Feb 25, 2015 | Small Business
Accu-Pest & Termite Control Services owner/operator Jerry Edlao has his hands full getting rid of pests for his customers, so he doesn’t have the time to tackle some of the pesky legal issues that affect his business. And that’s why the recent Legal Toolkit workshop was so valuable, he said. “I think that anyone who is a small business owner or thinking about becoming one needs to educate themselves on what (business) entity best fits their needs when doing business,” he said. “Taking advantage of workshops like this is essential to the success of a small business owner and his company.”
Maui Economic Development Board sponsored the “Legal Toolkit” workshop in partnership with legal experts in the field. Prominent corporate attorneys spoke at the workshop about a variety of issues from what to consider when drafting small business legal documents to how to protect a company’s name. Edlao signed up for the workshop with his daughter, Cyje, “to increase our knowledge of various forms of business entities. We hoped that the knowledge gained at the workshop would contribute to guiding us in making informed decisions toward changing our business structure.” And, he said, he was not disappointed. “The speakers were experienced, knowledgeable and possessed a genuine desire to help small business owners like myself … The most useful lesson I learned at the workshop was understanding the process to transition from one type of business entity to another form.” Edlao said his business is “committed to providing our customers with high-quality services by utilizing Integrated Pest Management Practices that do not compromise the safety of our customers, employees and environment.”
Feb 18, 2015 | Environment, Sustainability
Only 11 days remaining!
Share your priorities and values about energy on Maui – today and in the future – as part of a project called “MPowerMaui: An Energy Conversation”.
Sign up and participate in small group sessions during the month of February. These 90-minute sessions are designed to be engaging, interesting, and informative.
You will learn more about energy, think about your own actions related to energy, prioritize issues, consider what actions you would or would not support, and develop messages for decision makers. The results of these MPowerMaui conversations will be presented at the “Maui Energy Conference” to be held on March 25-26, 2015 and shared with decision makers.
We invite you to either host a session at your home, company or organization by bringing together 12-16 individuals and a MEDB representative will run the session … or sign up for a session that MEDB organizes.
For more information and to sign up to participate, please call 875-2336.
The MPowerMaui project is presented by the Maui Economic Development Board with sponsorship from the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development; State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) Energy Office; and the UH Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI).
Feb 4, 2015 | Community, Environment, Sustainability
Join the conversation!
Share your priorities and values about energy on Maui – today and in the future – as part of a project called “MPowerMaui: An Energy Conversation”.
Sign up and participate in small group sessions during the month of February. These 90-minute sessions are designed to be engaging, interesting, and informative.
You will learn more about energy, think about your own actions related to energy, prioritize issues, consider what actions you would or would not support, and develop messages for decision makers. The results of these MPowerMaui conversations will be presented at the “Maui Energy Conference” to be held on March 25-26, 2015 and reported to the community.
We invite you to either host a session at your home, company or organization by bringing together 12-16 individuals and a MEDB representative will run the session … or sign up for a session that MEDB organizes.
For more information and to sign up to participate, please call 875-2336.
The MPowerMaui project is presented by the Maui Economic Development Board with sponsorship from the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development; State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) Energy Office; and the UH Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI).
Jan 28, 2015 | Education, Environment, Sustainability
A coral reef monitoring project sounded like it could be fun for the Wailuku Roselani Na Hokulani 4-H Club. Member Kaitlyn Yamada says it was fun, but more importantly she and her fellow 4-Hers were able to master their skills in Google Earth applications as well the Global Positioning and Geographic Information Systems. They also learned the importance of a healthy coral reef. “This project allowed us to become aware of the balance between development and possible jobs and sustainable and green living in Maui County,” Yamada said. “When we began this project, we thought it was a fun idea, but later learned of the significance of gathering and understanding this data.”
