Aug 12, 2020 | Education, Stemworks
Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) has announced the kick-off of their first-ever online STEM Drive, a benefit for the 2020 Ke Alahele Education Fund. The fundraiser began on July 17 and runs through August 15. Contributions are 100 percent tax deductible. Donations go towards advancing MEDB’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) programs from kindergarten to careers. The Ke Alahele Fund enables educational pathways that benefit the lives of our residents in Maui County and statewide. MEDB’s programs, which are founded on a respect for Hawai’i’s culture and precious environment, create vehicles for community and industry participation and partnerships in achieving educational goals.
“For the past 13 years, our community has gathered for our annual Ke Alahele Education Fund benefit dinner to support STEM education in Hawaii,” said Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO. This year, due to COVID-19, we will not be scheduling our in-person gala. However, the public can still make a difference in the lives of our keiki by donating to our STEM Drive.”
Since the Fund was launched in 2006, MEDB’s STEM programs continue to empower students and teachers across the state. To date, 344 grants have provided STEM equipment, robotics programs, media labs, environmental/sustainability projects, internships, training for teachers, and more. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are also available which include publicity on the event’s website and social media. This website, www.MEDBpathways.com., also includes information about the Ke Alahele Education Fund── inspiring stories of those who have benefited from MEDB’s STEM programs, and highlights of STEM Week in Maui County.
Wilkins noted, “Jobs today and in the future depend on the preparation of our students in critical thinking, communication, problem solving, collaboration, and creativity — all skills nurtured by STEM education. The Ke Alahele Education Fund was created to provide STEM tools for our youth and educators in an effort to open doors to exciting career opportunities. We extend a big mahalo to all those who support our Ke Alahele Education Fund. It’s truly an investment in our youth, one that will help to shape our communities and our world.”
Donations can be made online or by mailing a check to Maui Economic Development Board, at 1305 N. Holopono St #1, Kihei, HI 96753. To donate, please visit the MEDB STEM Drive website, www.MEDBpathways.com.
Leslie Wilkins, MEDB Presidentand CEO
Aug 5, 2020 | Community, Small Business
Exciting projects, industry-best benefits and flexible working arrangements are a few of the reasons that Kihei-based Centauri was recently named a 2020 Hawai’i Best Place to Work by Hawaii Business Magazine. Centauri is a technology company providing high-end, creative software and engineering solutions to critical national security missions across space, cyber, missile defense and intelligence domains.
Although headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, Centauri has a long-standing office in Kihei. The nearly 50 employees in Kihei support federal government customers in high-tech areas such as space domain awareness. Centauri’s corporate strategy brings together top experts in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), as well as intelligence operations and analysis.
“There is a sense of energy, drive, pride in accomplishment and commitment in the work at Centauri,” said Daron Nishimoto, Centauri Director of Advanced Technologies. “Our pervasive culture of excellence in all that we do defines who and what we are, as we focus on the important missions of our customers. Because our employees are our most valuable asset, we have built a company that recognizes the achievements of our team members.”
Centauri offers career opportunities and paid military leave for both veterans and their spouses, which is why more than 35% of employees are veterans. “For many veterans, the Centauri culture embodies a comparable sense of camaraderie and values instilled in the armed forces,” said Nishimoto. “We do work that matters on cutting-edge technologies critical to our nation.”
Centauri’s flexible work environment allows employees to be in charge of their hours, allowing them to accomplish their work on their own schedule so they do not have to sacrifice important appointments, school events or family needs. As for benefits, the company offers a high-match 401k and a selection of generous healthcare packages including medical, prescription drug, dental and vision, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and survival support. Employee charitable contributions are matched, and stipends for continuing education are provided.
“Everyone in Kihei, and even those reporting into Hawaii from the continental US, genuinely enjoy working with us,” said Nishimoto. “Ultimately, our workplace culture of excellence defines our success and makes Centauri a Best Place to Work in Hawaii.”
At Centauri, we have been recognized by major nationwide and local awards programs. Presently, we are welcoming 2020 Summer Interns to our first-ever virtual program.
Daron Nishimoto, Centauri Director of Advanced Technologies
Jul 29, 2020 | Community
Hawaiian Paddle Sports
Kama’aina First, an exciting program supported by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development (OED), brings our local community together, to kokua one another, during these unprecedented times of COVID-19. This is an opportunity for Maui County businesses to share their kama’aina deals at no cost; for locals to take advantage of great discounts on staycations, meals, services, products; and, best of all, to show aloha for our islands’ businesses and ‘ohana.
“The Kama’aina First program is kick-starting our island economy by supporting employment and circulating dollars right here at home.,” said Maui Mayor Michael Victorino. “By providing a platform for local businesses to offer discounts and great deals to our local residents we help our friends, neighbors and community.”
