May 16, 2012 | Education
Quintin Galiza has endured homelessness, the death of both parents and undue influence from troublesome friends to get to where he is today. He graduates with a high school equivalency diploma at this year’s Maui Community School for Adults commencement exercises. The 20-year-old from Kihei was homeless with his dad, going between stints in the family truck and friends’ homes last March when Galiza’s dad suffered a stroke and died. He lost his mother two years earlier following complications from abdominal surgery. “It’s been hard,” Galiza said. “I’ve had to figure things out on my own and I didn’t have a parent figure I could depend on.”
Galiza sought government assistance to support him and his younger sister, Alyssa, a 17-year-old at the time. Alyssa has since been placed in foster care but Galiza maintains contact with her. She’s been his motivation to fend off an unhealthy lifestyle with troublesome friends. “I’m trying to be a good role model for my sister,” he said. In one year’s time, Galiza has taken classes that helped him pass tests required for a General Education Development diploma or GED. He’s also completed a semester of studies at the University of Hawaii Maui College and landed a job as a part-time cashier’s associate for a local pharmacy. Alyssa is following her brother’s footsteps with plans to enroll at the Maui Community School for Adults this summer so she can get the help she needs to earn her own GED. Galiza said he intends on pursuing a college degree.
Galiza’s scheduled to speak at the Maui Community School for Adults 45th commencement exercises set for 6 p.m., May 23, at the Baldwin High School Auditorium. More than 220 students have completed requirements for a GED and the Competency Based High School Diploma Program. Galiza said he expects to be filled with emotion on graduation day. “When I think back, there were days I would break down and cry. I just wanted to stay home… I never gave up. No matter what adversity, I never gave up.”
May 9, 2012 | Education
Students Brittany Nakagawa, Chaz Cabrero, Howard Andrade with mentor, Bob Brem.
Boeing Company‘s Senior Software Engineer Bob Brem has given as many as 200 hours of expertise this year as a mentor for the award-winning Baldwin High School robotics team. “I get a lot of satisfaction from it,” he said. “I think that we function as role models for students who see that there are rewarding careers available.” As a mentor in robotics, Brem helps with the configuration and setup of a robotics computer and software the Baldwin high schoolers put together for competition. He explains programming concepts and provides engineering guidance. In his three-year stint as a volunteer, Brem has obtained up to $15,000 in grants from Boeing to help the team with its expenses.
Baldwin High School industrial arts teacher and robotics lead advisor Gary Suter said Brem’s assistance is invaluable. “He keeps the kids engaged and gives them a good insight on what kind of future they could have.” This year the Baldwin High School robotics team was part of a three-team alliance that captured the first-place title at the FIRST Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition. Brem traveled with the students to the Mainland to represent Hawaii at a national competition. “Without his expertise, we’d really be hurting,” Suter said. The Baldwin team, nicknamed “Bearbotics,” was sponsored this year by the Maui Economic Development Board, Maui Electric Co., Boeing, BAE Systems, Textron, Warren S. Unemori Engineering, ROC Hawaii and the Monsanto Fund.
Brem said students (and their parents) show a lot of interest in learning more about science, technology, engineering and math. “These robotic programs generate enthusiasm and provide a start along the path toward a engineering/technical career, but in my opinion, they are not enough.” Brem said more support is needed to integrate engineering into the school curriculum. In addition, more mentors are needed for students engaged in science and engineering programs. Asked to give advice, Brem said: “When you find something you think you like, dive deeper and work hard at it. Nothing comes without effort. Work is not ‘work’ if you are doing something that you enjoy.”
May 2, 2012 | Small Business
Ameritone Maui President, Ruth Nakasone, and daughter, Joni McGinnis, Sales Representative
Before the late Bob Nakasone got his start in politics, winning seats on the Maui County Council and State House of Representatives, he took a risk. Nakasone and his wife, Ruth, used their new family home in 1973 as collateral for a loan to purchase the hardware division of MDG Supply Inc., where Bob worked as store manager. Take that risk, add a lot of hard work and Ameritone Maui has thrived as a small business with mom and pop roots and with pride as the neighborhood paint store.
