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.
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.”
