Dec 28, 2011 | Community
The New Year brings with it a sense of optimism as we look forward and prepare for exciting challenges ahead. Having been exposed to the Focus Maui Nui vision, Youth Alliance members shared a positive outlook on the county’s future and their role in it. “I want to be a part of the future of Maui,” 17-year-old Marie Sijalbo said. A senior at Maui High School, Sijalbo has been actively involved in the robotics program – a project supported by the Maui Economic Development Board’s Ke Alahele Education Fund. Sijalbo dreams of a career in engineering and a return after college to the islands where she hopes to serve as a productive citizen. “If students leave the island to go to college, I think they should come back and give back to the community who made them who they are today.”
Lavinia Sagario, 16, joined the Health Occupations Students of America group at Maui High, to prepare herself for a future in the medical field. “I want to be a physician,” she said. More specifically, Lavinia is contemplating the field of radiology. “Hopefully Maui will have need for more doctors and I can come back to my roots,” Lavinia said. The two members of the Youth Alliance said they’re hopeful that the island’s economy will improve and jobs will become plentiful again. “I think it’s scary right now that although you get an education sometimes it doesn’t mean you get a job after (college),” Marie said. “It makes me wonder what am I going to do.” Marie and Lavinia said their strategy now is to get involved at school and in the community. “I’m trying to get well rounded and be involved in community service to help my chances for the future,” Marie said.
Youth Alliance Project Coordinator Willow Krause organizes monthly community service projects in part to give participants a greater understanding of the community they live in and how they can give back. “I think teenagers are often given a bad rap,” Krause said. “Every student I’ve met has been wonderful and I think their future is bright.”
Dec 21, 2011 | Community, Sustainability
Hunger and the holidays were on the minds of Focus Maui Nui Youth Alliance members as they sorted hundreds of donated canned goods at the Maui Food Bank. With Christmas only a few days away, about 15 high school students volunteered their time to learn about hunger in the community and how to help those who have very little to eat during the holiday. “When I think of hunger, I think of a big city like New York. It’s hard to picture hunger on Maui – but the reality is, it’s here too,” said Kristen Gilchrist, a 15-year-old sophomore at Lahainaluna High School. Kristen shared her thoughts about hunger as she scanned through cans of nonperishable items such as fruit cocktail, soups and pork and beans. “It’s hard for me to imagine what it’s like to be wondering where your next meal will come from because I’ve never had that. I’m fortunate, I’ve always had food,” Kristen said.
At Maui Food Bank, approximately 10,000 pounds of food is distributed weekly to families in Maui County. Volunteer Coordinator Tasha Mohline accommodated the Youth Alliance at a time the warehouse would normally be closed. “I’d take any opportunity to teach and educate the youth about hunger and what we do for the community,” Mohline said.
The teenagers spent about three hours sorting out approximately 20 packed shopping carts of canned goods. The items will eventually be picked up by the 100-plus agencies that rely on the Food Bank to provide them with supplies to serve needy families. Sharmaine Pasalo, a 17-year-old Maui High School student, said she was surprised at the sight of heaping cans of food. “It shouldn’t be this way, people starving in our community, that’s really not good,” she said. Tyler DiGiulio, also 17 and a student at Maui High, said his first visit to the Maui Food Bank left him feeling grateful that he doesn’t have to worry about hunger in his own life. “I think it’s great that we’re helping people in need.”
Dec 14, 2011 | Small Business
Curtis and Naomi Takaoka
The Takaoka family, led by the late Mike and Patsy Takaoka, first assumed ownership of Tasty Crust in 1957, sold it in 1982, and took it back in 1997 with Curtis and wife, Naomi, offering to assist as Curtis’ parents took a well-deserved retirement. With 27 employees on the payroll today, Tasty Crust provides a menu of local favorites including saimin, teriyaki steak and the ever-popular hot cakes. From Monday to Friday, as many as 20 gallons of hot cake batter is prepared – and up to 30 gallons on weekends. The Mill Street restaurant sits in the same spot it was built on in 1944 and still uses recipes from Patsy Takaoka and her closest friends and family.
