Mar 13, 2019 | Education, Environment, Innovation
Maui resident Dr. T.S. Kelso has been tracking satellites for over 35 years. Kelso serves as a Senior Research Astrodynamicist and Space Data Center Operations Manager for the Center for Space Standards & Innovation at Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI). Throughout his career he has supported the space surveillance community by providing educational materials and data to satellite users around the world.
“My main job is running the Space Data Center, where we screen 748 satellites for 30 satellite operators from many nations,” Kelso explained. “We are screening these satellites to identify close approaches with other satellites and all the debris up there. Right now, there are 2,000 operational satellites in Earth orbit, and we track over 17,000 objects larger than 10cm. The real challenge is filtering through the hundreds of close approaches we see each day, so that the operators can focus on how to move in time to avoid a collision.”
AGI is a big supporter of education and has been a key sponsor for the annual Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference (AMOS) Conference, a program of Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB). “Not only does AGI sponsor AMOS, but we have hosted a star party each year to introduce attendees to the wonders of the Maui sky,” said Kelso. “In addition, we have supported MEDB’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) programs with free educational copies of our software.”
Kelso also operates the CelesTrak website, the world’s first private source for orbital element sets and related software and educational materials. The site is visited by more than 350,000 users each day and supports everyone from professionals operating satellites in orbit, to faculty, students, and other researchers investigating the space environment− to individuals who just want to go out to see the International Space Station pass over.
Kelso concluded, “All the safety and security considerations of air and sea travel now pertain to space travel at a vastly enhanced level because the costs and risks are even higher. The event of spacecraft colliding is serious to our global economy and security.”
We can move satellites so they don’t get hit, and we do that every day. AGI designs software to predict close approaches of satellites. That’s my job; that’s what I do!
Dr. T.S. Kelso, Senior Research Astrodynamicist and Space Data Center Operations Manager, Center for Space Standards & Innovation, AGI
Mar 6, 2019 | Environment, Events, Small Business
Hawaii has experienced enormous growth in distributed energy resources, primarily photovoltaic systems. This year’s conference will take an in-depth look at the innovative policies and technologies that continue to allow rapid growth in PV, and will compare Hawaii solutions with those in Colorado, California and other states. We will also ask what the right blend of fossil fuel and renewable energy sources is for the portion of our economy not covered by the Renewable Portfolio Standard. Come join the discussion at one of the nation’s leading energy conferences.
Feb 27, 2019 | Innovation, Stemworks
The one-day Patsy T. Mink Summit at the MACC, hosted by Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) STEMworks™, was an inspiring and informative gathering for high school girls of all backgrounds to network with successful female leaders in the community. “We are partnering with MEDB STEMworks™ for a second year bringing the Girls Summit to Maui,” said Colleen McAlaney, Director of Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership, YMCA Oahu. “The program is based on building interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) career paths. Through workshops in Financial Literacy, Engineering Design Challenge, Mentoring, and Advocacy, the young women explored diverse careers, defined their personal ambitions, and learned what it will take to achieve them.”
“We are excited to partner with Mink Center to host this amazing event,” said Mapu Quitazol, MEDB Program Manager. “It is important for our young women to see and hear from professional women who are in leadership and technical roles. Girls are empowered when they practice creative thinking and decision making skills.”
Mentor Leah Belmonte, Maui Representative for Governor David Ige, said, “It was so refreshing to be able to speak with our youth in mentoring sessions and be a positive influence to help them prepare and succeed in the workplace.” Keynote speaker Deanna Garcia, Corporate Operations Manager/Maui Site Lead, Akimeka LLC, explained, “Starting as an MEDB intern, I had so many opportunities that taught me how to improve my leadership skills. Whatever you dream is possible. MEDB helps you succeed. They want you to ask questions and seek out what you want to achieve. Personally, I’m so grateful, I want to give back to the community.”
Isabelle Collier, Baldwin High School 11th grader, concluded, “The Girls Summit was definitely beneficial. We were all able to talk and learn from a variety of mentors who gave us short term advice as well as advice that will be beneficial to our future. Every second at the event we were learning something new. It was an experience that every girl should be able to use in her life.”
Patsy T. Mink, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii, advocated for numerous issues, programs, and projects, including empowerment of women. I want to do the same for our community.
Deanna Garcia, Corporate Operations Manager/Maui Site Lead, Akimeka LLC
Feb 20, 2019 | Innovation
Recently the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa welcomed the 29th Space Flight Mechanics Meeting to Ka’anapali. Hosted by the American Astronautical Society (AAS) and co-hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the five-day West Side meeting of approximately 350 participants from 15 countries met to discuss past, present, and future missions exploring the solar system.
