Maui: October-November 2014

“The Life” Cel e b rating t h e a r t s, cu l t u re, a n d s us t a i n ab i l i t y o f t h e Hawa i i a n Isla nds For those who love life in Maui County

October–November 2014 • ‘Okakopa–Nowemapa 2014

KeOlaMagazine.com | Maui County, October/November 2014

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“The Life” Ce l e b ra t i n g t h e a r t s, c u l t u re, a n d sust a in a bilit y o f t h e H a wa iia n Isla nds

October–November 2014 ‘Okakopa–Nowemapa 2014

UA MAU KE EA O KA ‘ĀINA I KA PONO.

The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.

[Its sustainability depends on doing what is right.] Proclamation by Kona-born King Kamehameha III in 1843. Later adopted as the Hawai‘i state motto.

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Barbara Garcia Bowman, 808.442.3244 x1, Barb@KeOlaMagazine.com

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Kaualani Pereira, 808.442.3244 x 2, MCeditor@KeOlaMagazine.com

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Aloha from the Publisher As the Fall season wanes and we look forward to the return of the “snowbirds” (our winter ‘ohana that come back each year) we are reminded of why we love these islands, and why so many others flock here in the winter time. It’s not only the weather. It’s also the aloha spirit, which has been taught to us by the elders in our community, na kūpuna, and our teachers, na kumu, who learned it from their kūpuna.

It’s the aloha spirit that we share in the inspiring stories within the pages of Ke Ola. This issue features the launch of the Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani. Ke Ola Maui County editor, Kaualani Pereira and I were honored to witness this historic event in July. Also in this issue are inspiring stories about Pūnana Leo o Maui’s Hawaiian Immersion preschool and the Best Buddies program.

For nearly two years, Ke Ola has been sharing stories about our kūpuna, our keiki and our ‘āina for readers who love these islands. Beginning with our December/ January issue, we’re adding a Wedding and Special Occasion section with its own cover, which will contain stories about local customs and unusual locations around Maui County. If you have a business and would like to reach people who live here in addition to frequent visitors, you’ll want to be included in ongoing issues of Ke Ola Magazine. In addition to having free circulation County-wide, Ke Ola will also be mailed to wedding and event planners and travel agents in major cities along the West Coast and Las Vegas. As more people recognize the value of what Ke Ola offers, we are confident it will grow.

Me ke aloha pumehana (with warm aloha), Barbara Garcia, Publisher

Ke Ola recognizes the use of the ‘okina [‘] or glottal stop, as one of the eight consonants of (modern) Hawaiian language; and the kahakō [ā] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawai‘i such as Hāna). Ke Ola respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses.

Culture 7

Keiki 5

Maui’s Voyaging Canoe

By Katherine Kama‘ema‘e Smith

Pūnana Leo o Maui

By Bridgett Parker

People 11

Changing Lives Through Friendship

By Seth Raabe

Spirit 4

I Ku Mau Mau

By Cultural Practitioner Kaui Kanakaole

Departments 10

Featured Cover Artist: Loren D. Adams, Jr.

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Traditional

I Ku Mau Mau

| Submitted by Cultural Practitioner Kaui Kanakaole

Stand up together! It moves, the god begins to run!

I ku mau mau!

Stand at intervals!

I ku wa!

Stand up together!

I ku mau mau!

Haul with all your might!

I ku huluhulu!

Under the mighty trees!

I ka lanawao!

Stand at intervals!

I ku wa!

Stand up among the tall forest trees!

I ku lanawao!

Stand at intervals!

I ku wa!

Stand at intervals and pull!

I ku wa huki!

Stand at intervals and haul!

I ku wa ko!

Stand in place and haul!

I ku wa a mau!

Haul branches and all!

A mau ka eulu!

Haul now!

E huki, e!

Strive till it’s done!

Kulia!

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his mele oli was traditionally done when bringing down a felled koa tree from the mountains, either for ceremonial purposes, canoe making or hale building. The people hauling the huge tree down from the mountains would be full of joy and accomplishment as they chanted the words, “E huki, e, Kulia!”. It was a monumental task and spirits had to be high in order to complete the job, which is why they chanted. Today this chant is quite popular, as it has been recorded on a few modern Hawaiian/Island music CDs. It is also done at various cultural functions to help rally people together under one focus or task.

