Jun 9, 2011 | Community
Continuing our series on newly appointed County Department Directors, reflecting the role of government in responding to community values and needs.
“As an avid photographer, I truly appreciate the breathtaking landscapes of Maui. Protecting them, preserving view planes, and making common sense decisions to limit human impacts on our environment are close to my heart,” says Will Spence, the new County Director of Planning. Among Spence’s priorities are streamlining the permitting process and reviewing procedures to simplify the application and approval process. “Regulation needs to serve a purpose,” observes Spence. “Without appreciable environmental protections or community benefits, putting our residents through a costly, lengthy, or complicated process for its own sake makes little sense.”
Spence’s philosophy is to provide opportunities and incentives for encouraging “smart” development—for example, in existing urban areas and locations identified in the Maui County Plan. Spence points out that the basis of Maui County’s zoning code was established in the 1960s, when most development was focused on large projects – resorts, hotels, and condominiums, and major infrastructure. The permitting process has always reflected this history so that it has not been as nimble or as customized as citizens would like, and it has left out the little guy, says Spence. “The planning process needs to be user-friendly and adaptable, and reflect community priorities like supporting a diverse and sustainable economy, preserving the environment, recognizing cultural sensitivities, and simply reflecting human needs. It should also reflect the era of the internet and modern technology.”
With a planning degree, Spence has worked on Maui in the field for almost 20 years, both as a planner for the County and in the private sector as a consultant. “One of the things I particularly appreciate about my role now is that the County Department Directors work very collaboratively – we talk to each other all the time, and that really helps get things done.”
Jun 2, 2011 | Education
Fund recipients have been working hard on various STEM-related programs. Here’s a look at their progress.
On March 7-13, Maui Waena Media Club members competed in a national competition in Florida where they created a news show based on the word “obsession.” It was their first year competing and they had only 16 hours to plan, shoot and edit the entire show. View their video on School Tube.
Fun, 2, 3 Preschool in Kula are excitedly counting down the days until the eggs in their new incubator start hatching. The teachers and students are delighted with their new learning tools – books, incubator and printer – which have enhanced their school’s curriculum.
Students at Pomaikai Elementary School continue to grow their “Green Dream” project. The Green Dream outdoor classroom is a garden area at their school which not only helps students propagate plants for Waihe`e, but it is also teaching our budding youth about sustainability through hands-on experiences. Visit the Pomaikai Elementary School website to learn more.
Jun 2, 2011 | Education
For the third consecutive year, the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, will be a Tutor Sponsor for the MEDB Ke Alahele Education Fund benefit dinner and auction.
“Any investment in our keiki will pay dividends for generations to come,” said Matt Bailey, Grand Wailea’s managing director. “In this regard, MEDB leads the charge and works tirelessly to help Maui educators provide our keiki with the skills they will need to lead our community into the future. Grand Wailea is proud to play a small part in this effort.”
Matt Bailey
In addition to serving as venue for the August 27 event, Grand Wailea is also generously offering a special rate for this year’s attendees.
- $169 per night (plus portage, housekeeping + applicable taxes)
- Daily resort charge waived
- Overnight valet parking waived (if used)
- Room rate available between August 24-31, 2011
Call Grand Wailea at 808-875-1234 to make your room reservations. Mention the MEDB event rate and reference “MEDB” when booking your room. Limited number of rooms available. For more information on this year’s MEDB Ke Alahele Education Fund benefit dinner and auction, click here.
Jun 2, 2011 | Innovation
As announced by Hawaiian Electric Co. and reported in The Maui News (May 19, 2011), Maui has been selected as the site for a “smart grid” renewable energy demonstration project, with an investment of approximately $37 million from the Japan-based New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
Japanese and American energy partners will collaborate on the multimillion dollar project, which is aimed at improving integration of variable renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind power, and preparing the electric system for widespread use of electric vehicles.
The organizations partnering on the project include: the U.S. Department of Energy; the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT); the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii; Hawaiian Electric Company; Maui Electric Company; and NEDO, an entity under the government of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The six Japanese companies that will work with U.S. project partners to develop and install smart-grid technologies on Maui include Hitachi Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd., Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd., Sharp Corp., JFE Engineering Corp. and Cyber Defense Institute Inc.
Installation of the smart-grid technology is expected to begin in late 2012, with the project becoming operational in 2013. The project is scheduled to run from 2013 to 2015.