Women figured prominently at the AAS Space Flight Mechanics Meeting. Former Maui resident Jill Seubert, Navigation Engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), has supported several Mars missions, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA’s Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations Geodesy and Heat Transport Mission (InSight), and the future Mars Science Mission 2020. These missions were designed to study the deep interior of Mars and look for evidence of habitable conditions in the ancient past. Seubert was introduced to the world of spacecraft navigation in her role as an astrodynamics researcher at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Kihei, a job that altered her own trajectory.
“Engaging women is critical to advancing our technological capabilities in today’s ever-evolving world,” said Seubert. “In developing cutting-edge technologies, diversifying teams is a great way to maximize outside-the-box thinking to bring forth novel ideas and better solutions.”
Yanping Guo, Mission Design and Navigation Manager, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), also believes women represent great potential in science and technology. “I designed the New Horizons mission trajectory to Pluto and then to Ultima Thule, the farthest object in the Solar System visited by a spacecraft. New Horizons flew by Pluto and sent back detailed images for the first time of the astonishing heart-shaped feature on Pluto’s surface!”
Guo also designed the trajectory for the Parker Solar Probe, enabling the NASA robotic spacecraft to get close to the outer corona of the Sun. The goals for the mission are to unlock the mysteries of the corona by tracing the flow of energy that heats and accelerates the solar corona and solar wind. Guo concluded, “It’s all STEM (science, technology, engineering mathematics), and women are steadily advancing to the forefront of 21st century workforce demands.”
It’s an exciting time for women in technology!
Jill Seubert, Navigation Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Feb 13, 2019 | Education, Stemworks
The STEMworks™ Summer Internship, the flagship program of the Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Women in Technology Project (WIT), provides work-based learning opportunities that help build critical and creative thinking. The internship program prepares students for a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) career by providing real world opportunities to develop meaningful projects. STEMworks™ students are matched with a host company based on the company’s project needs, and the skills of the student.
Summer internships in 2019 will run from June 10 through July 18 and applicants must be STEMworks™ participating high school students. Students can apply from March 18, 2019 and until May 9. Students will be notified of their application status by May 17. For more information, go to http://stemworkshawaii.org/internships Last year, thirty-one high school students representing the most promising STEM talent across the state presented their innovative projects at the STEMworks™ Summer Internship Showcase, highlighting the experiences they had with their host company mentors.
Hadassa Ballarta, Maui High School, interning as a programmer at Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), said, “My project with AFRL consisted of scripting a planetarium presentation that incorporated the culture of Polynesian way-finding. In doing so, I was able to learn a new programming language and gain a better understanding of the stars above us and, overall, our universe.This internship has made me aware of new job possibilities and fields that I never knew existed!”
Tehya Purdy-Yamane, King Kekaulike High School, interning as a GIS specialist at the MEDB-Maui County Healthcare Partnership, said, “For my STEMworks™ Internship I worked with data from different Maui County medical facilities and compiled them into files that would later be uploaded and imported to a medical map as data points on ArcGIS. My mentor and I created a story map that is easy to operate and understand when someone is looking for a certain medical field, being anything from physical therapy to hospice.”
MEDB’s summer internships were enhanced with weekly professional speakers and training sessions as well as STEMworks™ “LIVE” webinars designed to inspire and build student’s professional skills.
Lalaine Pasion, WIT Project Manager
Feb 6, 2019 | Community
Maui County cancer patients and their families have a place of “Hope” on Oahu. The Clarence T.C. Ching Hope Lodge Hawaii, funded through the American Cancer Society (ACS), provides extended stay facilities to those involved in cancer treatments and their caregivers.
“At the 2018 ACS HopeFest event, all net proceeds benefited the Lodge, a free accommodation where guests can rest in their private rooms or connect with others who understand their struggle,” said Cathy Alsup, Executive Director, ACS Hawaii Pacific. “Since opening in 2016, the $12 million facility, built by ACS, has provided approximately 8,000 nights of free lodging to patients from Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa.”
Tyson Miyake, HopeFest co-chair, explained, “A home away from home, Hope Lodge is more than just a roof over their heads. It’s a nurturing community that helps all Maui County patients access the care they need as well as a nurturing environment. Amenities include 20 private guest rooms with baths, common dining and kitchen areas, laundry facilities, and more. A stay at Hope Lodge eliminates many emotional and financial concerns, allowing patients to focus on getting well.”