OED Director JoAnn Inamasu said, “The support of the Kama’aina First program has been incredible. Since its launch on June 1st, we have nearly 500 local businesses participating in the program, with special offers and vendor applications still being submitted. We are looking for a great deal and our community has risen to the challenge of supporting our local businesses in this time when they need our help to remain in business. It is all about ‘Locals supporting locals’!”
Residents are being encouraged to stay on island and continue to support local businesses. The program is open to all County of Maui companies and residents. There is no cost to participate in the program, and the County of Maui shares offers with the residents via the website and Kama’aina First Facebook and Instagram pages.
Mayor Victorino summed it up by saying, “This allows our residents to enjoy our islands first, as we fully adjust to the new normal. Life has changed drastically for our kama’aina and we look forward to businesses offering them the chance to enjoy unique deals and experiences. Because updates are made daily, we encourage folks to visit these online resources often. We extend a big mahalo to all our locals who continue to help each other during these challenging times. I urge everyone to regularly check the www.KamaainaFirst.com website for new deals.”
With the moratorium lifted on interisland travel, both the KamaainaFirst.com website and Facebook group offer the perfect opportunity to try a variety of experiences, products, and services on the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.
Michael Victorino, Maui County Mayor
Jul 22, 2020 | Education, Stemworks
Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks™ Internship Program inspires the next STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) generation. Under the internship program, students in grades nine through college have a unique opportunity to explore technical and professional development, and gain confidence in their ability to be a STEM professional. STEMworks™ emphasizes connecting the dots among curriculum, software tools available in the classroom, and real world applications. Interns will gain valuable on-the-job skills while being able to network with industry professionals; a win-win outcome.
“This year, due to COVID-19, the STEMworks™ team worked hard to personalize work-based learning experiences in the new virtual dimensions,” said Katie Taladay, STEMworks™ Program Manager. “We collaborated with internship host companies and our community partners to help reshape the plan for this year’s program. The summer internship, held virtually for four weeks instead of the standard six weeks, will provide interns with the opportunity to use industry-standard technologies to complete projects. Additionally, the interns participate in weekly webinars to help them develop college preparatory and career skills.”
“STEMworks™ Intern Peyton Gillespie said, “The STEMworks™ Summer Internship team has brought together a wide variety of organizations and students from almost every island. I am looking forward to my third year participating in the program. Despite the unprecedented circumstances and the internships being moved online, I am confident that we are going to have just as productive a year as any other. We launched this year’s event with a virtual kickoff, introducing us to the online format, details of our individual internships, and an overall opportunity to learn about various STEM careers.”
Gillespie added, “For the past two years, I interned on Molokai at Keawanui Fishpond working in natural resource management and preservation of a cultural site. I built on my leadership, teamwork, agriculture, aquaculture, and resource management skillsets, not to mention the network I built both working at the Fishpond and with the STEMworks™ team. This year, I will be the liaison between the STEMworks™ interns and the staff. I am looking forward to following the other interns on their paths as well.”
The STEMworks™ team efficiently moved the program online and I am excited to take part in this new kind of intern experience.
Peyton Gillespie, STEMworks™ Intern
Jul 15, 2020 | Sustainability
Rotary International District 5000 announced the award of $31,000 in grants to Hawaii Rotary clubs to support COVID-19 relief projects. The Hawaii District 5000 funds come from dues and donations from club members across the islands. Funds that were budgeted this year for conferences, training and travel have been re-allocated to these COVID-19 grants. The clubs are using these grants to work with Hawaii nonprofit community partners to provide COVID-19 relief.
“Rotary is about helping people in our local communities,” said Eric Kaler, District Governor of Rotary in Hawaii. “We are mobilizing and re-deploying funds to enable our Hawaii clubs to do even more to provide relief for people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to the grant, the clubs collectively contributed a supplemental $3,600 for projects. The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise procured and assembled masks and other personal protective equipment for medical workers on Maui. The masks were sourced from Min Plastics, a Honolulu company with more than 70 years of fabrication experience, who began producing face shields in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Bridget Bongaard, Rotary Club of Maui President, said, “Our club has successfully transitioned from being a traditional club that meets at a local restaurant each week, to one that is able to meet and plan using Zoom conferencing. We choose a different community project each month that we all support and serve. Recently, we delivered a grant check to Na Hoaloha, a nonprofit that provides essential services to the elderly in our community, such as transportation, and currently a virtual volunteer program as well. Na Hoaloha used the funds to provide nutritious hot meals for their kupuna. Rotary supports numerous organizations like this in the community.”
Rotary clubs across the islands are staying actively connected during the pandemic using online meetings, social media, and email. Club members are volunteering to sew face masks, shop for supplies for kupuna, deliver food, provide financial information, and support food banks and programs in their local communities. Bongaard concluded, “It is so important to have the support of community organizations like Rotary in the face of this pandemic.”