A Ke Alahele Education Fund Grant administered by Maui Economic Development Board provided the 4-H Club camera and computer equipment they needed to create coral reef maps at Olowalu and Maalaea. Their task was to establish the baseline reef conditions by teaming up on paddle boards and video taping conditions with GoPro cameras. On shore, the eight club members in grades 8 to 10 tracked their findings on a computer funded by Ke Alahele. Coral reefs worldwide are declining due to various stressors including ocean acidification, sedimentation, over-fishing and near-shore development, according to the club’s grant application. “We were inspired to think of all of the factors that could affect the health of our coral reef. We learned the importance of coral reefs to the health of our island concerns,” Yamada said.
The club’s 4-H leader, Joyce Yamada, said she saw the girls apply skills in science, technology, engineering and math. “STEM skills are integrated in every job and industry. Our members need to be prepared for, and aware of, these opportunities as they become productive members of our community,” Joyce Yamada said. “The confidence that they build as they master these skills will allow our girls to believe in their abilities and become our next generation of inventors, scientists, engineers and members of a community that cares for their environment.”
Jan 21, 2015 | Environment, Events, Sustainability
With island consumers paying more than double the national average per kilowatt hour for electricity, the second Maui Energy Conference + Exhibition comes at a time when Hawaii is seeing a revolutionary shift to renewable energy resources. The conference, presented by the County of Maui in partnership with Maui Economic Development Board, will be held March 25-27 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The event is expected to draw individuals and businesses from across the state and the country.
At the inaugural 2014 conference, more than 200 recognized policy makers from state and federal government and the private sector gathered to talk candidly about the country’s changing energy landscape and its implications for power utilities and consumers. This time around, the 2015 event promises to explore the evolving role of the electric utility through the lens of the customer. Nationally recognized experts have been invited to speak about emerging trends in the electric utility industry and public policy shaping customer choices including customer engagement programs, distributed generation, microgrids, demand-response programs and renewables integration.
NextEra Energy Transmission President Eric Gleason and HECO President and CEO Alan Oshima have been tapped to give keynote remarks on the opening day of the conference. Hawaiian Electric and the Florida-based NextEra Energy announced a $4.3 billion merger late last year. The conference will also feature multiple sessions with a variety of panelists talking about a range of subjects from meeting the customer’s needs to both self-generate and manage electricity usage to protecting consumers in the new energy/customer choice paradigm. The conference is also offering sponsorship opportunities for companies and exhibit spaces for public and private groups to display products and services. An optional Maui Sustainability Mobile Workshop featuring the Smart Grid Demonstration Project, JumpSmartMaui, will be held on the final day of the conference. Conference fee is $395 prior to Feb. 15; $495 after Feb. 15; and $525 on site. The fee covers admittance to general sessions, exhibit venue, networking exhibit reception, continental breakfast and lunch for two days, and conference materials.
For more information, please visit MauiEnergyConference.com
Jan 14, 2015 | Education
The Maui Food Technology Center is moving forward this year with sponsoring its second trade show for manufacturers and entrepreneurs in the food industry. The inaugural Supply and Service Expo drew nearly 500 attendees and 50 exhibitors when first held in February 2014. This time around the event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. February 18 at the Hannibal Tavares Center in Pukalani.
“This Expo was a perfect forum for Maui’s food production industry’s various shareholders to come together under one roof to share ideas and concerns,” said Tai Kahn, Lab Director of FQLabs who attended the 2014 event. “It gave everyone an opportunity to meet the regulators, growers, processors, technical experts and various vendors that provide services and supplies to the food industry.” The 2015 event is looking for exhibitors who are manufacturers and distributors of food, ingredients, equipment and packing supplies; dealers, brokers and traders; and business services and educational groups that work with the food and hospitality industries. Vendors can pay a $100 exhibitor fee prior to January 18, $150 for late registration. The fee may be waived for qualified non-profits. For more information, visit www.MauiFoodTechnology.org, or call 888-948-6382.
