Dec 10, 2014 | Education
A commitment to invest 60 minutes of time and energy into computer science has landed Iao Intermediate School a $10,000 prize and a chance to participate in an international campaign. The program is called Hour of Code and describes itself as a one-hour introduction designed to demystify computer science and show that anybody can learn the basics.
“It teaches the processes of thinking through problems and persevering to solve them,” said Steve Qunell, the Iao math and technology teacher who took the lead to apply for Hour of Code. Iao School participates in Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology Project program STEMworks™, which has been encouraging local schools to participate in Hour of Code. Iao School is the only campus in Hawaii chosen for the 2014 Computer Science Education Week program. “I was floored. I couldn’t believe it,” Qunell said in reaction to Hour of Code’s approval. “This is a fun event. I think everyone should be trying it.”
As this year’s data coordinator at Iao School, Qunell organized a plan that will allow for all 900 6th, 7th and 8th graders to participate in Hour of Code during their math classes. Students enrolled in technology courses will spend an additional 45 minutes in Hour of Code. Special education teachers have volunteered to continue an Hour of Code in their study skills classes, and faculty will use professional development time to engage in the program. Qunell has also reserved two computer labs for parent and community Code nights. “For our students, what we’re trying to do is make them college and career minded,” Qunell said. “All of us will have a chance to participate in Hour of Code and just improve our overall skills.” Qunell said he’s working with the Iao Math Department to identify needs that might be covered by the $10,000 prize. Some of the money may also be used for a Maker Lab and a Robotics Program.
Dec 3, 2014 | Small Business
With the holiday gift-giving season just around the corner, a Kula entrepreneur has found a way to take 100 percent recyclable and compostable newsprint from local presses, like The Maui News, add great patterns on wrapping paper and bring a smile to gift givers and receivers alike. “Renewable newsprint is an answer to the 4 million tons of trash attributed to gift wrap and shopping bags every year — a piece of newsprint can be recycled seven times,” said Sara Smith, founder and CEO of Wrappily. “Conventional wrapping paper can not be recycled on Maui, or anywhere in Hawaii, meaning every holiday season our landfills get inundated. With Wrappily, wasted wrapping paper can be composted in local gardens or recycled with newspapers.”
Smith launched her business a year ago, around Thanksgiving, with the help of startup incubator mBloom. Wrappily was founded to be a “smarter solution for our environment,” she said, “so being as eco-conscious and thoughtful as possible is our absolute. A close second is building and sustaining the communities in which we do business through supporting local jobs and nonprofit agencies.” Smith said she’s already seen her business have an impact on customers.
The recent Made in Maui County Festival helped Smith’s business by giving her some valuable exposure, she said. Frank R. De Rego Jr., director of Business Development Projects at Maui Economic Development Board, served on the Event Committee for the Made in Maui County Festival. Organizers said they planned to do a post-event survey with the 130-plus vendor participants, and that another festival for 2015 was very likely. Smith foresees immediate growth in her business on Maui and beyond. “Wrappily is designed to scale, in order to achieve our mission to be a solution to a global waste stream, we have to grow — swiftly,” she said. “While Maui is my and Wrappily’s home, we are actively expanding into the Pacific Northwest markets and have our sights set on California in 2015. Wrappily is designed to offer a ‘local’ product in every new area we move into.” For more information, go to wrappily.com.
Nov 26, 2014 | Education, Stemworks
Lanai middle and high school students appear to have a fast-growing interest in science and technology following a STEM camp held on their home island. “I would say the STEM Camp and experience has opened our students’ eyes to something they haven’t seen or experienced before,” said Counselor Beth Conroy Humphrey of Lanai High and Elementary School. “It’s definitely got them interested.”
Approximately 20 elementary and middle school students attended a two-day event spotlighting science, technology, engineering and math. Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology Project organized the event earlier this fall in partnership with Lanai School. “It was great and it gave our students a new interest and skills in something they didn’t even know they had,” Humphrey said. Students engaged in breakout sessions that included lessons on drones, coding and programming, Website development and recycling sustainability. A STEM Family Night was incorporated into the event with parents and students participating in hands-on, learning-based activities such as Ice Cream Engineering, iPad ScratchJr Coding and Mobile Proscope. Airport firefighter George Purdy helped facilitate the session on drones while his wife, Stacey, participated in STEM Family Night and supported their two children at the camp.