Sustaining the business success could lead to adding more staff and/or raising prices. “It’s a constant battle having to take care of business in this economy. Eventually we’re going to have to tool the business a little bit, but I think we’re going to keep the menu the same.” Takaoka said he appreciates the support the community has given his restaurant. “We’re so thankful we’ve been able to do business on Maui. Everyone has been so supportive and we’ve got a lot of people who have been very, very loyal to us.”
Dec 7, 2011 | Community
Major Brian West and his wife, Iva, are celebrating their first Christmas on island as the Salvation Army Maui County Coordinators. This holiday season, the Wests are spearheading a group of volunteers who are seeking pennies and presents to help those most in need on Maui during the holiday season. So far, no good. “Our kettle drive is going a little slower than usual,” West said, referring to the annual Red Kettle Drive. Bell ringing volunteers began the campaign the day before Thanksgiving and after the first week, came up short as much as $1,200 per day compared to the year before.
The traditional Angel Tree gift giving campaign is also underway with the wishes of children from low-income families outlined on paper angel cutouts set up at Queen Kaahumanu Center, Kmart and WalMart. “We’re a little bit concerned about that too,” West said, adding that the normal Angel Tree drive for children in need is not up to par as previous years. “I can’t put my finger on it,” West said. “I don’t know why it’s down…I think we’ve got good greeters and volunteers. The weather’s been good, but we’re still off.” West said he hopes that gift givers are just getting to a slow start.
This year’s Kettle Drive theme: “Sharing is Caring” has always lived up to its name on Maui, West said. The 2011 holiday goal is to raise $165,000 by collecting spare change from people dropping by the red kettles. Collections, if successful, can repeat what 2010’s donations were able to do on Maui:
- Provide 10,800 bed nights to homeless men.
- Serve 78,892 meals to homeless men, women and children.
- Distribute 15,680 hygiene kits to residents in need.
- Give 34,287 food bags to Salvation Army clients.
Angel Trees will accept gifts for children up until Dec. 19; and the red kettle drive will remain in place up until Christmas Eve. For more information, call 871-6270.
Dec 1, 2011 | Education, Stemworks
Eleventh-grader Cheska Liwag never dreamed of a career in engineering until she enrolled in the Maui High School robotics program. Robotics has been at the heart of many opportunities for Cheska, one of 45 students at Maui High immersed in robotics and in competitions across the county and in the state. “Robotics has helped me to grow and make new friends. I’ve learned a lot about team work and what it takes to compete,” Liwag said. The Maui High School Robotics Program is one of a dozen recipients receiving grants totaling more than $51,000 in the final quarter of 2011. Funding comes from the Maui Economic Development Board’s Ke Alahele Education Fund.
The latest distribution of funds has gone to support a variety of programs that encourage hands-on experiences and learning in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. The money enables students to compete in state robotics tournaments, provides professional development for teachers and helps to procure needed equipment for various projects in science and technology. For Maui High, the grant money has been the means to compete at the upcoming Pan Pacific tournament on Oahu. Liwag serves as captain on a team of six students from her school. “We’re excited,” she said.
Among others receiving grants this past quarter are:
Molokai Robotics (FIRST Lego League), $4,991; to support three teams from Kaunakakai Elementary and Kualapu’u Elementary schools to compete in a Maui tournament, as well as robotics equipment and supplies.
Kalama Intermediate School PLUG-INN project (Problem- Based Learning Using Geodatabases: Innovative Native Network), $5,000; for STEM collaboration between Kalama students and schools in Alaska, including shoreline field trips, use of GIS wireless technologies, and shared collaborative data analysis.
Maui Navigators (FIRST Lego League), $3,655; for robotics equipment and supplies for Central Maui robotics club for 9-14 year olds.
Hawaii State Science Olympiad, $5,000; for participation by approximately 200 students from 10 Maui County schools in statewide hands-on, team-based science competition and program.
Iao School VEX Robotics program, $3,989; for competition by middle school team at VEX competition at the Maui Fair and regional tournament on Oahu.
Nov 24, 2011 | Small Business
As we recently celebrated Veterans Day and are mindful of the service given to our nation by members of our armed forces, disabled Iraq veteran and entrepreneur, Chelsea Ann K.E. Fernandez, is fulfilling a dream of serving the disabled community of Maui. The president and co-founder of FernanTECH Inc., Fernandez and her husband, Joey, are opening a new branch called Hawaii Assistive Technology Company. Its mission will be to provide people with disabilities a chance to live independently with the use of technology. “It was always in my heart to help the disabled,” Fernandez said.