Rotary members have created Facebook groups for “Care-mongering” on their islands. These groups are open to the public and serve to connect people and resources for COVID-19 pandemic assistance.
Bridget Bongaard, President, Rotary Club of Maui
Jul 8, 2020 | Education, Stemworks
Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks™ Hawaii program presented the first-ever 2020 Virtual STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) Conference. The agenda focused on developing 21st-century skills for future careers. Teachers and over 200 students exercised leadership, communication, and collaboration by engaging in hands-on STEM activities that involved problem-solving, scientific concepts and geospatial technologies.
“The 2020 Hawaii STEM Conference successfully moved to a virtual platform this year,” said Katie Taladay, STEMworks™ Program Manager. “We kicked off the three-day event with five industry presenters, and a Microsoft keynote message of inspiration for our students. In addition to the main event, 27 students participated in the STEMworks™ first virtual design challenge hackathon hosted on BizzyB. In this fast-paced challenge, students learned about Malama Maunalua’s mission to help improve water quality in their ahupua’a by growing oysters to filter local waterways. Each of the five teams impressed the four judges with their innovative designs for sustainably constructed oyster cages. We are thankful for all our participants, sponsors and speakers.”
Additionally, students competed in the 2020 STEMMY Award challenges designed to put their skills and creativity to the test. Jacob Gamble from Kalama Intermediate School won the Game Design Competition. Jazmyne Viloria from Maui High School won the Photography Competition. Winners from Maui Waena Intermediate School included Jacelyn Yun for the What’s Your Jam? Competition; Zoe Zane, Kamri Cruz and Sienna Jolie Racoma for the Leave Your Mark-et Design Competition; and Sienna Jolie Racoma and Kamri Cruz for the T-Shirt Design Competition.
“Our T-Shirt design is of a side profile, with an outline of the words ‘STEM is the Face of the Future’,” Cruz and Racoma explained. “It also includes circles with images of the different aspects of STEM. All of the individual symbols come together to make the whole person, which is portrayed as the side profile of the face.”
Jennifer Suzuki, Maui Waena STEMworks™ AFTERschool Coordinator added, “I am proud of my students for staying focused and continuing to work despite school closures. We appreciate STEMworks™ for giving our students the opportunity to stay engaged and productive in these challenging times.”
Our t-shirt design represents how future generations will be influenced by STEM.
Sienna Jolie Racoma and Kamri Cruz, 2020 STEMMY Award T-Shirt Design Winners, Maui Waena Intermediate School
Jul 1, 2020 | Community
A Cup of Cold Water (ACCW), a shared outreach ministry of the Episcopal Churches of Maui and Friends, is looking to restart operations and begin with weekly mission runs on Wednesdays in the Central Maui area. ACCW’s roving care van will serve the areas of Central Maui where the larger homeless populations are gathered, including portions of old Wailuku Town, Beach Road, Kanaha, Kahului Industrial, and areas around and near the Kahului Salvation Army.
“Our mission continues to offer water, nutrition, hygiene, masks, and comfort to Maui’s neediest citizens, along with offering spiritual food, hope and referrals for those who desire it,” said Deb Lynch, ACCW President. “The South and West Maui mission runs are currently still on hold until further notice. ACCW has also supplied other on-going outreach programs, such as Maui Mental Health Kokua, Hale Kaukau, and the Salvation Army, with perishable food items, hygiene and first aid.”
ACCW began their direct services mission in 2013 as a no-salary, all-volunteer mission that does not accept any government grants or funding. It has its own independent supply chain of water, non-perishable food, hygiene, clothing, first aid and other needs. In 2019, they made almost 10,000 homeless service contacts through their weekly mission runs to Central, South, and West Maui.
“Thanks to our core of volunteers from within the community, and our wide range of supporters, the program has grown into a very loved outreach ministry for the island,” Lynch said. “Van drivers and riders, storage and distribution room organizers, administrators, donors, and other volunteers, are a shining example of how dedicated people bring compassion into the public arena to serve those in need. During this time of great need, we encourage everyone to vigorously support local frontline charities with monetary or food donations. For example, support is always needed at the Maui Food Bank, the Salvation Army, Feed My Sheep, Family Life Center, Hale Kaukau of St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Ka Ohana Kitchen of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Maui Rescue Mission, Ka Hale A Ke Ola, and food pantries. Every outreach ministry of our greater community could use help.”
COVID-19 has greatly increased the need for supplies for the homeless. We especially thank the community for their continued support and donations. Stay safe and healthy.
Deb Lynch, President, ACCW
Jun 24, 2020 | Innovation
Ka Ipu Kukui Fellows is a nonprofit community-based program created to identify and develop Maui’s future leaders. To date, over 150 accomplished young professionals have graduated from the year-long program. The Fellows are a diverse cross-section of residents drawn from business, government, academia and nonprofit organizations. In January, the group took part in Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Project Weekend. The preparation for this weekend began with a 60-second pitch exercise on Friday evening.