Purdy said the opportunity to participate in a STEM Camp like the one in October was a rare occurrence for Lanai families. “There’s just not that many activities readily available for Lanai children,” Purdy said. The camp provided students a chance to apply their classroom lessons in science and math to the STEM activities provided at the camp. “It just took our students’ learning to a whole new level.” Humphrey said the STEM camp has been influential on teachers who are incorporating more STEM-related activities in their classrooms. The interest is so great that Humphrey is planning a STEM Day for middle school students and families in December. “The parents and the students are both wanting to be more involved and get more STEM opportunities. It’s quite exciting,” she said.
Nov 19, 2014 | Small Business
Graphic design artist Lyndon Dela Cruz was amongst the 12 Molokai vendors attending the first-ever Made in Maui County Festival held November 7-8 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. “This is awesome. I’m learning a lot,” Dela Cruz said during a break between steady downpour and customers visiting him under a tent. The festival drew more than 9,000 people to the MACC where Dela Cruz said he grew more confident about his fledgling small business.
Supported by his family and his wife, Janis, Lyndon Dela Cruz launched Lanakila Designs two years ago on Molokai. He creates and produces customized graphic designs that can be placed on a variety of items from cars to coolers, water glasses to school folders, and even boats. The Dela Cruzes had built and closed other small businesses including a pet store and a moving and storage service. In every instance, Dela Cruz said he learned to adjust to the market and his customers’ needs while pursuing what he found fun and interesting. “You’re not going to know whether it’s a bad idea or not unless you try,” Dela Cruz said. His latest venture represents a business pursuit that uses his lifelong love for art. “It’s my passion,” said Dela Cruz, one of only two licensed tattoo artists on Molokai. He said he accepted the invitation to show off his graphic designs at the Made in Maui County Festival to get exposure and to test the interests on Maui for his work. “I’m getting orders and it’s really nice to see people like what I have,” he said about the reaction he received at the festival.
Frank R. De Rego Jr., director of Business Development Projects at Maui Economic Development Board, served on the Event Committee for the Made in Maui County Festival. Organizers said they planned to do a post-event survey with the 130-plus vendor participants, and that another festival for 2015 was very likely.
Nov 14, 2014 | Education, Innovation
Lahainaluna High School arts and communications teacher Nancy Young used her Ke Alahele Education Fund grant to create a new environment in her classroom. Now, instead of the traditional classroom setting with rows of desks for students, Young’s created more of an inspirational space for creativity and innovation. “The center of the room has a conversation area with upholstered benches, a table for art and design books and a set of drawers for cameras and iPads. I wanted my students to experience a taste of an inviting, stimulating room and to know what a career in the arts can offer. This is not just a classroom anymore. It is an environment and the kids love it and they produce really amazing work.”
Young said her second-year students are doing college-level work. They do commercial graphics projects, including banners for other schools. They’ve won awards for PBS HIKI NO television segments, and last year her students received special recognition on their diplomas plus placed second in the state in graphics. Young and her students have come a long way, with the help of Ke Alahele grants. When she began teaching full-time more than six years ago, she had only six large tables and 25 old 12-inch iBooks in a cart. But, by her third year, she had accumulated approximately 20 21.5-inch iMacs, a number of digital SLR cameras and a Canon 5100 17-inch printer that accepts roll paper or canvas. Still, there’s more to do, Young said. “What is missing is a pipeline to future education,” Young said. “I plan on visiting California design schools in the spring to see what I can do to connect us with advanced programs.” MEDB established the Ke Alahele Education Fund to power up STEM Education in Maui County.