Koa tree in bloom Photo by Seth Raabe

Contact Kaui Kanakaole: kkanakaole@yahoo.com

KeOlaMagazine.com | Maui County, October/November 2014

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Kumu Lei Ishikawa teaching keiki the Hawaiian words for swing and slide

Pūnana Leo o Maui

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| Story and Photos By Bridgett Parker

KeOlaMagazine.com | Maui County, October/November 2014

ūnana Leo o Maui is celebrating its 27th year of teaching the children of Maui the beauty and importance of the Hawaiian language. The name Pūnana Leo means “language nest” and that is precisely what this program is. Like a mother bird feeding her young who are secured in their nest, this preschool program is immersing the keiki in the rich culture of this native language.

The vision of the school is E Ola Ka ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, “the Hawaiian Language shall live.” It is estimated that fifty to ninety percent of the 6,000 endangered native languages around the world could be extinct by the year 2100. When a language dies, it takes deep history, cultural values and the identity of its people with it. It is essential that the Hawaiian language remain in our culture. This thought is what drove a concerned group of parents and teachers to create and implement a program in 1983. At that time it is estimated there were approximately fifty native speakers under the age of 18 that spoke the Hawaiian language. Linguists claim that 100,000 people are needed to speak a language for it to survive. The Pūnana Leo language immersion program was born and since then, thousands have attended and moved on to Hawaiianlanguage based elementary and high schools. Pūnana Leo preschools have a total of eleven schools in Hawai‘i. Five are located on O‘ahu, three are on Hawai‘i, one on Kaua‘i, one on Moloka‘i and one on Maui. The program is based out of Hilo and oversees the operations and programming of all the Pūnana Leo schools.

Kili Namau‘u is the site director at Pūnana Leo o Maui and she has seen many families thrive in this program. She explained exactly what is expected from the families when they become part of the Pūnana o Leo ‘ohana. “What I mean by a family based program is you don’t just drop off your keiki here and walk away and go to work. You have to be involved on a greater level.” It’s been said many times, “It takes a village to raise a child.” It’s so important to be involved in your child’s education—especially when they are learning a new language.

Kili states, “You don’t have to speak Hawaiian to attend our school. Ninety five percent of our students do not speak the

language but by about the 3rd or 4th month, most of the keiki become fluent in the language.” The children need support, guidance and reinforcement from school and at home. Family involvement is the core of this program; essential to the success of the keiki. Additionally, the school provides Hawaiian language learning classes for the families so they can work together to comprehend this concept that is new for many of them. They even provide families with childcare to make attendance easier.

The purpose of this is to build a continuum of communication skills between school and home.

Families are also expected to attend a monthly meeting to plan and share ideas on ways to fortify the maoli ola Hawai‘i (Hawaiian lifestyle), discuss upcoming activities, future events and much more. The meetings are usually two hours and childcare is provided. Another expectation of the families is housekeeping and volunteering to help keep the indoors and outdoors of the school clean and safe. This eight-hour obligation is required monthly from every family. Some of the ways this time will be put to use includes sanitizing cots and toys, cleaning the kitchen, removing rubbish, washing windows, preparing lessons for the classroom, assisting during field trips, and tending to the garden. The workload is shared evenly through the many ‘ohana and there are penalizations if these requirements are not met. Working together, families will help make a difference and keep the building looking nice while making it sanitary for the keiki. It is a time for the ‘ohana to come together and work as a team and build up the program.

Pūnana Leo o Maui is conveniently located in the heart of Wailuku on the grounds of Ka‘ahumanu Church. Upon entering the facility, a deep sense of history is immediately felt. The playground is large and filled with many fun things for the children. A personal cubby is set up for each keiki to put their slippers in upon entering the school. The facility is bright and well organized with plenty of space for the children to learn.

The kumu are patient and nurturing while instructing the keiki, speaking only in Hawaiian. The walls are filled with many common words, colors and objects, all in Hawaiian. Students start their day with snacks, clean up and interaction with other keiki in the play area. When everyone is finished, it is circle time. The kumu lead the keiki in songs to get the wiggles out and have some silly fun. Smiles and laughter fill the room as the children learn together during this special time. They work

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Kumu Pua Park works with the children during circle time

KeOlaMagazine.com | Maui County, October/November 2014

on learning the days of the week, the current date and common body parts. Then, keiki and kumu face the Hawaiian Flag and recite a Hawaiian chant to finish the day. It is a very respectful moment that many would be proud to see.