“At Ameritone Maui, we don’t just sell you a gallon of paint, we become a part of your home, your family and your community,” said owner Ruth Nakasone. She has seen the ebb and flow of the Maui economy in her nearly 40 years of business. “Though change is inevitable for any business to remain viable, it does not mean we have to change our philosophy,” she said. At the core, Ameritone Maui believes it’s important to take care of its employees and treat them like family. Ruth’s two sons, Byon and Vance; her daughter, Joni McGinnis; and granddaughter, Joy Moleta, are all employed in the family store. Long-time employees include Eric Kuniyoshi, Farley Duldulao, Ernest Pascua and Ed Acidera, also help to staff the two stores — one in Kahului, the other in Lahaina.
McGinnis, who serves as a sales representative, said Ameritone Maui has built its success on treating every customer as an individual. “It doesn’t matter how large or small the paint project is, every job has its challenge and reward,” she said. “We take the time to find out what you’re doing before handing you that gallon of paint.” The business’s individual customer service is exemplified by its practice of keeping records of its customers’ paint purchases and colors. Ameritone Maui also has earned a reputation as being the best color matcher on the island. “Our guys have matched nearly everything from red dirt to that certain green in a leaf,” she said. “So, if you have a difficult color to match we’ll give it a try.”
Apr 25, 2012 | Community
High school graduating seniors Allyssa Ferrer and Roselyn Domingo had never paddled a canoe until a recent outing with the Kihei Canoe Club. “I thought it was a good workout,” Ferrer said. “It was really fun and it was a good experience to go out in the water and get exercise,” Domingo added. The two were among members of the Focus Maui Nui Youth Alliance who learned about the art of paddling outrigger canoes during a visit led by Deb Pearsall of the Kihei Canoe Club. With the support of Maui Economic Development Board, the Youth Alliance gathers monthly to explore and gain a greater understanding of key components in the Maui community.
Kihei Canoe Club’s community outreach projects have included providing canoe paddling experiences to Maui visitors and to residents with physical limitations. Pearsall said the club pays special attention to its youth crews, giving lessons on Hawaiian chants, star navigation and how outrigger canoe paddling was an integral part of the islands’ history. “The perpetuation of Hawaiian culture, that’s definitely a part of it,” Pearsall said. “For our young people it’s really about connecting with their ancestry, their heritage.” The Kihei Canoe Club has approximately 300 members, half of whom paddle competitively and the other half recreationally. “We encourage kids to get involved in paddling because ultimately, college scholarships are available,” Pearsall said.
Ferrer said she doesn’t think she’ll join a paddling club because her schedule is full of senior year activities. But both she and Domingo — lifelong residents of Maui — have acquired a better appreciation for canoe paddlers. “I give them credit and props, using the strength of their upper body and getting out there in the water is a lot of work, but a lot of fun too,” Domingo said. “I think everyone should try it out at least once,” Ferrer added. The youth also helped with replacing cushions in six of the club’s 14 or so canoes. Pearsall said she was glad to have hosted the Youth Alliance. “It was a great opportunity to meet them and get to how they feel about responsibility in their community.”
Apr 18, 2012 | Community
A retired optometric physician, Bernard Brown, now eyes guests at the Maui Ocean Center with smiles and warm embraces as he greets them to the island’s only aquarium. “The visitors who come to Maui are very interested in what the island has to offer, and I’m happy to tell them all about it,” he said. Brown, a part-time Wailea resident with another home in Salem, OR, has been volunteering during the winter season for six years. His most recent assignment has been to speak to the hundreds of visitors who arrive by bus to visit the Ocean Center. “I just want these people to feel real comfortable and glad that they’ve come to Maui,” he said.
Brown has won admiration for his welcoming mannerisms from visitors who offer tips (he doesn’t accept any) and from the staff at the Maui Ocean Center. This year, employees treated Brown and his wife, Selma, to lunch at the aquarium’s restaurant for their 66th wedding anniversary. The staff also writes mahalo notes to Brown each year. “Bernard is a treasure, always with a smile on his face and ready with a warm embrace … His contribution is greatly appreciated,” Maui Ocean Center General Manager Katie Zolezzi said. Selma Brown said she supports her husband’s volunteer efforts. “He’s great at what he does, and they treat him so well too,” she said.
Brown said that while he appreciates the compliments, he makes sure to give them right back. For example, when greeting Ocean Center visitors, he recognizes their bus driver who brought them to the aquarium. “No one seems to give them credit,” he said. He also praises each individual for taking the time to visit the island. “Vacation people are great. For the most part, they’re in a good mood. I love the downers too. I try to get them happy,” Brown said. “This is all fun and very rewarding for me.”
