Jul 11, 2018 | Education, Innovation, Stemworks
A recent talk at the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy focused on Listening to Planetary Orbits. Dan Tepfer, master pianist and astrophysicist, said to a captivated audience, “With most things, I’ve found, what’s very interesting is not the thing in itself, but rather its relationship to other things. Everything is relative, which is why harmony, pitch, and rhythm are so stunning in the relationships among the orbits of the planets around Trappist-1, a dwarf star about 40 light years away from us.”
Tepfer told how it is only in the past 25 years that we have been able to detect planets in orbit around stars other than our own, by measuring faint dips in a star’s brightness as planets pass in front of it. What makes the Trappist-1 system unusual is the existence of harmonious relationships among its planetary orbits. The farthest planet completes an orbit every 18 Earth days and the next farthest once every 12. Tepfer explained, “In the time it takes the farthest planet to go twice around the star, the next farthest has gone around three times. This same ratio can be expressed as a musical interval, which allows us to hear the structure of the planetary system.” In other words, we can listen not only to our own solar system, but to other planetary systems as well. Tepfer used a sound synthesizer to play this and other orbital harmonic intervals for the audience, an unforgettable experience for many of those present.
“We hear sound when the air around us vibrates and those vibrations reach our ears. Vibrations are like orbits: they repeat at a certain frequency,” Tepfer said. “With the Trappist-1 system, it is not only the outer two planets that orbit in resonant harmonic relationships. Surprisingly, all seven do—the only planetary system discovered so far with so many resonant orbits. Without approximating the orbits in any way, by just presenting the data scaled up to our range of hearing, we hear what we readily identify as harmonious music.”
Trappist-1 is located 39.6 light-years from the Sun in the constellation Aquarius. Seven terrestrial planets have been detected orbiting the star, a larger number than detected in any other planetary system.
Dan Tepfer, Astrophysicist and Master Pianist
Jul 4, 2018 | Education, Stemworks
On Saturday, August 25, 2018, Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) will hold their annual Ke Alahele Education Fund Benefit Dinner & Auction, I ♥ STEM, at the Grand Wailea Resort to celebrate the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) achievements of students in Maui County and statewide. “The Ke Alahele funds provide state-of-the-art technology tools for our students and training for our teachers, investments that will make a difference in the lives of our residents and our community,” said Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO. “MEDB partners with the private, public and nonprofit sectors to reach its goal of helping the next generation soar into the future.”
MEDB recently announced that recipients received Ke Alahele Education Fund STEM grants totaling more than $142,000 during the 2017-2018 school year. The Ke Alahele event celebrates the Fund’s impressive giving which enhances education and training. MEDB will also present the Daniel K. Inouye (DKI) Innovation Award honoring the late Senator who inspired our youth and provided STEM opportunities throughout Hawaii.
“The DKI awards are presented to a Maui County student or team that demonstrates the most innovative use of STEM tools to improve our community,” Wilkins explained. “Students select a societal issue and then, by using sophisticated technology and possibly inventing their own tools, they create a real solution to address the community challenge.”
Agreeing, Curtis Tom, Maui County Senior Vice President Bank of Hawaii and Chair of the MEDB Education Fund, said, “Jobs today and in the future depend on the preparation of our students in critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity—all skills nurtured by STEM education. Those who support the MEDB Ke Alahele Fund through our annual fundraiser are helping to make this investment in our state’s future workforce.”
This year’s popular “Apples for Education” Silent and Live Auctions offers a great opportunity for donors to showcase their products and services to the 550+ guests, and for both donors and guests to contribute to a great cause! For more information call (808) 875-2300 or email cari@medb.org.
The MEDB Ke Alahele Education Fund Benefit Dinner & Auction will begin at 4:30 pm, followed by Dinner and Live Auction at 6 pm. Please join us!
Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President & CEO
Jun 27, 2018 | Community
Ramsay Taum, a speaker at the 2nd Annual Hawaii Small Business Conference, wowed the audience with his talk on the integration of Native Hawaiian cultural values and principles as a key to effective service in business. Taum, an internationally recognized cultural resource speaker, lecturer, trainer and facilitator, promotes sustainable practices based on Hawaiian stewardship principles. He is the founder and president of Life Enhancement Institute of the Pacific; and Director of External Relations & Community Partnerships at the University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management.
“Aloha is a way of being, a way of behaving,” Taum said. “Aloha is more than a greeting. It is the art and spirit of giving and receiving. It is to give and not expect anything in return, and to receive and not forget to give back. It speaks of sustainability and reciprocity, rights and privileges, responsibilities and obligations. We must act ourselves into these new ways of thinking.”
Mentored and trained by respected kupuna (elders), Taum is a practitioner and instructor of several Native Hawaiian practices and sits on numerous advisory boards. He advocates team building, strategic partnerships, community brilliance and creative thinking. He graduated from the Kamehameha Schools, attended the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, and earned a B.S. degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. Taum is especially effective working with Hawaii’s travel, leisure, and retail industry where he integrates Native Hawaiian values and principles into contemporary business practices.
“Before manifesting any idea, declare the context of aloha for the idea!” Taum exclaimed. “You have to live aloha, share aloha and be aloha! Service, mana, and aloha are more than words. It’s the way we use those terms that matters most. For example, saying mahalo means more than just thank you. It means we are connected by commitment.”
Taum concluded, “Ha in the words aloha and mahalo is the breath that connects us all. Knowing that Ha is the spirit of the air that we all share, we realize we are connected to the spirit of the community, and the spirit of everything.”
A high-integrity, values-driven business model based on true Hawaiian values is the key to success.
Ramsay Taum, Life Enhancement Institute of the Pacific
Jun 20, 2018 | Education, Innovation, Stemworks
Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Women in Technology Program (WIT) recently presented their 2nd Introduce a Girl to Astronomy Day (IGAD) for Maui girls, grades 7-8. For the past decade, MEDB and WIT have been at the forefront of providing cutting-edge STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) programs across the state to meet 21st century workforce demands. “IGAD stimulates girls’ interest in astronomy as a viable and exciting career choice that requires STEM education,” said WIT Project Manager Mapu Quitazol. “It’s important to expose our girls to endless STEM opportunities and build their confidence level to know they can achieve their dreams.”
Dr. J. D. Armstrong, Maui Technology Education and Outreach Specialist at University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, agreed, “It is important to develop future leaders in our planning for Maui’s future. For example, during IGAD the students learned about the Faulkes Telescope North, a two-meter-aperture telescope that can be accessed over the internet by any students in Hawaii and globally for their science projects. Owned and operated by Las Cumbres Observatory, this unique worldwide network of robotic telescopes engages students in real science via their computers. They become active participants in a range of astronomical research projects, from observations of the solar system to distant stars and galaxies.”
Krystle Dunn, science teacher from Lahaina Intermediate, said, “I was impressed by the variety of information that students got to take in: astronomy, satellites, telescopes and hands-on activities with sensors. One of my students learned that being a part of the Air Force doesn’t always mean you have to be in combat–you can be involved through technology and other STEM fields. Many students made connections that might directly impact their future decisions.”
Jaycie Iha, Maui Waena Intermediate student, concluded, “I’m so grateful to MEDB and WIT for this chance to learn more about astronomy and engineering. IGAD was such an extraordinary and valuable experience. After visiting the observatories, I see there are opportunities for girls on Maui to reach for the stars!”
Seventy-five middle school girls from Maui County enjoyed learning about optics by touring the Maui Surveillance Space System facilities atop Haleakala.
Mapu Quitazol, MEDB WIT Program Director
Jun 13, 2018 | Community
Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), in collaboration with Maui County’s Office of Economic Development, presented the 2nd Annual Hawaii Small Business Conference (HSBC) at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in May. The conference attracted over 200 people who heard from approximately 20 national and local business leaders and successful business owners during the two-day conference and workshops.