At age 14, Fernandez, a graduate of Hilo High School, saw her two-month-old sister die in part because of complications from both physical deformities and Down syndrome. Fernandez said she vowed that she would do what she could in her adult years to support impaired youth and adults. Her vision is to find technological devices that assist the deaf, the blind and the disabled in everyday living, concentrating on education and communication. “The range is so wide,” she said, adding that products could include walking canes for the blind and iPads for autistic children. Fernandez was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Syndrome Disorder as a result of her service in the U.S. Army Reserve and a tour in Iraq. Following her year of military service in 2004, she moved to Maui in 2006 and established FernanTECH Inc. She also earned an associate degree in business from the University of Hawaii Maui College and earned certificates in entrepreneurship, management, marketing and accounting.
The current treasurer of the Maui Lions Club, Fernandez has made connections with the group that empowers volunteers to encourage the deaf and the blind. Fernandez also started the Maui Deaf Club and she’s partnered with the Hawaii Independent Living Center on Maui and a panel of service providers for the disabled to learn more about the community she wants to serve. She has invested some $10,000 in educating herself about the needs of the disabled including registering for a February 2012 international conference sponsored by the California State University. “I really want to do this,” Fernandez said.
Nov 17, 2011 | Small Business
Valley Isle Gymnastics is not just Maui’s longest-lived gymnastics training center offering wholesome and healthy activities for young athletes of all skill levels in a fun and safe atmosphere. Once again this September, the gym hosted the Special Olympics Cartwheel Festival, which has raised $26,500 for Special Olympics Maui over the last eight years. Being involved in voluntary community service has resulted in numerous awards and recognitions, and Valley Isle Gymnastics’ success as an enterprise as has brought it the Maui County Small Business of the Year Award.
Founder and co-owner of Valley Isle Gymnastics, Rusty Gage, believes his business also stands out because of the honesty and character in its members and staff. “I think our business has been successful because its foundation is based on work ethic and passion,” said Gage. “I’m thrilled to have staff members with spirit, in a world where workplace complacency is all too common.” The gym goes to great lengths to screen potential staff members and seek the most positive character traits. “Character and integrity probably best sums up our daily operations.” Gage believes business success is down to “implementing and knowing your craft, knowing how to be financially responsible with the business, and knowing how to relate to the clients who are responsible for your existence.”
Gage moved to Maui from Texas, where he ran a similar business. In pursuing his dream of living in the tropics, Gage now has nine employees and the center currently serves nearly 500 young athletes from infants to 18, offering developmental, recreational and competitive gymnastics. “We do not seek to convert every young person into becoming a gymnast,” Gage said. “Rather, we seek to motivate and encourage Maui’s youth to explore the fun things their bodies can do, and to challenge themselves while ensuring that they know the option to become more of a focused gymnast is always available.”
Nov 10, 2011 | Community
Members of the Focus Maui Nui Youth Alliance kicked off the 2011 program year by carrying out a key strategy in protecting the island’s natural environment. With the help of adult environmental experts and volunteers, the high school students combed Kamaole III Beach Park in Kihei while engaging in lessons about the importance of sea birds to Maui’s natural habitat and assisting in catching and banding shearwater chicks in burrows by the beach. The event held on October 22 also covered activities on the scientific significance of beach dunes and what kind of community action is being taken to protect and preserve the island’s sandy shores.
“The kids were great,” coastal geologist Tara Miller Owens said. “I think they learned a lot. Hopefully they’re going home and teaching their families.” Jay Penniman, manager of the Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, said he felt hopeful after receiving help from the students with catching and banding the young sea birds. “We need to be teaching our young people about the ʻāina (land) and how to take care of all the species that live here.” Also on hand were community activists Bob and Lis Richardson who spoke about creating the volunteer organization The Dune Restoration Project.
For Owens, it was key that the youth participating in the event understand the beach processes and the importance of healthy dunes. She said discussions about dunes brought awareness to those who can do something about it in the future. “When you’ve grown up on this island, sometimes you think things are obvious but that’s not necessarily so. I’m glad we were able to raise awareness so they can take action,” she said. Penniman shared the same sentiments, saying he hopes the students will contemplate studying the importance of preserving natural resources, perhaps even undertaking a college degree program to learn more. “The more we understand how our environment works, the better we can be about protecting and preserving,” he said.