The school schedule is five days a week and it is a ten and a half month program. Hours of operation are from 7:30am– 5pm Monday through Friday. The keiki are served a morning snack, lunch and an afternoon snack. A balanced routine of playtime, rest and learning are carried out daily. There are 30 students enrolled in this program with a keiki/kumu ratio of 7:1.

Curriculum is delivered to the students in the Hawaiian language.

This program welcomes keiki of all ethnicities, and knowledge of the Hawaiian language is not required to attend.

Pūnana Leo o Maui opened its doors on November 10, 1987 as the third Hawaiian language immersion preschool in Hawai‘i.

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Since its opening day, this community-based program has served over 600 families and it continues to grow. This is a highly sought after school and each year they turn away thirty to fifty families due to the fact that the facility can’t hold any more students. It’s clear that they need a bigger space and more staff to accommodate the need. There are plans for an incredible new school to be built in the future that would allow admission to double. There are some funds set aside for this project, but more donations are going to be needed and are always accepted.

This school is a treasured asset to our community. It has taught so much culture and treasured values to the keiki.

Families take away a lot from the program: relationships, Hawaiian culture and lifelong friendships. They also offer Hawaiian language classes to adults through a partnership with University of Hawai‘i, Maui College.

This school’s mission statement bursts with true aloha: “The Pūnana Leo movement grew out of a dream that there be reestablished throughout Hawai‘i the mana of a living Hawaiian language from the depths of our origins. The Pūnana Leo family initiates, provides for and nurtures various Hawaiian language environments. Our families are the living essence of these environments and we find our strength in our spirituality, love of our language, love of our people, love of our land and love of our knowledge.” This program speaks to the mind while touching the heart. Pūnana Leo is changing families for the better, one preschooler at time. ❖ Contact Writer Bridgett Parker: jbparker4@gmail.com Contact Pūnana Leo o Maui: 808.244.5676 and http://www.ahapunanaleo.org/

Maui’s Voyaging Canoe | By Katherine Kama‘ema‘e Smith Photos copyright Charlie Osborn 2014

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Hawaiian Balance of Old and New, Male and Female

Hawaiian formal protocol balances past and future, inviting kūpuna (elders), spirits of kūpuna from past generations, ‘aumākua (spirit protectors) and akua (god) to share in and bless the future success of the voyaging canoe. Actions and decisions undertaken on launch day honored the wisdom of

seven generations past, and considered the impact on seven generations into the future. Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani, the product of thousands of donations of service, materials and cash, was offered to a Maui community that encompasses everything: sky, mountain, sea, ancestors, people, and Maui’s future children.

Other Hawaiian voyaging canoes were named for places or stars, but Mo‘okiha carries a name purposely created from male and female elements dear to Lāhainā. As all wa‘a kaulua, Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani’s left hull is female, the right male. A female apprentice navigator, Kala Baybayan, joins Captain Timi Gilliom at the helm. The crew and Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua Board of Directors are mixed. The name given to the wa‘a kaulua by Aunty Mahi Poepoe has both female and male elements: Kiha for the female mo‘o (lizard or dragon) goddess Kihawahine, and Pi‘ilani for the 16th century Mo‘i (high chief) of Maui. Kihawahine was also the ‘aumakua of the Pi‘ilani family on Maui.

Building on the Success of Mo‘olele

For Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua and Maui’s Hawaiian community, the launch carried out an important kuleana (responsibility): to perpetuate traditional canoe building, sailing and wayfinding on Maui for coming generations. “She’s Maui’s canoe, built by Maui hands, and moored in Maui waters,” said Hui o Wa‘a Board Member Donna Sterling. Sterling and her late husband Leon Sterling helped build and sailed on Polynesian Voyaging Society’s (PVS) Hōkūle‘a, currently on a worldwide scientific and cultural voyage, Mālama Honua.