“We were thrilled with the diversity of attendees who truly reflected our small business community,” said Leslie Wilkins, MEDB President and CEO. “The HSBC aims to provide timely strategies to re-energize small businesses on their path to success. Everyone came to learn, share, network, and do business together.”
This year’s theme, Plan, Build, Grow: Mapping A Pathway to Success, emphasized taking any business, one-person or large-size company, to the next level. Diversity also described the topics that were covered: employer and customer engagement, staffing for success, scaling one’s business, shaping a plan for growth, keeping your business relevant, establishing a social media strategy, when to pivot a business, tax strategies, living aloha in business, and how to select and protect a company trademark.
Keynote speaker Karen McCullough, a well-known customer and employee engagement expert, discussed how organizations and leaders can cut through generational stereotypes by leveraging their team’s strengths, and enriching the work environment for better results. Additionally, McCullough’s topic, Going Beyond Your Brand—Delivering WOW Service, focused on how “your brand is the core of your company, the heart of your business, the soul of your culture and the foundation for a great customer experience.”
In a Talk Story session, Ashley Takitani Leahey, co-owner and Marketing Director of Maui Thing, shared the company’s story and what drives their success. “Our brand portrays the essence of living on the Valley Isle and is built on our slogan, Stuck on Good,” Leahey said. “We follow these guidelines: Build your brand; Create experiences; Track and analyze; Collaborate and listen; Work towards community partnerships and Mix your products with events. Whatever your business, if you’re passionate and believe in what you’re marketing, you’ll be successful!”
Maui Thing started in 2007, selling shirts online and in the office. In 2008 we opened the Wailuku store creating memories built by friends, family, and our community.
Ashley Takitani Leahey, Co-Owner & Marketing Director, Maui Thing, Wailuku
Jun 6, 2018 | Education
Dr. Paul Schumacher, Principal Investigator in Astrodynamics for Space Situational Awareness, Air Force Research Laboratory in Maui, recently gave a talk at the Institute for Astronomy in Pukalani, about the future of the satellite catalog. In recent years, the increasing numbers of objects in space has made the job of monitoring them more challenging—and more essential. “Many persons do not know that the U.S. military carries on an extensive world-wide satellite tracking operation to maintain a complete inventory, or catalog, of all known man-made objects in orbit around the Earth,” Schumacher explained. “Besides its military applications, the satellite catalog serves a variety of commercial, civil and even diplomatic functions. At present, more than 20,000 objects are being tracked routinely.”
The launch of Sputnik in 1957 marked the beginning of the Space Age. It also marked the beginning of a space race that brought a remarkable rate of rocket launches. “This created a host of strategic challenges, including the need for space surveillance,” Schumacher noted. “These needs led to the establishment of a mission to maintain a catalog of all Earth-orbiting objects, active payloads, rocket bodies, and debris, along with detailed information about trajectory and point of origin. Tracking space objects promotes space flight safety, protection of the space environment and the peaceful use of space worldwide. We reduce the risk of collision by sharing information with Governmental and commercial satellite operators, U.S. allies and others.”
The growth of the satellite catalog will certainly trigger a greater number of collision-risk alerts. Proper response to these alerts will require greater confidence in predictions along with better decision-making. Certainly, the space pioneers never envisioned that the vast majority of orbiting objects would be debris, nor would they have envisioned that alerting satellite operators about potential collisions would be a full-time job. “Nevertheless, this is the environment in which satellites currently operate,” Schumacher concluded. “A robust catalog and space surveillance tracking network are the cornerstones for ensuring a safe operational environment in space.”
The future satellite catalog is a topic that Dr. Schumacher and others often discuss at MEDB’s annual Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference. Satellites are essential to the technology we use in our everyday lives.