“With its high levels of variable renewable energy, Maui is a perfect location to test these smart-grid technologies,” said Richard Rocheleau, director of the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii. “Through this Japanese-U.S. partnership, we can demonstrate how these technologies can help solve Maui’s energy challenges and be used in other parts of the world, especially on other island systems such as ours.”
“Like Hawaii, Japan is looking for ways to better use clean energy on smaller electric systems that serve individual islands. By pooling our resources and our expertise, we can develop solutions that will help significantly increase our use of clean energy sources,” said Robbie Alm, Hawaiian Electric executive vice president.
Hawaiian Electric officials said that the project will include installation of smart controls in Kihei, South Maui, at the regional and neighborhood levels to improve integration of variable renewable energy resources, such as photovoltaic systems and controls to manage electric vehicle charging stations and battery storage systems. This NEDO project will also collaborate with an existing U.S. Department of Energy-funded project by installing the same smart control systems within the project site in the Wailea area of Maui.
The project is aimed at being a solution to one of the biggest challenges in integrating an existing power grid with renewable energy, which fluctuates depending on whether it’s windy or the sun is shining. Electric grids need a consistent, reliable source of power, which so far has been provided primarily through turbines driven by diesel or other fossil fuels.
“A smarter electric grid is a promising solution to one of the biggest challenges in deploying more renewable energy in Hawaii,” said Estrella Seese, acting energy program administrator for the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s Energy Office. “Technical innovations such as smart-grid applications will increase the island grid’s capability to minimize the system reliability impact of interconnected renewable energy resources and can make Hawaii a model for other areas around the world that face similar conditions,” she said.
In addition, to help prepare the Maui electric grid for widespread adoption of electric vehicles, the project will use an advanced charging management system to connect Maui Electric Company system controls with charging stations island-wide, allowing Maui Electric to actively manage electric vehicle charging to balance generation and load. With this advanced system, Maui Electric can make better use of the wind and solar power on the island.
The project is part of the Hawaii-Okinawa Partnership on Clean and Efficient Energy Development and Deployment, which was signed by the U.S. Department of Energy; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan; the state of Hawaii; and the prefecture of Okinawa in June 2010.
Jun 1, 2011 | Community
On a recent weekend in May, the Focus Maui Nui Youth Alliance spent an unforgettable few hours at the offices of The Maui News, where they learned what it takes to interview, write, edit, photograph and produce stories for media publication. The visit was in keeping with the Youth Alliance purpose of gaining a greater understanding of key institutions in our community, preparing them to become leaders of change.
Guided by Maui News staffers Ilima Loomis, Lee Imada, and Matt Thayer, 20 Youth Alliance members began with an orientation session, followed by a workshop on the finer points of interviewing and drafting a story from the material they gathered. Panelists drawn from the community, invited by Loomis, willingly volunteered as the students’ interview subjects. The panelists included leaders from the Maui Humane Society, the Institute of Astronomy, Na Koa Ikaika baseball, the Reef Association, and the Drug Court. Students then used computers at the newspaper offices to compose their stories, which were reviewed by several other staff members who volunteered their time to help with the editorial process. The best stories will be chosen for publication.
One group of Youth Alliance members participated in a media photography workshop led by award-winning staffer Matt Thayer. He guided the students on using the professional-grade equipment to capture a particular feeling or mood from their subjects, picture composition, and documenting the session itself. “I really enjoyed learning about the technical aspects of camera work and I better appreciate what’s involved in taking the perfect picture and working under deadlines,” observes King Duke, a Youth Alliance member attending Maui High School.
May 26, 2011 | Community
“Choral performance, like other forms of music, really nourishes the soul when done right,” observes choirmaster Bob Wills, the founder and volunteer director of Maui’s Summer Masterworks Festival. This August, the second annual Festival will be held at Kihei Baptist Church and will feature 70 choir members and 35 intrumentalists performing Bach’s Magnificat as well as works by Mozart and Vivaldi. Next summer, Wills envisions a week-long event that will include choirs drawn from beyond Maui, providing the island economy with a welcome boost. “In our first year, we brought together choir members from across Maui to perform Mozart’s Requiem,” says Wills. “We were expecting an audience of maybe 150; on the night, 550 showed up, we had standing room only. It was a huge success and we obviously tapped into a very enthusiastic market.”
