artists. A singer, musician, producer and composer, he started his professional musical career following high school, as part of Mana‘o Company. His solo career started with two releases, “Giving Something Back” and “Hawaiian Living,” in the mid-1990s.
“I always remember where I came from and keep to my roots,” Na’auao said. “Life is about learning and celebrating wisdom through experiences and kupuna. I find inspiration through my ancestors, while perpetuating the Hawaiian music for all generations. Hospice Maui provides an extraordinary service in our community and I am happy to perform a concert to benefit them. It’s truly about giving something back.”
Diana Whitt, General Manager and Vice President for Property Management of The Festival Companies, said, “We are excited that the one-and-only Sean Na‘auao will help us celebrate the start of summer with an incredible performance. We also want to invite our guests to meet the Hospice Maui team and learn how together, we can continue to make a difference in our community.”
At the concert, guests will have the opportunity to learn more about Hospice Maui, the variety of resources they offer, and ways to give back to the organization; including Hospice Maui Hale and palliative and bereavement support. The Hospice Maui team will also discuss community outreach opportunities where interested guests can receive educational support, be part of the discussion on how to provide compassionate care through volunteering, or make a donation.
“We are so grateful for the support of our community, the inspiring dedication of our entire Hospice Maui team, and The Shops at Wailea for being a trusted platform for us to share our efforts,” said Melanie Dwyer, CEO of Hospice Maui. “Together, we will continue to provide compassionate, high quality hospice and palliative care services to those in need.”
I dedicate my music to the people of Hawaii with the hope that it can inspire a love of their origin and roots. Let’s support Hospice Maui together.
Sean Na’auao, Multi-Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award Winner
Daniel ‘Danny’ Weiss, Akakū’s new Maui Community Media Marketing Manager, is a team player with a passion for building community relationships. With an arts and sciences outlook, Weiss, a mulit-media storyteller and dedicated environmentalist, conservationist, endangered animal rights documentarian, and social justice advocate, is a perfect fit for Akakū.
An independent, non-profit corporation established in 1992, Akakū promotes the creation of media by, for, and about the community. They are staffed with a highly trained group of veteran media professionals and technicians in the film, video, television and radio fields. Programing three local cable television channels, 53, 54, and 55, Akakū serves its audiences on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Additionally, their public radio station, KAKU 88.5 FM, ‘The Voice of Maui’, is a vital community resource for independent news, commentaries and music.
“Akakū is the place where every Maui Nui resident can have a voice and showcase the diversity of our islands,” Weiss said. “It’s a place to discuss, to innovate, and to bring media literacy and civic engagement to the people. Our mission, to ‘Empower the Community’s Voice Through Access to Media’, is more important now than ever to preserve and enhance our culture and heritage.”
A beacon of free speech, Akakū provides production services, facility and equipment rentals, education and training initiatives, and information to residents on topical issues with Maui Nui’s only televised (and award-winning) news program, The Maui Daily. “On the best islands in the world, where anyone can come and talk story, Akakū is the place people go to produce and submit video on just about anything,” said Weiss. “Most of it is local. All of it is non-discriminatory, non-commercial, uncensored and unfiltered.”
The popular community event Akakū Upstairs is an ongoing public engagement, held in their second-floor suite in Kahului. Weiss explained, “By featuring a variety of events with speakers, screenings, panels, and workshops, our goal is to elevate community and conversation through this free salon series every Third Thursday of the month. There is no admission fee, but with our limited seating, registration is required. We hope members of the community will continue to join us.”
Akakū, meaning ‘reflection’, as in a mirror, is a vital resource serving all the communities of Maui Nui.” Email danny@akaku.org for more information.
Danny Weiss, Akakū Marketing Manager
The latest Maui TechOhana meeting about AI (artificial intelligence) filled the venue with a discussion on one of the most currently talked-about subjects, a theme the community found worth exploring. Organized by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and supported by the County of Maui, the event provided an informal networking opportunity open to those interested in Maui County’s technology industry. Each invited speaker includes a short presentation on a relevant topic in business or technology, followed by the opportunity to talk with others having similar professional interests.
Maui-based guest speaker Mark Williams, keen to connect with participants, comes from a technology consulting background and has worked across multiple industries with clients such as Microsoft, Mercedes Benz R&D, NASA, AT&T, and T-Mobile. His interests include blockchain, artificial intelligence, and how emerging technologies can improve our lives. Williams talked story about his career journey in tech and explored some real-world examples of blockchain and Web3, including an exploration of AI and its potential impacts, good and bad. Williams has spent the last four years as VP of Infrastructure at BrainTrust Network, a marketplace that connects organizations directly to top technology talents. The company’s first hire, he helped catapult BrainTrust into a $100M+ Web3 juggernaut.