Sandy Ryan, Maui Economic Development Board Program and Conference Director
May 30, 2018 | Community, Education
Founded on the values and priorities for Maui County’s future as articulated by Maui County’s residents through the Decisions Maui and Focus Maui Nui visioning processes, Ka Ipu Kukui Fellows is a year-long program dedicated to preparing community-nominated young leaders for the unique challenges and opportunities in Maui County. To date, over 100 accomplished professionals have graduated from the program. The current Fellows are a diverse cross-section of residents drawn from business, government, academia, and nonprofit organizations. Each month, the program offers halawai (meetings) focused on in-depth introductions to Maui County’s infrastructure and array of community leaders coupled with workshops to expand leadership skills.
Last December, Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) hosted Project Weekend, an intense, team-based experience in which the Fellows go hands-on to create a community project. “MEDB was thrilled to guide the Fellows as they navigated the many layers of project development. It was fun to see the concepts unfold as the Fellows gained a first-hand understanding of what it takes to turn their idea into a viable community-based project,” shared Amber Hardwick, Ka Ipu Kukui alumna and MEDB’s lead on Project Weekend.
“What I went through was so valuable because it allowed me to realize that even though I have these fears going into it, none of that came about because we had such a great team that we just persevered together and created something that was even more special than I originally thought we could do,” said Snehal Patel who came up with the idea for the winning project called ‘We The People’. “Moving forward we are going to see if we can proceed with our project as a pilot program.”
“I enjoyed the collaboration,” said Sayble Bissen. “We got to learn a lot about how our co-worker Fellows think and how they see Maui as a whole and what can be done to help.” Discussing the future of her team’s project called Literacy for Financial Education (L.I.F.E), Sayble added “Our plan is to hopefully to follow through with our project – I am pretty positive that it can happen.”
As this year’s cohort celebrates their May graduation, Ka Ipu Kukui is accepting applications for the 2018-19 program. Learn more at http://www.kikfellows.org/
I think that we all have such great ideas, and Project Weekend helped us to execute that into a real live MVP (Minimum Viable Project), which I never knew about before going through this process.
Snehal Patel
May 23, 2018 | Environment, Sustainability
Mark Ware and Shauna Ault of Ohm Energy Technologies, Inc., exhibitors at the 2018 Maui Energy Conference, provide the technical acumen and business management for their family-run company. “Maui called us several years ago, prompting us to create a business that would serve the Hawaii community,” said Shauna Ault. “In 2016, Ohm Energy Technologies relocated from Idaho to Hawaii, to further serve a market experiencing high electricity costs. We are making significant impacts in reducing the consumption of electricity, thus reducing the amount of petroleum fuels burned, as well as saving our customers a significant amount of money on their electricity costs. Hawaii has an aggressive energy efficiency promotion policy, with targets of 100 percent renewable sources of generation by the year 2045. Currently, however, Hawaii still generates approximately 60 percent of its electricity by burning petroleum-based fuels.”
Ohm was established in 2014 to facilitate sales and installation of energy efficiency equipment in a variety of markets. Their primary product, The Powerhouse, was developed by an electrician as a prototype in 2002. It was so successful that it was quickly scaled up to small commercial application. Demand from larger facilities followed. Currently designed for commercial and industrial installations, The Powerhouse has reduced electricity bills by 10, 20, and even 30+ percent, depending on existing efficiency and types of equipment.
“In 2017, Ohm collaborated with manufacturers in California and Maine to develop the next generation of Powerhouse technology: a variable-capacitance system that dynamically adjusts to electricity demand, and a digital internet-accessible monitoring system for rapid access to data and control,” Ault explained. “These systems are now installed in an expanded market on Oahu and Maui, maximizing kilowatt reductions while continuing to provide all other benefits of The Powerhouse. Additional technologies we can implement include state-of-the-art LED lighting for commercial and municipal settings, solar LED street lamps, variable-frequency drives, and harmonic distortion control equipment. With this portfolio of energy efficiency solutions, Ohm Energy Technologies is well positioned to solve many of our energy concerns today, and into the future.”
Hawaii has been our strongest market to date; however, The Powerhouse has been installed in over 700 facilities in the U.S. mainland and Canada.
Shauna Ault, Ohm Energy Technologies, Inc.