Apr 11, 2012 | Education, Stemworks
The third annual Hawaii STEM Conference drew 200-plus teachers and students to Maui and kicked off the state’s first Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Week. King Kekaulike High School teacher Emily Haines Swatek was grateful for the opportunity, bringing 10 students to the event held in Wailea in late March. “It’s so great to be exposed to all these different options in technology,” she said. This year’s conference brought students in from more than a dozen intermediate and high schools, teachers, parents, community and business members together with innovative companies including Google, National Geographic and Apple.
For many of the Hawaii STEM Conference attendees, this was their first experience at a regional technology conference complete with STEM breakout sessions, software competitions, an on-site 3C’s Digital Media competition and exhibits. Haines Swatek said the conference provided her a chance to learn more about what she can bring to the classroom. Amongst the things she’s prepared to use almost immediately from the conference are online Web design resources, ideas for 3-D modeling with the use of Google Earth, and online book publishing. “It’s amazing, there are so many things we can do,” she said. Her student, Lotus Chen, also found the conference beneficial. “I feel like it’s broadened my horizons,” Chen said. “There certainly was a lot to explore here.”
The 2012 Hawaii STEM Conference was sponsored by MEDB’s Women in Technology project in partnership with the County of Maui, and the Office of the State Director for Career and Technical Education. Haines Swatek said she expects to have “more inspired, more engaged” students now that they’ve been able to learn with other students from around Maui County and the state. “They’re fired up when they come back from something like this,” she said. Emily Schell of National Geographic also praised the event, “Hawaii educators and students have it going on! The stars are truly bright.”
Apr 4, 2012 | Environment
Eighteen-year-old Chelsea Aviles has a better appreciation for playgrounds having just poured out her heart in a Community Work Day project in Haiku. Aviles, a Lahainaluna High School senior, and 14 other members of the Focus Maui Nui Youth Alliance recently refurbished the Kalakupua Playground in Haiku. Three hours on a recent Saturday was spent pulling weeds, repairing the playground equipment and its tarped ground covering. “It was a lot more hard work than I expected but it was all worth it,” Aviles said. She said the project gave her a chance to reminisce about her own “small kid time” while enjoying the opportunity to refurbish the playground for the next generation.
Community Work Day Program Director Maile Carpio said she was impressed by the hard work of the high school teenagers. “You can see these kids totally understand what it’s like to give back to the community,” Carpio said. “I thought it was fantastic.” Community Work Day on Maui has long been known for its debris cleanups on highways, on shorelines and in the ocean. But the county program also takes on projects such as community gardens, homeless campgrounds, graffiti removal and the Kalakupua Playground built by a group of parents by Giggle Hill in Haiku. “The big words these days are “green” and “recycle”. Peoples’ eyes are opened to this and I saw that in the young people involved in the playground project,” she said.
Aviles said that her first year in the Youth Alliance has provided her with experiences to give back to the community she grew up in. “This keeps me active with the community and makes me want to give more and care more about the environment I live in,” she said. Aviles dreams of a future career in business and a life that will involve community service projects throughout the island. Led by the Maui Economic Development Board, the Youth Alliance members gather monthly to explore the many facets of the community and conduct a variety of community service projects.
Mar 28, 2012 | Education
Retired teacher Ed Ginoza left the classroom 12 years ago, but continues to learn as a volunteer mentor and coach for high school students competing in math and science competitions. Ginoza served for nearly 30 years as a teacher, mostly at Maui High School where he taught math and science. Following his retirement, he stepped up to coach high-achiever science students in competitions such as the Science Bowl and the Ocean Bowl. He’s developed relationships with students he never really had when he was working in the classroom. “If you want to influence kids’ lives, you don’t get to know them in the classroom. You get to know them outside of it,” Ginoza said.
Motivated by the drive in advanced students at Maui High School, Ginoza said he uses all kinds of tools to prepare for contests including the Internet, videos and high-tech web sites. He and his students have been successful, not only in placing high or winning titles, but also in ensuring that Maui’s brightest are enrolling at the best colleges in the country. For example, Ginoza regularly writes recommendations and assists students applying to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. He said at least one student has been accepted by MIT in all but one of the 29 years he’s helped out. He said students are earning good grades and getting into good colleges because they take advantage of the technology offered to them while also studying hard. “Three hours of studying per night to them is the norm,” Ginoza said.