“We wanted to give the Fellows some tips and rehearsal for their pitches,” said Frank De Rego, Jr., MEDB Director of Business Development Projects and facilitator. “It sets them up for an intense weekend with the fellows working in teams through all the various aspects of project development to better address Maui Nui’s challenges.”
Coaches, with their backgrounds as business and community leaders, mentored the project teams the following day. The weekend culminated on the Sunday afternoon with the teams presenting a 5-minute pitch presentation to a panel of judges comprising of accomplished Maui Nui decision makers and influencers. A winner was announced although the emphasis of the weekend was on the learning process and for the Ka Ipu Kukui Fellows to get an immersive understanding of developing a project from start to finish.
The winning Project Weekend team included project creator Ashley Takitani-Leahey with Riley Coon, Teana Kaho’ohanohano, Jeeyun Lee and Carrissa Holley. “Project Weekend was intense but incredible,” said Holley. “I got to spend time with an amazing team. Combining all our skills, we learned so much from each other. We are all grateful to have such an amazing and supportive team here at MEDB who was there for us through thick and thin.”
Judge Brittany Heyd, cofounder of Mana Up, added, “The participants had their own angles and expertise on how to support Maui and solve problems that they foresee in the future. It was inspiring to see them use their own resources and work as a team to get the job done. We need our young leaders to step up with more innovative ideas for the future.”
With the social distancing regulations taking place on Maui for an indefinite time, Ka Ipu Kukui is looking at alternatives for the current and new cohort. Visit https://kaipukukui.com for more information.
The Fellows awareness of diverse topics and perspectives amazed the judges who had a difficult time choosing the winners.
Gerry Smith, MEDB Director of Business Development
Jun 17, 2020 | Community
Like other communities across the country, Maui County and its residents have been affected by the anger, grief and hurt caused by recent events in Minneapolis, Georgia, Louisville and elsewhere, and the resulting civil unrest. ‘The knee on the neck” is an apt metaphor for the anguish and fear that learned hatred and bigotry – sometimes casual, sometimes coded – cause for so many of our fellow citizens.
MEDB joins in condemning the systemic racism evidenced by these events. We stand with those raising their voices, protesting injustices, and demanding constructive change. We cannot achieve social justice when members of our communities are oppressed on the basis of race, gender, or ethnicity.
MEDB is committed to inclusivity, diversity, and the power of education and community engagement, especially for the underrepresented and those who feel disenfranchised. We work towards tackling the inequities that exist in so many aspects of our society.
We see hope for the future in our young people especially, who have articulated their dissatisfaction, here as elsewhere, with the status quo on issues ranging from oppression and social injustice to climate change.
We are truly blessed to live in a place of rich culture, natural beauty and abundance, but we must all acknowledge the importance of inclusion and equity of access for shared prosperity while recognizing our own particular history of past injustice and cultural oppression.
John Harrisson, Program Director, MEDB, and father of two African-American young men
Jun 10, 2020 | Sustainability
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), the program that makes a big difference by matching children facing adversity with older role models in one-to-one relationships, is adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. While bringing people together in person to go out and share activities is their main goal, they cannot do that at this time. BBBS wants everyone to be safe, and to their surprise, their families of matches have embraced the moment and are having lots of fun connecting virtually.
“During this very challenging and uncertain time, our mission remains to build and support one-to-one relationships, and to ignite the biggest possible future for our youth,” said Courtney Ikawa, Maui BBBS Regional Director. “These are really scary times for all of us, but especially for the children. Since the stay-at-home orders were enacted on Maui, the youth have lost access to school meals as well as resources that connected them to the outside world. Our Maui staff, working from home, have innovated our service delivery to ensure the children stay virtually in touch with their BBBS mentors.”
BBBS is serving as a hub for families by directing them to community resources and by providing virtual workshops for both the parents and volunteers. Their one-to-one matches have been meeting through phone calls, video chats, texts, and email. In fact, they have become highly creative, and went on their first virtual matches tour to visit the USS Missouri, the historic battleship anchored at Pearl Harbor.”
“We are still enrolling children and volunteers, and we are continuing to support virtual relationships during this time of social distancing,” Ikawa said. “Our program is an essential service that we must continue to provide because the young people that we serve through this pandemic are likely to bear the heaviest burdens of trauma and economic fallout. Each child and mentor is connected with one of our staff who provides ongoing coaching for the youth, training for the volunteer, and resources for the family. We continually need investment in our mission to ensure our agency remains open, which community members can do in numerous ways.”
BBBS’s youth-centered program helps children to create goals that mentors can help them achieve. For more information visit www.bbbshawaii.org
Courtney Ikawa, Maui BBBS Regional Director