Individuals attending the 2015 Expo can expect to meet and learn from experts in the field. There are also opportunities for new and existing businesses to network and seek ideas for expanding and/or rebranding. Those expected to attend include representatives from delis and bakeries, specialty stores, gourmet product distribution and agricultural businesses. The Maui Food Technology Center is an organization dedicated to growing Hawaii’s food industry and connecting students, food producers and farmers through the practice of food science. The Maui Economic Development Board is a founding member of the Maui Food Technology Center, and MEDB President and CEO Jeanne Skog serves on its board of directors.
Jan 7, 2015 | Small Business
In an effort to give small businesses a lift in 2015, Maui Economic Development Board has partnered with experienced corporate attorneys to present “Legal Toolkit.” The seminar is set for 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, January 15, at MEDB’s Malcolm Center. Admission is $20 to hear prominent corporate attorneys for startup businesses discuss issues such as a business’ most advantageous corporate entity, what to consider when drafting small business legal documents, how to protect a company name and how to reduce tax liabilities.
“This seminar is aimed at helping entrepreneurs succeed in Maui’s challenging small business environment,” said MEDB Director of Business Development Gerry Smith. “Our panel of legal experts will show us how to avoid the legal pitfalls that can drain a business person of valuable time and resources, if not threaten the enterprise itself. This is an opportunity not to be missed,” Smith said.
The “Legal Toolkit” panel includes: Gregory Kim, partner at Convergent Law Group, LLP, a Silicon Valley-based firm focusing on technology companies; Chris Mashiba, partner in the Tax Department of Cades Schutte, a Honolulu-based law firm; Darren Nunn, a partner in the Corporate and Public Finance groups at McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon in Honolulu, and Catherine A. Taschner, an associate in the transactional department at McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The seminar goes from 9 to 10:45 a.m. followed by two small group breakout sessions from 11-11:45 a.m. and then 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Topics at the breakout sessions are: “Getting the capital you need: Crowdfunding, Angel Investment and other tools”; “Tax considerations for small business: Keeping more of your money”; “Intellectual property for small business: Don’t let your crown jewels go away”; “When the rubber hits the road: Managing decisions and disputes within your ‘S’ company or LLC.”
Legal Toolkit is part of MEDB’s ongoing effort to support small businesses and improve their chances for success and job creation. You can download the flyer. To register, go to https://www.hightechmaui.com/confregister/1_form-legaltoolkit.cfm. For more information, go to https://hightechmaui.com/legal-toolkit-for-small-businesses/ or call MEDB at 875-2300.
Dec 31, 2014 | Community
The descendants of the late Rev. Sokyo Ueoka and his wife, Tomiyo Waki Ueoka, have marked the New Year season on Maui for nearly 100 years with the Japanese tradition of mochi pounding. In the year 2014, the tradition continued with more than 100 relatives gathering in Paia on the grounds of the temple, “Bachozan Mantokuji,” which the minister founded. “Everyone knows that the Saturday after Christmas, you don’t make any plans because it’s reserved for mochi pounding,” said 50-year-old Kevin Kimizuka, a fourth-generation Ueoka and oldest child of the 3rd generation matriarch of the family, Shirley Ann Kimizuka. “This is what we do as a family. It’s what we’ve always done.”
As a child growing up, Kimizuka watched his grandfather, the late Robert Ueoka – the Ueokas’ second oldest of 10 – measure the batches of sweet mochi rice year after year. Kimizuka has since assumed what he calls “the easiest job” in mochi pounding. Each batch of rice – weighs seven pounds – and every grain is washed and soaked overnight. On the day of mochi pounding, the rice is measured and then placed into handmade steam boxes. After steaming, the mochi is mashed by the Ueoka men. It’s then followed by one man pounding with a wooden mallet while another turns the mochi in an usu (deep bowl) between pounds and sprinkles water on the mochi. When the mochi is smooth, the hot batch is placed on a table where the Ueoka women cut and shape the mochi into balls. Soon after, the women brush off the excess potato starch on the mochi and they fit them into containers for each family. The Ueokas traditionally make three types of mochi – “okasane,” which is used as an offering for their altar; “komochi” or plain, which is placed in a soup made on New Year’s Day; and “an” which is filled with red beans. Shirley Ann Kimizuka said she could not imagine a New Year celebration without mochi pounding. “We all look forward to it. We grew up with it and it’s a part of our life that means a lot to us.”