“Founded in 2018 and based in San Francisco, BrainTrust operates as a user-controlled talent network,” Williams explained. “The network aligns the interests of both experts and enterprises. We aim to help the best-qualified realize all of their potential, with access to high-paying jobs, ownership through the BTRST token, transparency, and opportunities for learning and growth. Through AI, a human-programmed system designed to operate within specific perimeters and perform specific tasks to enable problem-solving, there is a burgeoning of new technologies; used not only at BrainTrust, but throughout society in various fields.”
Maui resident and participant Rachel Campbell reflected, “We learned in a very clear way how the internet enables new ways of doing business, ways most people have not thought of yet. One of those ways is allowing general access to AI tools. AI is easy to misunderstand, so seminars like TechOhana are very valuable. Thank you MEDB!”
AI is a new wave of technology, encompassing sub-fields of machine learning and deep learning, which is becoming more routinely available to entrepreneurs using the internet.
Mark Williams, BrainTrust Network, VP of Infrastructure
Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) recently presented a triple session in their popular Women in Business Seminar Series. In partnership with the Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) and supported by a SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program Grant and the County of Maui, two seminars and a networking session were held consecutively on one day. The event covered information about getting certified as a 51% woman-owned small business, (WOSB), veteran-owned (VOSB), or minority-owned small business (MOSB) to qualify for special consideration in government and private contracts. According to Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO, “These workshops help business owners understand the numerous benefits of becoming certified.”
The day began with Dr. Pamela Williamson, President and CEO of WBEC West, who offered vital tips, coaching, and technical assistance to minority business owners on how certification can expand their business. In this fast-paced and interactive session, entitled ‘Elevate Your Pitch’, participants learned how to create an elevator pitch that is tailored to their organization’s key competencies.The panel of professionals from Sony, Visa, Disney, Walmart and Chase Bank offered participants the best ways to connect with large corporations and tips on how to leverage their small-business status. The panel also voted for the best elevator pitch, naming Donna Davis, Esq., for her affordable, sustainable housing proposal.
“Having a WOSB, MOSB, or VOSB certification helps to gain competitive advantages,” Williamson explained. “Certification is still a best-kept secret that needs to get out and be shared. Once certified, a person has many advantages available to help them succeed.”
After the second workshop, ‘Why Being Certified Matters’, presenter Maria Boykin, WBEC West Certification Program Manager, reflected, “Today’s MEDB workshops were significant for us as an organization because we got to connect with women in businesses that can actually impact the economic vitality of Maui. That is what WBEC is about. We not only want to see women’s businesses grow; we want to see the community where they reside grow.”
Maui resident and participant Carolynn Guy noted, “What an informative day! We learned why and how to get certified, and the professional representatives gave such incredible feedback to the people who pitched their business ideas. This information is priceless.”
All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
It is through these kinds of partnerships with MEDB, SBA, and today’s team of professionals, that we are able to tell about the programs available to 51% minority-owned businesses.
Pamela Williamson, PhD, WBEC West President & CEO
Maui piano students Henley Anthony, 7, and Ailis Nguyen, 10, took first place in Levels I and II, respectively, at the Hawaii Music Teachers Association’s 2023 Hawaii State Music Competition. They both competed with approximately 16 students in each category. The girls are students of Ruth Murata-Eisen at the Maui Music Conservatory located in the Queen Ka’ahumanu Mall in Kahului. Serving the Maui community for over 30 years, the teachers at the Conservatory are well qualified to help students of all ages and experience advance to higher levels of performance.
Murata-Eisen, elated by the victory, said, “We have been diligently competing in this competition and coming in second or third place in the past years. There is no greater reward than getting that top spot when you have been trying so hard to beat the top players in the State. Winning a competition requires that the students play at their very best under extreme pressure. Both Nguyen and Anthony are to be commended for their drive to succeed and win. Although winning is not everything, it sure beats losing! I have won many competitions with students in the past, but this win was extra special with two incredible students! The girls will continue on, learning new pieces and hoping for the next victory.”
“All the contestants were wonderful,” Nguyen said. “It was a heart-beating moment to wait for the results. I was happily surprised to be selected and the additional Mozart award was the icing on my cupcake! I would like to inspire other children to learn about the beauty and eloquence of classical music—maybe even teach one day when I am older. Music brings me such peace and joy. I want to continue to share it, and hopefully bring more prizes to Maui.”