Nov 5, 2014 | Small Business
As a licensed patent attorney, Shannon Sheldon has come to realize that many businesses and individuals on Maui are unfamiliar with how to protect their valuable intellectual property. That’s why she and her law firm – McKeon Sheldon Mehling – collaborated with Maui Economic Development Board to present “Barbarians at the Gate: Protecting Your Business from Outsiders and Insiders.” The event drew nearly 50 participants and offered free advice from attorneys and a technology consultant on how to protect business intellectual property assets and guard against competitors and employee mistakes.
“The most valuable asset in your business is often the intellectual property, and business owners need to take precautions to protect it,” Sheldon said. “In light of the current technology, this means protecting it from both the outsiders such as competitors, and even insiders, such as employees who inadvertently make mistakes in disclosing the data and confidential information,” she added. Sheldon said business owners could save money if they take preventative measures to protect their data and intellectual property. Judging from the workshop participants’ questions, Sheldon said she believed all learned something important in managing their assets.
“I left with a better understanding of how trademarks, copyrights and patents work and how important it is to have those in place to protect your IP and business,” said Anston Rodrigues, the owner and operator of Maui Needle Worx LLC. “There was a lot of information that was useful,” Rodrigues said. “I will do my best to put it to use. Most of all, ensuring I invest in protecting my intellectual properties.” Aside from Sheldon, her firm’s attorneys Linda Aragon and Rebecca Filipovic spoke at the workshop as well as Erik McFrazier, the founder, owner and lead technician for Computer Hale Inc. Following the workshop held in October at MEDB’s Malcolm Center, participants were offered one-on-one time with the attorneys and consultant. MEDB plans to add another legal seminar on a different topic in January 2015.
Oct 29, 2014 | Community, Events
Sarai Stricklin, an artist, teacher and fashion designer, is “honored and excited” about her first wedding dress designs debuting at the first Made in Maui County Festival. Held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, the first-time event will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November 8. “I’ve been waiting to bloom from Maui,” said Stricklin, who moved from her studio home in Hana to Waihee in part to grow her business. Stricklin is a lifelong textile artist who has created traditional batik art pieces for home and corporations. She also designs women’s clothing, silk neck ties for men and began recently designing hand sewn wedding pieces inspired by Hawaiian history.
She said the Made in Maui County Festival comes at a time when she’s ready to grow her business. “I have finally met the most incredible people and they’ve been so supportive of my work and my business,” Stricklin said, referring to the festival organizers and the encouragement she’s received to participate in the event. A cancer survivor, Stricklin said she’s been unable to attend off-island events that spotlight Hawaii made products. “It’s just too hard to travel, and really and truly, it’s great that I can show my work here on Maui,” she said. “There is where I want my business to take off.” The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce are calling the inaugural event “the largest product vendor show” this year in Maui. Products to be showcased include food, art, crafts, jewelry, fashion, gifts and collectibles. There will be demonstrations plus a fashion show in which designers like Stricklin will show their work.
“This festival was created to help grow our islands’ businesses,” said Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa. “There’s such incredible talent here at home and we’re hoping to open doors for these hard-working entrepreneurs…Our small businesses are the backbone of our islands’ economy and their success will ultimately benefit our community at-large.” A complete list of the 130-plus vendors participating can be seen at: www.MadeinMauiCountyFestival.com/vendors-list
Oct 22, 2014 | Community, Environment, Sustainability
Maui Smart Grid volunteers wrapped up their participation in a pilot project that led many to become more energy efficient. “I really wanted to get a good handle on my family’s energy use and bring down, if possible, our electricity bills. I got that by participating in the Maui Smart Grid Project,” said Maria Drey, one of 66 Maui Meadows residents who participated in the two-year project.
The Maui Smart Grid project aimed to help volunteers monitor their home power use, sometimes in real time, and make adjustments for efficient and cost-effective use of electricity. With the help of one smart meter on property, Drey said her family kept track of their energy consumption and made changes accordingly. They invested in an energy-efficient system for their pool and were more prudent with lights and appliances. Meanwhile, volunteer Alfred Wolf monitored his electric usage to “get a more precise feel for how energy is used and generated at my place.” For Wolf and Thomas Croly, volunteering for Maui Smart Grid meant they could contribute toward the state’s efforts to reach the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative goals. “I hope Maui Electric Co. will gain information from the Maui Smart Grid project to help distribute energy more efficiently,” Croly said.