May 16, 2018 | Education, Innovation, Stemworks
The Maunakea Scholars program, launched in 2015, created an official partnership between the Hawai’i State Department of Education (DOE), the University of Hawai’i, and Maunakea Observatories. Designed to bring Hawai’i’s high school students into one of the world’s most advanced observatory communities, the program’s third group of student astronomers are working with 10 participating international telescopes. Contributing to an innovative STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) curriculum, the Maunakea Scholars provide amazing opportunities to the next generation.
The program pairs a professional astronomy mentor with students in each participating school to coach them through the process of interpreting astronomy data and crafting an original research application. The proposals are submitted to a time-allocation community for consideration, and projects are awarded highly valuable time on participating telescopes, based on the viability of the proposals.
“King Kekaulike is the first Maui school to participate in the Maunakea Scholars program,” said Emily Haines-Swatek, King Kekaulike High School MEDB STEMworks™ AFTERschool teacher. “STEMworks™ students submitted proposals to receive telescope time to conduct real research on an astronomical study of their choice. The Maunakea Scholars program partners with schools to provide observation time and summit tours. Twenty-two King Kekaulike students submitted proposals and seven students were granted telescope time during an awards ceremony on February 14th.” The King Kekaulike Maunakea Scholars and their projects are: Quinton Uradomo on Dark Matter; Janine Harris on Cepheid Magnitude Periods; Quentin Beamer on White Dwarf Formation Temperatures; Ryan Siarot and Thorren Rebiguo on Observing Asteroid Colors to Determine Composition; and Caroline Stevenson and Kayla Wholers on Deep into the Storm. The latter was awarded time on two telescopes, Las Cumbres and Canada-France-Hawai’i Telescope (CFHT).
Haines-Swatek became involved with the Maunakea Scholars after meeting with DOE and CFHT representatives at the 2017 Hawaii STEM Conference. “Because of the proximity to the Institute for Astronomy and the STEMworks™ electives taught at King Kekaulike, we make a perfect fit for the program,” she said. “The project stretched my student’s understanding of astronomy and pushed them to dream of something much larger than themselves. They are looking forward to conducting their research!”
Throughout the year, the Maunakea Scholars program supports each classroom with educational resources, including an integrated indigenous Hawaiian perspective on modern science education, led by ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai’i.
Emily Haines-Swatek, King Kekaulike High School, MEDB STEMworks™ AFTERschool Teacher
May 9, 2018 | Community
The world of American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), celebrated 53 years of soccer in 2017. Today, AYSO is a successful national and international organization, and is thriving in Hawaii. “The league is committed to the safe development and nurturing of all children,” said Francis Quitazol, Upcountry Maui AYSO soccer coach. “Our main goal is to develop and provide a positive experience for all keiki, promote fitness, teamwork, and the spirit of competition. As coach for AYSO girls, U6 (five and six years old), Quitazol found it very rewarding to watch the girls improve week after week of practice. “My coaching approach for these young girls was to keep it very simple and teach them the basic rules of the game,” he said. “One thing I enjoyed teaching them was the mental aspect of the game. I did this by asking each one of them before the game to show me their game face. At first, they thought a game face is supposed to be an angry expression, but I told them that it should be more of a reflection of their attitude as they prepare to compete. I explained to them that their game faces should convey both confidence and focus. My hope is that in the future they will take their game faces into a final exam or a big job interview and compete harder than they ever did on the soccer field.”
“We love being a soccer family!” said the Felicianos from Makawao. “AYSO’s mission works! They develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs. The season promoted a fun family environment based on AYSO philosophies of good sportsmanship, teamwork, positive coaching, and player development. We have seen the positive effect that soccer has had on our daughter, Moorea. She is learning the importance of exercise, plus all the benefits listed above. We encourage all parents to learn more about joining their local AYSO league, get the children playing, and the whole family out to the games.”
I didn’t even know how to pass or kick the ball when I first started. Now I play with my teammates and when we work together we can make a goal!
Moorea Winter Feliciano, Makawao School, Kindergarten