Dec 24, 2014 | Community
As we prepare for the arrival of 2015, Focus Maui Nui takes a detour from featuring local people, students, teachers and businesses. Today we revisit its roots by urging everyone to recommit to Focus Maui Nui’s five key strategies for action – Improve Education; Protect the Environment, including our water resources; Address Infrastructure Challenges, especially housing and transportation; Adopt targeted economic development strategies; Preserve local culture and address community health concerns such as substance abuse.
Give to Maui Nui
❄ adopt a Robotics team ❄ volunteer as a tutor in science, technology, engineering and math ❄ read a book to your child ❄ provide a teacher with supplies for students ❄ volunteer at a school or a nonprofit ❄ support a Hawaiian language immersion program ❄ become a “big” and adopt a “little” ❄ tutor a child in an after-school program ❄ clean up a roadside ❄ recycle ❄ take a reusable shopping bag for your purchases ❄ donate gently used items to a rummage sale ❄ walk ❄ ride a bike ❄ plant a tree ❄ turn off unused lights ❄ ride the Maui Bus ❄ attend a public hearing of your choice ❄ write or call your elected representative ❄ mentor a small business ❄ eat Maui-grown onions ❄ take a ‘staycation’ ❄ buy a locally made jam ❄ seek out Made on Maui products ❄ buy a book by a local author ❄ learn to hula ❄ speak Hawaiian ❄ track key decision making on a policy ❄ participate in a public hearing ❄ watch public TV ❄ donate to a fundraiser ❄ schedule an annual checkup with your doctor ❄ treat your guests to an agri-tourism site ❄ attend a cultural event ❄ quit smoking ❄ exercise 30 minutes per day, five days a week ❄ eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables ❄
Some ideas from us…Share yours with us below!
Happy Holidays from Focus Maui Nui!
Dec 17, 2014 | Education, Innovation
Kalama Intermediate School librarian Jody Brown said she underestimated the challenge of starting a robotics club yet still reaped rewards beyond her expectations. Thanks to a Ke Alahele Education Fund grant from the Maui Economic Development Board, Brown said she had “an amazingly positive experience. … I’m hooked. I’m ready for the next season.”
She said she found coding and building Web sites enjoyable and “naively thought this would translate well into starting a robotics club.” Brown quickly learned that there’s a lot more involved. “Luckily, my students had a variety of backgrounds and experiences and we all spent time teaching each other what we know so far.” Brown said she chose a platform based on training she received in August. “I got some free VEX IQ equipment at the training and bought a lot more with my Ke Alahele grant,” she said. She created two teams at Kalama Intermediate, one with four students and another with five. Both teams were eventually able to design and build a robot. For programming, the club used Modkit for VEX IQ, a free online program that offers a visual programming platform using color-coded and shape-coded boxes. The Kalama teams competed in the December 5-6 VEX IQ competition at Iao Intermediate School.
“The competition itself was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” she said. “The hosts and other teams welcomed us ‘newbies’ with open arms and helped us overcome a mountain of problems, including troubleshooting our robot brain. It turns out they were able to determine that one of the brains we bought was completely non-functioning.” The Kalama students did not take the overall award in their first competition, but they did reach the final rounds of play and were selected for the Inspire Award for innovative robot design. “Both of those accomplishments were more than I could have ever asked for or imagined,” Brown said. “It has been a delightfully rewarding activity!”
