Giving Back to the Community – A Family Tradition
February 2, 2011
Leslie-Ann Yokouchi’s motto for her real estate business, Windermere Valley Isle Properties, runs: “If home is where the heart is, then community is where you’ll find our souls.” Leslie credits her father, Pundy, for instilling in her the importance of taking action, contributing to a strong community, and giving back. “The Maui Arts and Cultural […]
Community Involvement—A Key to Educational Success
January 26, 2011
If you have ever wondered what might happen if you mix together bright young minds, committed teachers and parents, and energetic community volunteers, then look no further than Molokai. Over the last few years, a transformation has been taking place on the island as teams of students have been winning awards and turning heads with […]
Akimeka Leads Maui Tech Sector by Example
January 19, 2011
Maui’s technology sector, which employs about 2,000 people, provides the economy with healthy diversity and represents a sustainable strategy for further development, aligning with values voiced by the community through the Focus Maui Nui process. One of the leaders in this area of “clean” growth is the company founded in 1997 by Vaughn Vasconcellos—Akimeka, LLC. […]
Maui’s Bus System: A Home-Grown Success Story
January 12, 2011
For many of Maui’s residents, it’s hard now to remember what life was like before the current public bus system got off the ground in 2004. That was shortly after the initial Focus Maui Nui civic engagement process had identified addressing infrastructure challenges as a top priority in our community. Latest ridership figures show that […]
For One Small Business, It’s All In The (Extended) Family
January 5, 2011
The New Year is a time of renewed optimism, and for all of us, including business, to look ahead. Small businesses are key players in economic sustainability, as the Focus Maui Nui process has verified. Bill and Maureen Marrs believe being in business means respecting and taking care of people—starting with the people closest to […]
Year of the Rabbit – A Symbol of Hope
December 29, 2010
The Chinese astrological symbol of the coming new year is appropriate for Maui County, Hawaii and the nation: 2011 will be the Year of the Rabbit, to be celebrated on the new moon on February 3rd. Chinese tradition holds the rabbit as a symbol of hope, an amiable, sensitive, modest and merciful pet of the […]
Putting Smiles on Keiki’s Faces This Christmas
December 22, 2010
Meeting human needs is a core Focus Maui Nui community value, and providing our less fortunate keiki with presents at Christmas time certainly meets this priority. We can take pride that our community has already proved more generous than ever this year. One of the toy drives is coordinated by the Friends of the Children’s […]
Civic Engagement System™ – We Need Your Feedback!
December 17, 2010
We need your help with securing a major grant from the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Island Innovation Fund. The process is now in the “Collaboration” phase and we need feedback to strengthen our proposal before the final submission. Please review our proposal at the Island Innovation Fund website and give us your candid feedback by leaving […]
A Business That Thrives By Adapting… And Doing Things the Same
December 15, 2010
Focus Maui Nui participants have consistently cited the value of small businesses in our community as an important economic asset. One small business that has survived successfully in a changing marketplace is Hamai Appliance, in large part because it has adapted to the change. But a business also survives by doing what it does best. […]
Perpetuating Hawaiian Culture Through Language
December 8, 2010
“Our public schools have been a mainstay for maintaining the consciousness of Hawaiian traditions without the community knowing it,” reflects Pūlama Collier, State Resource Teacher with the Department of Education for Hawaiian Language Immersion Program at King Kekaulike High School. The immersion program on Maui, Kula Kaiapuni, has been an integral part of preserving Hawaiian […]