Anthony added, “I was so excited to win the competition! I started playing piano at age three and fell in love with it. I want to be a professional piano player and keep competing. You have to play from memory to compete, so it’s a real challenge. I have to practice a lot!”
Maui Economic Development Board wishes Ailis and Henley the best of luck as they continue to pursue their dreams and inspire others to achieve theirs.
Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President & CEO
Maui Matcha, the sleek, minimalist-style Kaanapali café in Whalers Village, opened one year ago by entrepreneur, professional nutrition expert and UH Manoa graduate Michelle Nayebkhil. Upon receiving her license as a nutrition educator from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in Washington D.C., Nayebkhil was convinced that the right lifestyle can prevent and possibly cure certain diet-related illnesses such as obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure. To share this insight with the public, she launched the new café.
“The PCRM program was the foundation for Maui Matcha,” Nayebkhil said. “Food and drink are so important to a daily healthy lifestyle. The past few years have seen matcha rise through the ranks of the beverage hierarchy, particularly in the wellness industry. However, research has shown that matcha is far more than just a phase or trend. I wanted to do something health-centered, something that benefits the health of others and makes them feel good. Matcha provided a chance to do this, and to help grow a healthy Maui community.”
“The matcha green color comes from the pre-harvest shading techniques, a method nearly 1,000 years old that encourages higher concentrations of health-boosting compounds,” Nayebkhil explained. “Matcha requires a special type of preparation. It starts with the green tea leaves, but these are taken from plants that have been shade-grown. During shaded growth, tea plants produce more theanine and caffeine, which give matcha its distinctive intense taste and green color.”
At the recently held Maui Matcha one year anniversary event, Nayebkhil introduced a new line of matcha skincare products called MATCHA MCENTEA, by Maui resident Ashley McEntee. After being diagnosed with celiac and navigating a gluten-free lifestyle, McEntee realized her gluten reactions were also triggered topically through health and beauty products. “One morning, consuming my daily matcha latte, it dawned on me, why not use the vitamin-enriched properties of matcha by taking it to the next level and formulating equally beneficial products for the skin,” McEntee noted. “The company, founded in 2020 and built from the ground up, uses ceremonial-grade matcha tea powder, and is committed to taking a holistic approach to skincare.”
My vision is to get people to try matcha in all different varieties and flavors and to learn about its health benefits, both dietetically and topically.
Michelle Nayebkhil, Maui Matcha, founder and owner
Strengthening communities, one business at a time, is the mission of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Community Navigator Pilot Program. In 2021, the SBA awarded a grant to Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) to build business capacity in underserved and rural communities. The SBA grant is enabling MEDB and several of their Hawaiian and Maui-based community development organizations and partners to provide training and technical assistance to businesses and entrepreneurs. Working to build shared economic prosperity, MEDB is connecting businesses to a vast range of programs and services. They help business owners to reopen, to start, to grow, and to be economically resilient.
“We are offering weekly seminars, both online and in-person, on various business topics from ideas to completion,” said Gary Albitz, MEDB Business Director and Manager of the Navigator Program. MEDB is following the SBA’s hub-and-spoke model, allowing flexibility and better end-user services. In fact, MEDB is presently seeking more members of the community to become navigator trainers to help educate participants in the program. The navigator job helps reduce administrative barriers that underrepresented and underserved entrepreneurs often face in accessing the right programs to help start and run their businesses.
Key to the SBA Navigator Program is reaching out to small-business owners who have not yet received any assistance. MEDB’s online Women in Business Seminar Series is also part of the Navigator Program, which prioritizes small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans.
Maui resident and recipient of a Women Owned Business Certification (WOB) Galit Breman said, “MEDB has been instrumental in helping me achieve WOB certification. I received one-on-one guidance on how to apply and sustain my WOB certificate and status, which I had tried for years to achieve by myself. In addition, I was able to stay open and thrive during the Covid shutdown due to the Adaptability Grant that was also facilitated by MEDB. This allowed me to transform my website to an e-commerce shop online. Thank you so much MEDB for your important role on island for the financial success of small businesses!”
MEDB is helping participants get all their business requirements and business plans together. We invite community members to attend workshops or one-on-one meetings, in person or online.
Gary Albitz, MEDB Business Director, Manager, Community Navigator Pilot Program