Maui resident and ACS volunteer Sarah Shim added, “ACS imagines a world free from cancer! They’ve invested more than 4.6 billion dollars in cancer research since 1946, all to find more and better treatments, uncover factors that may cause cancer, and improve cancer patients’ quality of life. Whether conducting research or funding it, the goal remains the same: to free the world from the pain and suffering from cancer.”
Maui resident and guest at Hope Lodge Louise Corpuz concluded, “There are extraordinary people at Hope Lodge. I stayed there for one night before my operation. However, my son and daughter were guests for a week while I was in the hospital. I am thankful, grateful and blessed to have received the helpful family support from these wonderful people. It is so kind to help a family when one member is hospitalized. I send the Hope Lodge community many mahalo’s from Maui County.” Visit Hope Lodge Hawaii online for more information.
It’s hard on neighbor-island cancer patients who must travel to Oahu for treatment. The free lodging facility takes much stress off patients and their families.
Cathy Alsup, Executive Director, American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific
Jan 30, 2019 | Community
The Nisei Veterans Memorial Center recently hosted a book-signing and talk by “The Go For Broke Spirit: Portraits of Courage” photographer Shane Sato. Over 18 years in the making, Sato’s coffee-table book is the second in a collection of poignant images of the Nisei (Japanese descent born in the United States) who fought for America in WWII. The 184-page, hardcover volume contains pictures of over 80 Japanese-American WWII veterans, and artistically captures, in a way not many have seen, the wide range of emotions Japanese-Americans felt after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The story of the Nisei is inspiring, and each portrait is accompanied by candid photos and a short story.
“It was a privilege to talk story with numerous Nisei veterans,” said Sato. “My hope is to share the lives of the Nisei with future generations, so their accomplishments and history are not forgotten. While they were most recognized for their achievements during wartime, they did not let WWII define their entire lives. Once home, the veterans continued to work for the betterment of the Maui community, establishing a legacy of civilian service.
In 2018, Nisei marked the 75th anniversary of the loyalty, courage and sacrifice of WWII’s 442nd and the 100th Infantry Battalion. The two units merged and formed a single infantry regiment. Together, they became the most decorated unit of its size and length of service in the history of the United States Army, demonstrating the importance of working together and depending on each other.
During his presentation, Sato discussed the creation of the book, his ties to the Nisei community, and stories shared by the veterans during the photography sessions. “Having Sansei and Nisei parents, one from Hawaii and the other from the U.S. mainland, has given me a unique perspective for my Japanese-American book series,” Sato said. “During WWII the Nisei soldiers inspired America and showed the world what it meant to ‘go for broke’. Then, they continued to lead in the community with the strength of their character and the integrity of their actions. Theirs is a triumphant story in American history!”
It is my turn to carry the torch by retelling the Nisei stories for the next generation to know about their heroes. My book inspires and energizes readers to begin their own journeys of discovery, to find the heroes within themselves.
Shane Sato, Author and Photographer
Jan 23, 2019 | Community
In 2014, Maui musician Irene Ryding graduated from the International Harp Therapy Program (IHTP). She took up the harp in 1998 after a series of surgeries to correct a congenital disorder in her spine. “Hearing about harp therapy, I was determined to learn more as a part of my rehabilitation,” Ryding said. “Then, awed by the personal benefits I received from the harp’s soothing timbre and spiritual associations, I felt called to share my discovery with others.”
Ryding moved to Maui in 2003 and immediately began playing harp professionally for weddings and other events. She is a Certified Harp Therapy Practitioner from the IHTP program credentialed by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians. Although she continues to play the harp publicly, she also volunteers in the Harps for Hospice program.
“Playing music in hospital and hospices is much more than entertainment and playing songs,” Ryding explained. “Research has shown that harp music reduces blood pressure and heart rate and that there are many subtleties with matching breathing tempos, moods, and ‘resonant tones’ that feel right or good to us. It can decrease pain by elevating endorphin levels, promoting relaxation, calm, and comfort.”
Therapeutic harpists use what they call ‘inclusive attention’, in which they tune into a person and look for clues such as eye movement, changes in muscle tension, or speech to find the resonant tone for the client. “We tune into people’s breathing, their mood and their surroundings to develop something that is really personal,” Ryding noted. “By watching someone’s breathing pattern, the practitioner can match it with a rhythmic meter, 2/4, 4/4, or 6/8. For example, playing along with the breathing rhythm helps to regulate it to a more desirable rate, affecting the well-being of the patient.”