Maui’s own voyaging canoe came at a great price. Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua (Assembly of Double-Hulled Canoes) is a non-profit that was formed in 1975 to build Hawaiian canoes. By 1976 they had already launched Mo‘olele, a single-masted, 42-foot doublehull designed and built by Maui wood carver and canoe builder Levan Keola Sequeira. In a 2013 interview Sequeira told me, “I discovered that canoe elements I modeled from sketches in western explorer’s journals conformed to “divine” or “golden” proportions; that is, perfectly mathematical ratios and geometry found throughout nature that create intrinsic balance, structural strength and flowing lines. Ancient Hawaiians instinctively built their canoes to conform to nature.” He copied the exact lines of the curved ‘iako (struts), and flat pale kai bow and stern pieces

KeOlaMagazine.com | Maui County, October/November 2014

n July 11th, 2014, after 18 years of fits and starts, Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani, the first ocean-going Hawaiian voyaging canoe launched from Maui in 600 years, met her destiny. The sacred imagery in a traditional Polynesian launching ceremony is birthing. Mother ‘āina, represented by a large ceremonial rock, connected by a 100-foot ti leaf rope umbilical cord, to the newborn canoe, poised to enter the sea. The wood and lashing from which the canoe was constructed grew up on the land: large tall trees for hull, ‘iako (struts), decking, masts and fittings. In ancient times, coconut fiber became the miles of lashing cord that held every part together. To live and function, the umbilical cord must be severed from the land, releasing Mo‘okiha to sail the deep blue Pacific.

Celebrating and commemorating this birth in the midst of 800 onlookers were scores of Hawaiian, Tahitian and Māori kūpuna (elders) dignitaries. Maui elders from the Royal Order of Kamehameha, Hale o Nā Ali‘i, ‘Ahahui Ka‘ahumanu, and Nā Wahine Hui o Kamehameha. All brought ho‘okupu (offerings) to honor the canoe and her crew. As Kahu Kapono‘ai Molitau and Kumu Keli‘i Tau‘a blessed the canoe and chanted, kūpuna held the cord, adding their mana (spiritual energy) to the rite. When the ceremony was perfected, Kumu Tau‘a cut the cord and the magnificent canoe rolled down the ramp. Onlookers, breathless with anticipation and in awe of the historic event before them, cheered as the bow lifted off its trailer and swayed in the ocean currents. Amid applause, shouts and many tears, the escort boat Scorpio towed Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani away from Māla Wharf. The baby sprang to life, gliding through the windy chop. She was alive and breathing. Surrounded by colorful racing canoes and outriggers full of watermen and paddlers, she turned south for Pākalā Beach in Lāhainā. High expectations, delayed for nearly two decades, found spiritual and emotional release.

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Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani Crew receiving ho‘okupu

unique to Hawaiian canoes, not knowing their functions. When they sailed Mo‘olele, swells passing between the hulls flowed underneath the ‘iako—without impeding forward motion. The flat-faced bow lifted the hull over the swell instead of cutting it.

“Hawaiians were great engineers,” said Sequeira.

Uncle Charlie Lindsey told the launch ceremony audience about the Mo‘olele name. He said that when a lizard drops into a pond, it immediately swims to the closest bank and hops out. The hull of a canoe is called a “mo‘o” and is shaped like the body of a lizard. “We wanted this canoe to find landfall—like a mo‘o. “Lele” means to fly or jump.” Anyone who has seen Mo‘olele under sail knows that this canoe flies in the wind and jumps over the swells with ease.

After 38 years, Mo‘olele still serves as a Maui voyaging classroom, and a design standard for Hawaiian double-hull canoes. In 2015, Mo‘okiha will become the flagship for Hui o Wa‘a educational outreach, and Mo‘olele will be taken into dry dock for complete refinishing.

A Twisting Road to the Future

KeOlaMagazine.com | Maui County, October/November 2014

Ke Ola shares inspiring stories about life in Maui County, for everyone who loves it here!

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Sequeira also designed Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani in 1996. In 1998, when it was 90 percent finished, a coup occurred in the organization. Work ceased until the new regime decided to rebuild the canoe as a replica of Hōkūle‘a, which had successfully navigated to French Polynesia, Micronesia, Japan and Rapanui.