The project was co-led by the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Maui Electric Co. Maui Economic Development Board partnered to engage with the community and project volunteers. The project’s findings will be sent to the U.S. Department of Energy, and shared with industry looking at best uses of technological tools for energy efficiency, according to Leon Roose, principal and chief technologist of GridSTART at Hawaii Natural Energy Institute. “We found on average, people did change their behavior and reduced their energy consumption as a result of having more information on energy use and through tips and awareness made possible through home energy audits,” Roose said.
Oct 15, 2014 | Community, Environment, Sustainability
Maui County students in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to submit art designs to beautify the island’s JUMPSmartMaui Fast-Charger stations. “This is a chance for Maui’s talented students to shine and jump-start their creative juices by coming up with some original designs for our island’s JUMPSmart electric vehicle charging stations,” said Jeanne Skog, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maui Economic Development Board.
MEDB and Hitachi are sponsoring the student art contest. Judges will look for entries with an original design that positively represents Maui’s community, the environment and clean energy. The EV chargers are an important component of the JUMPSmartMaui demonstration project, which seeks to incorporate renewable energy, smart grid technologies and electric vehicle solutions to achieve a clean future for Maui County. NEDO, Japan’s largest public research and development management organization, is investing $30 million in the project.
The winner’s artwork will be displayed on existing and upcoming JUMPSmartMaui fast charger stations on Maui Island. An example of winning artwork already installed can be found at the Queen Kaahumanu Center station. Currently, stations are located at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Maui Tropical Plantation, Maalaea Triangle (Maui Ocean Center) and Piilani Village Shopping Center. New locations will be at the Pukalani Shopping Center and Long’s in Kulamalu Pukalani. More than a dozen other stations are being planned. Artwork can be created in digital media or using crayon, color pencil and/or paints. Only 2-dimensional art will be accepted. For art contest rules and guidelines, go to www.medb.org Deadline for submissions is 4:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31. Application forms are available at the JUMPSmartMaui Innovation Center at the Queen Kaahumanu Center or MEDB at 1305 North Holopono Street, Suite 1, in the Maui Research & Technology Park in Kihei. For more information, contact Lalaine Pasion at MEDB: lalaine@medb.org, (808) 875-2341.
Oct 8, 2014 | Education
Kihei Charter High School technology and engineering teacher Evelyn Zayas intended to use a Ke Alahele Education Fund grant to expose her students to electronics, but they received much more as she was able to leverage her grant to get more than $1,000 in store credit to buy more equipment. “I wanted a fun, hands-on way to introduce my students to the world of electronics, and to learn a bit of computer programming to make the electronics do cool things,” she said.
It didn’t take long for the initiative to have an effect in the classroom. “The impact on the students was immediately evident,” Zayas said. “The boys, and especially the girls, were at first apprehensive when they saw the kits filled with electronic components that they knew nothing about. The kits contained ‘inventor guides’ that provided enough instruction and pictures so that the students could complete the projects on their own after brief instructions from me. To watch them complete the projects and then modify the computer programs to make the electronics work, such as lighting LEDs or making the buzzer play a song – the looks of pride on their faces were priceless.” Zayas said teaching science, technology, engineering and math yields an “authentic, useful education that requires students to use both their minds and their bodies to learn how the world around them works. A STEM education can provide the hands-on, thought-provoking activities and projects that lead to authentic, useful education.”
With the Maui Economic Development Board Ke Alahele grant, Zayas was able to buy 20 Sparkfun electronics inventors’ kits. Sparkfun ran a national contest and as a final project for the quarter, Zayas had the students work in pairs to create a unique project for the contest. “We were ecstatic to learn a pair of girls won first place in the contest, and two pairs of boys took 5th and 10th place,” she said. The contest winnings gave Zayas and her students $1,050 worth of store credit at sparkfun.com. From there, she bought more electronics. To learn more about the Ke Alahele Education Fund, visit www.medb.org