Nov 3, 2011 | Community
Continuing our series on newly appointed County Department Directors, reflecting the role of government in responding to community values and needs.
Maui County Finance Director Danny Agsalog left his native home of the Philippines in 1979 to establish a new life on the Valley Isle. His work experience started with two jobs, one as a full-time supermarket stock boy and a part-time restaurant dishwasher in Wailuku. That led to enlistment in the United States Air Force and then the Air National Guard, followed by enrollment and completion of studies at the University of Hawaii at West Oahu in 1995. These experiences eventually led to two years of service as County Budget Director during Mayor Alan Arakawa’s first term in the early 2000s. Now, Agsalog has been tapped to work as the Finance Director, overseeing approximately 156 employees including those in the Division of Motor Vehicle and Real Property Taxes.
Agsalog calls his career and education journey “nontraditional” but one that involved a lot of determination and desire to serve the Maui community. “I’ve always loved Maui. Maui is no ka oi,” he says. In regard to direct service with the public, Agsalog explains he has invested money and time into customer service training and management workshops for DMV employees. He says public perceptions and feedback have improved since the work force training was offered. “It’s really about how you deal with people and just talking to the staff about the importance of customer service has helped.”
In the Real Property Taxes Division, Agsalog gives credit to staffers for their due diligence that has reduced appeals from as many as 2,000 last year to less than 800 this year. “I will not take the credit for this. We have a lot of professional people making great effort to getting things right the first time.” The purchasing section of the Finance Department has also made strides. Agsalog says employees there deal with Maui County contractors, monitoring work orders and ensuring that any changes are justifiable and necessary. “I want to be accountable to the people of Maui,” Agsalog said. “It’s important we evaluate what we’re spending and hold ourselves accountable because it’s the people’s money.”
Oct 27, 2011 | Education
Retired educators Pat and Richard Endsley of Lahaina have built an after-school tutoring project that serves more than 300 children a year in West Maui. They say they could not have achieved success without the generosity of some 100 adult tutors and 70 high school students. They also give credit to their major sponsors — the County of Maui, Susan Bendon and her family in Paia, Debbie and Stuart Katz and their nonprofit Beyond the Rainbow and Aina Nalu. The Rotary Clubs in West Maui have also chipped in money and the Old Lahaina Luau and the Ritz-Carlton have provided volunteer tutors.
“You have to have a whole gamut of people who will help you,” Pat Endsley said. “Without them we could not do this.” The tutoring itself is free. In addition to being tutors, the Endsleys oversee other duties including tutor recruitment and training, ordering of books and supplies and maintaining a budget. The tutoring project costs approximately $26,000 to operate but none of the money is used for salaries. Expenses covered by a County grant and donations from businesses and residents include bus transportation, snacks, books and other tutoring supplies for the students.
Pat and Richard Endsley welcome volunteers from the Kaunoa Senior Service Volunteer Program while also being participants themselves. They say the majority of their tutors are retirees, of which only a handful are experienced in education. In addition, Lahainaluna High School students also help 4th-graders with math assignments. While the tutoring program focuses on skills in math and reading, the Endsleys were able to fulfill Pat’s dream to add extracurricular activities including lessons in history, ukulele and other creative arts. “To me the program’s perfect now,” Pat Endsley said. The Endsleys started ‘Wednesday Is Tutoring Day’ at one school in the year 2000 and have expanded it to three days of the week at all four public schools on the West Side.
The New Year brings with it a sense of optimism as we look forward and prepare for exciting challenges ahead. Having been exposed to the Focus Maui Nui vision, Youth Alliance members shared a positive outlook on the county’s future and their role in it. “I want to be a part of the future of Maui,” 17-year-old Marie Sijalbo said. A senior at Maui High School, Sijalbo has been actively involved in the robotics program – a project supported by the Maui Economic Development Board’s Ke Alahele Education Fund. Sijalbo dreams of a career in engineering and a return after college to the islands where she hopes to serve as a productive citizen. “If students leave the island to go to college, I think they should come back and give back to the community who made them who they are today.”