Ryding concluded, “I want to study more about harp therapy because I believe it’s time to pay forward to others in need for all the wonderful opportunities and benefits that I have enjoyed through a lifetime of music.”
For information about weddings, harp lessons, and other special events visit: www.mauiharper.com.
The harp is specifically effective in therapeutic settings because it is the most resonant of all instruments. The plucked strings vibrate freely, which creates a unique series of overtones.
Irene Ryding, Harp Therapy Practitioner
Jan 16, 2019 | Innovation
A recent grantee of Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Ke Alahele Education Fund, Maui County 4-H Leaders Organization, provided a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) workshop for 4-H youth members using a hands-on learning approach.
“In partnership with Maui Makers, the two activities within the workshop used inquiry-based learning to engage the youth by incorporating STEM components such as aerodynamics, electricity, and engineering design,” explained Wendy Taomoto, 4-H club leader. “Additionally, invited professionals in the STEM field presented a discussion on career options and opportunities for our youth.”
Experts from the Maui Makerspace program acted as content specialists and presenters for the two experiments. “The Maui County 4-H program has worked with us in the past on an earlier project that introduced youth to the makerspace format and focused on skill building such as soldering and construction,” said Laura Ulibarri from Maui Makers. “Today’s event consisted of building and launching rockets and hands-on experiments with electricity.”
The paper rocket activity began with a brief introduction to the principles of aerodynamics. Participants used a basic design template for building paper rockets and then launched the rockets for testing, thereby gaining immediate feedback on how design modifications affect the height of their rocket flight. “Launching was fun,” said Kaitlin, an 8th grader from Kalama Intermediate School. “We were challenged to do something we didn’t think we could do.”
The electrical conductivity experiment started with a brief introduction to the principles of electric current. Sophia, a Maui Waena Intermediate School 8th grader explained, “We built and tested electrical meters that allowed us to determine which materials conduct electricity. By measuring how well different materials behave, we started to notice patterns in what acts as a conductor and how electricity flows from one thing to another.”
Nancy Ooki, University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Educator for 4-H and Youth Development, concluded, “Our relationship with MEDB and Women in Technology has allowed us to offer STEM programs for more than a decade. We look forward to many more of these events in the future.”
We thank MEDB’s Ke Alahele Education Fund for their grant and Maui Makers for providing STEM opportunities to our Maui County 4-H members. These events assist them in developing life skills needed to become contributing members of the community.
Wendy Taomoto, 4-H Club Leader
Jan 9, 2019 | Education, Stemworks
Growing up in Hawaii, Robert Kalei Miller, a geospatial information analyst at the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) in Kihei, was always interested in learning about geography and technology. His goal was to obtain a college degree in geospatial technologies with the hope of working on Maui, where he grew up. At King Kekaulike High School, under the guidance of Mrs. Emily Haines-Swatek, Miller joined Project EAST−now called STEMworks™, a program of Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Women in Technology Project.
“STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) gave me the opportunity to gain exposure in my interested career field,” said Miller. “For three consecutive summers, I was fortunate to work as a STEMworks™ Intern for the PDC, where I developed work skills and professional relationships. I learned more about geographic information systems and I discovered that I could turn my personal interest in geography into a real career.”
After graduating in 2013 from Portland State University in Oregon, Miller was offered a full-time position at PDC as a Geospatial Information Analyst. His job directly supports disaster efforts locally and internationally, and is a dream come true for him.
“Through MEDB’s STEM programs my career goals and dreams turned into reality,” Miller said. “MEDB’s educational programs provided me with an opportunity that many local youth continue to benefit from today. It is an honor to continue to work with MEDB and be one of the first recipients of the Jeanne Unemori Skog Leader & Entrepreneur (JUS) Fund. The Fund supports the next generation of visionaries through innovative programs, projects and other initiatives that develop future leaders and entrepreneurs to benefit the people of Maui County”
Miller’s JUS award allowed him to attend the two-day EMER-GEN Conference for young professionals, aged 35 and under, in the space industry. “This was a great opportunity to learn from renowned space specialists, network with industry peers, and learn professional skills,” he said. “The knowledge and experiences I gained from EMER-GEN will help me with my continued career growth.”
MEDB is committed to helping young professionals and students of all ages to achieve their dreams. They are a blessing to Maui County!
Robert Kalei Miller, Geospatial Information Analyst, Pacific Disaster Center