Aside from helping students, Ginoza works part-time as a resource teacher, helping schools with administrative reports and math improvement programs. “In some ways, teaching has come a long way,” he said. “The good part of it is that technology has come along and teachers have a lot of resources to draw on. They can actually take kids places or observe things we couldn’t do in the past,” he said, referring to videos and Internet resources. “The students are as good, if not better in some respects…Learning is never boring.”
Mar 21, 2012 | Community
In a time when businesses are struggling, VIP Cash N’ Carry continues to increase sales according to Store Manager, Leila Maddela. The store in Kahului recently updated its digs, expanded its space, increased staff to 30 employees and added more retail to serve the needs of Maui families. The success comes from a commitment to provide “better value for your ohana” and a willingness to respond to a changing client base. “We adapted so we could serve household consumers, not just food service companies,” Maddela said.
Valley Isle Produce was established in 1951 by the late Roy Okumura and his wife, Lorraine, who still checks into the store along with her son, Nelson, who serves as the president of the company. As a division of VIP Foodservice, VIP Cash N’ Carry opened in 1986 with five employees, primarily offering products for foodservice customers and families hosting large parties. That changed in the last decade with a move to cater more to families, whether they were having parties or not. “Our customers are family to us. We know our regular customers and serve them with full hearts and a spirit of gratitude,” Maddela said. Since its client base is family, Maddela said the store also promotes family-friendly attitudes toward its staff, offering profit sharing bonuses, holding appreciation luncheons and supporting associates in their time of family loss. “We try to support each other,” she said.
Even in its success, Maddela said there is still much more to be told as she finds instances when people are surprised at the broad selection of retail products in the store. Its store name also appears to give the incorrect impression about forms of payments — VIP Cash N‘ Carry accepts cash, major credit cards, debit cards and checks. There are plans in place to open a second location in West Maui. “The future looks great as we continue to provide better value for the ohana of Maui,” Maddela said.
Mar 15, 2012 | Community
Youth Alliance members impressed an expert Maui County planner with ideas about how Wailuku could become a more thriving community. As the supervising planner for the County’s Long Range Planning Division, David Yamashita is charged with overseeing a project called reWailuku. The Wailuku Community Association, the County Planning Department and the Maui Redevelopment Agency coordinated “ReWailuku” as a means to collect community comments on plans to revitalize the historic town. Visiting the community design project gave the Youth Alliance members a chance to provide their perspective to the reWailuku team. “Adults and youth look at things in a whole different way. It was really helpful to hear from the youth,” Yamashita said.
King Duke, a junior at Maui High School, said: “The reWailuku event taught me a lot about how a community thrives. I really respect what they are doing with the fact that they are trying to remember what was good about Wailuku,” Taking its cues from the Youth Alliance, the reWailuku team plans to incorporate the idea of creating a place for young adults to gather and “hang out” in Wailuku, Yamashita said. “We call it the third place,” he said, adding that a person’s first place is home and the second might be school or the workplace. Yamashita said the purpose of reWailuku is to “create a Wailuku for the next generation.”
Having heard from both adults and youth in the community has helped the Planning Department come up with a solid plan for the Central Maui town. “Wailuku should be a walkable town,” Yamashita said. A public presentation on the reWailuku project findings will be made on March 28. More information is available at reWailuku.com. Duke said he and other Youth Alliance members enjoyed sharing ideas and envisioning the future of Wailuku. “Maui should keep its Hawaiian feel, a paradise of sorts where everything is beautiful and you don’t want to stop walking because there’s so many great places to go with such friendly people.”
Quintin Galiza has endured homelessness, the death of both parents and undue influence from troublesome friends to get to where he is today. He graduates with a high school equivalency diploma at this year’s Maui Community School for Adults commencement exercises. The 20-year-old from Kihei was homeless with his dad, going between stints in the family truck and friends’ homes last March when Galiza’s dad suffered a stroke and died. He lost his mother two years earlier following complications from abdominal surgery. “It’s been hard,” Galiza said. “I’ve had to figure things out on my own and I didn’t have a parent figure I could depend on.”