Maui is fortunate to add Wills, who works as a realtor when not volunteering, to the list of talented and visionary residents that have developed and staged annual arts events such as the Maui Film Festival, the Maui Photo Festival, and the Writer’s Conference. Wills credits his wife, Beth, a music teacher and choral director at Lahaina Intermediate, as a major partner in the choral success he has enjoyed. As a choirmaster and professional singer back in Minnesota, where he grew up, he directed large choirs of up to 300 and took groups to perform in Europe, where his audience included Pope John Paul II. On Maui, he has worked with Baldwin High School students and been involved in musicals such as The King and I, The Sound of Music, and Annie at Iao Theatre. “The arts fulfill an important human need: they elevate our spirits,” says Wills. His real reward comes from teaching. “When someone I’m working with reaches that “aha!” moment – that’s what makes it all worthwhile to me.” As for his personal philosophy, Wills explains: “Singing has got to be fun. It’s the journey that’s important, not only the destination.”
May 19, 2011 | Community
Continuing our series on newly appointed County Department Directors, reflecting the role of government in responding to community values and needs. Keith Regan holds the “No. 2” position in the County administration, a role he also filled in Mayor Arakawa’s administration from 2004 to 2006 following two years as Director of Finance. On a day-today basis, as the Director of the County’s Department of Management, Regan provides management oversight to the 16 County Departments and mediates between them whenever necessary. His Department of Management also oversees the County’s extensive IT (information technology) network and its GIS (geographic information systems) function, providing mapping and other resources.
Regan’s current priorities are streamlining the County permitting process, improving infrastructure, and promoting balanced and sustainable economic development. “I’m a nuts-and-bolts guy, and I like to see how long-term vision will affect the community positively,” he notes. “I believe in the importance of providing well-paid opportunities here in Maui County for our children so they do not have to leave for other places. That’s why economic diversification is key.” In addition to the technology sector, Regan sees promise in developing the film industry and in promoting sports activities as practical examples of growing the County’s economic base.
In 2001, Regan was named by Pacific Business News as Young Business Person of the Year and Community Leader of the Year. Regan is a committed volunteer—he is a board member of several organizations, including the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui, Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation, and two of Maui’s Kiwanis Clubs. Regan is currently involved in a relief effort he cofounded with his wife, Lynn: “Following the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, we launched the Aloha Initiative, to provide home-stay respite here in Hawaii for citizens of Japan affected by the disaster. Over 140 families here have volunteered as hosts for evacuees for up to three months—truly ‘living aloha’,” Regan explains.
May 14, 2011 | Events
In partnership with Maui Economic Development Board, Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center
Date: Sunday, May 15, 2011
Location: Maui Arts and Cultural Center
Time: 11:00AM to 12:15PM
Submit your questions to the Governor when you RSVP.
RSVP: michelle.yamashita@hawaii.gov or call 808-243-5796 to reserve your seat.
May 13, 2011 | Community
The ancient Romans had a phrase for it: Mens sana in corpore sano – “a healthy mind in a healthy body”, referring to the ideal balance for living a productive life. Thanks to coaches and community volunteers like Scottie Zucco, our keiki in Maui County are able to pursue sporting activities that enhance their lives. Zucco is the founder of the Aloha Volleyball club, which counts well over 100 participants and whose mission is to grow volleyball on Maui. The club does a lot a voluntary “behind the scenes” work, maintaining volleyball courts around Maui and running free tournaments year-round. The club also holds instructional camps and offers financial assistance as needed. Zucco has a fullschedule; in addition to his voluntary activities, he is a parttime PE teacher at Kula Elementary School and Achievement Academy, a Wailuku homeschool, and he coaches the Seabury Hall girls’ varsity volleyball team.
“My philosophy in coaching volleyball is about building character first; competition comes second,” says Zucco. “Young athletes mirror what their adult role models are doing, and I’m a believer in the system embraced by legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. His “pyramid of success” stresses values such as hard work, enthusiasm, loyalty, self-control and commitment. A good coach has to care about each child, and these qualities define character,” he adds.
Zucco has done much to promote youth beach volleyball on Maui, a format that the NCAA has just recognized as a scholarship-eligible college sport. He is quick to recognize that the rise in popularity in the both indoor and outdoor volleyball owes much to the hard work of other clubs in the community and growing cooperation amongst coaches. “Right now I’m working on plans to develop more courts and facilities,” says Zucco. “This year we pioneered a pilot High School beach league, and one of my goals is to see it develop as an official sport in the MIL.”
May 10, 2011 | Environment
A recent article (April 26) in the Pacific Business News (PBN) described progress in efforts to develop a 200 MW wind farm on Molokai.
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