In 2002 Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua hired Captain Timi Gilliom, who had helped build PVS canoes. For twelve years he and a few helpers slowly rebuilt Mo‘okiha with compartmentalized hulls, straight ‘iako and a high profile to ride the swells. All that time, the future of ocean voyaging by Maui sailors depended on one act of liberation—finishing Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani and moving her from dry dock where she sat imprisoned in a web of controversy and disappointment.

PVS in O‘ahu tried to put away failures they encountered in their novice years: fights among the crewmembers, sailing in bad weather and losing Eddie Aikau—but their difficult lessons became wisdom for future decisions—an organizational culture of cooperation, a drive to excel, and a standard operating procedure of caution and safety first. Like PVS, Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua wanted to forget their power struggles and move on. Disagreements, dashed hopes of ever finishing the canoe, scolding from kūpuna canoe builders for denying the canoe its destiny—made it very difficult to rally the Maui community one more time.

In 2010 a new community leader and waterman named Kimokeo Kapahulehua joined Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua with a vision to finish the canoe project. As new volunteers raised funds and created attention for the canoe, he reached out to the people who began the Hui and built its canoes. “These canoes don’t

A Race to The Future

The heavy seas that Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua has weathered ran them to a new starting line. Ahead is the huge task of maintaining Mo‘okiha, supporting Hawaiian cultural ceremonies, and developing a strong educational outreach to youth and adults that perpetuates Hawaiian voyaging, wayfinding, celestial

CJ Elizares (foreground) and other Mo‘okiha crew work on the vessel before launch day

navigation and sustainability. “We did all of this without much infrastructure,” says Captain Gilliom. “Now we need a full time professional administrator, and a staff educator to support all our voyages and educational programs.”

Kapahulehua acknowledges the need for full time paid staff to maintain and grow his organization of volunteers so they can meet their mission. “Our donors are excellent. A few big grants came in, and many, many small donors gave generously so we could meet our launch goals. We are grateful to everyone.” A broad cross-section of Maui backs Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua, including The Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, Alexander & Baldwin, Matson, Patricia Grace Steele Trust, Aloha Makana Foundation, Old Lahaina Lu‘au, Inc., Lahaina Ace Hardware, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Trust Company of America, Lana‘i Resorts LLC, ATC Makena Management Services Corp., Punahoa, Lahaina Welding Company, Gunn Brothers Trucking, The O. L. Moore Foundation, Maui Oceanfront Marathon, Tri-Isle Conservation, Hula Grill, Ameritus Charitable Foundation, Committee Films, Lahaina Shores, and a host of others.

Following launch, Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua invited the whole community to Kamehameha Iki Park where they served over 1,000 dinners donated by Old Lahaina Lu‘au and the fabulous restaurants of the Kā‘anapali Resort Association. Local artists Amy Hanaiali‘i, Da Ukulele Boys, Hula Honeys, Marty Dread and the Old Lahaina Lu‘au dancers gave performances. KPOA Radio broadcasted the event live. Videographers and photographers, sound engineers, all donated their services.

Now that the Maui community is involved, what’s next? The Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani crew is conducting sea trials and training themselves on double masts in all kinds of weather. During hurricane season, hauling the canoe out and into the ocean on short notice is good emergency training. In 2015, they will begin educational voyages to all Hawaiian Islands. Kapahulehua is realistic about the upcoming needs. “Our budget is five times bigger than before we went in the water.” He wants a professional staff that can generate the level of funding the future requires. “To meet our mission and keep these wa‘a in good condition for the next five years, we need to raise between five to ten million dollars.” That’s a big number for any organization; for the little Hawaiian hui at 525 Front Street that never gives up, and just launched Maui’s first trans-oceanic voyaging canoe in 600 years? They just may do it. ❖ Contact Writer Katherine Kama‘ema‘e Smith: honumaui@gmail.com Contact photographer Charlie Osborn: charlieosborn.com Contact Hui O Wa‘a Kaulua: HuiOWaa.org

KeOlaMagazine.com | Maui County, October/November 2014

belong to any one person or group—they belong to Maui, and to Kanaloa,” said Kapahulehua. “It was up to us to ask everyone ever associated with the canoe to return and be involved again.

It wasn’t my fight, but it was my kuleana to open our doors to everyone. We asked others to help us reach out. We prayed—we got out the news that Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani was going in the water.

If they wanted to be a part of the launch, we wanted them here.” Even as the day approached, Kapahulehua admitted that hurt feelings and resentment kept some Maui canoe builders and voyagers away. Just two weeks before launch, Uncle Hector Hekenukumai Busby from New Zealand called Timi Gilliom to say that he and his caregiver would fly to Lāhainā, “to see this waka (canoe in Māori) finally go in the water.” Ray Bumatai, a Tahitian canoe builder living on Hawai‘i island announced he would be there. Maui canoe builder Uncle Charlie Lindsey who first built Mo‘olele and Mo‘okiha, and famed Kumu Hula Roselle Lindsey Bailey, graced the launch ceremonies with their presence. It was a time of great healing. The elders of West Maui and dignitaries from the Royal Order of Kamehameha came in full regalia. “For us, it was the ultimate affirmation that Aloha is stronger than all our pride, fears or misgivings. For me it was very emotional,” said Kapahulehua.

Like PVS, Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua moves with a new wisdom: that Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani belongs to Maui’s past, present and future; that being a crew member is a serious, 24/7 responsibility to the canoe and to fellow crewmembers, and that land crew is just as important as sea crew. These are basic lessons of Hawaiian stewardship.

Many non-profits organize to do one project and fail to survive to do another. A rare few succeed in generating sustaining funds and meeting a long-range community need. Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua continues after 38 years—proof that challenges and setbacks are just as important to mastery as thrills and victory.

Another lesson learned by Hui o Wa‘a canoe builder and engineer, Charlie Noland, is that canoes are “built out,” without blueprints and formal plans. “Maui boat builders and marine suppliers don’t know how to help us on this traditional style canoe. I drafted and built booms, sleeping decks above the hulls, hull compartments, on-deck lockers and boxes for storage.

When we asked PVS what watertight gaskets to use, we found they were looking for gaskets too. Everything we do is for the first time.” A custom boat trailer with a 20-foot tongue had to be built at Lahaina Welding. When a long shaft outboard engine was donated to the Hui, Noland had to draft a metal engine housing and volunteer Tommy Fernandes made it in his Boston machine shop. “We finished the housing on launch day—just in the nick of time,” said Noland.

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Cover Artist:

Loren D. Adams, Jr.

Loren shares, “The image came to me in a recurring dream on three nights: March 10, 11, and 12 of 2010. When I asked members of the Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua what the dreams meant, they told me that Herb Kane had passed away on the night of March 10th and that he obviously wanted me to finish the project he had started years earlier.” Herb Kāne had painted the image that inspired the Hōkūle‘a. Loren continues, “I started the painting just as I saw it in the dream and completed it before I ever saw the actual canoe. Kimokeo Kapahulehua had me bring the painting to the Hui to share with the members that September (2011). When the artwork sells I will be donating 35% of the sale price to the Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua for building more of Herb Kāne’s canoe designs in the future.”

KeOlaMagazine.com | Maui County, October/November 2014

Contact Loren D. Adams: Loren@LorenAdams.com

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“Maiden Voyage of the Mo‘okiha o Pi‘ilani”

Changing Lives Through Friendship

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| By Seth Raabe

Contact Writer Seth Raabe: SethRaabe@gmail.com Contact Best Buddies: MichaelMcCormick@bestbuddies.org

KeOlaMagazine.com | Maui County, October/November 2014

Susan Moulton. There are also plans to start a chapter on Lāna‘i. hat would it be like to go through life without a The others in the State include 6 high school and 3 intermediate friend? Imagine navigating the formative years of grade school school chapters on O‘ahu. Best Buddies Maui receives funding without peer companionship. This is a reality that many young from a variety of private donors, charitable foundations, and from people with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) face, the County of Maui. on top of their other challenges. Hawaii State school system State Director Michael McCormick heads the organization, ranks one of the lowest in the US in terms of which began on Maui inclusiveness of kids with IDD. That means that seven years ago with special-needs students rarely get opportunities both Baldwin and to develop the social skills necessary for “real Maui High. McCormick life.” There are lots of reasons for the traditional says when IDD kids isolation arrangement such as safety, academic get to have one-onskill levels, and the burden on teachers. However, one friendships with kids with special needs are diverse in their abilities non-IDD kids, “It and deserve to develop their knowledge, skills and inspires them to try social life like anyone else. and learn in ways they About 87% of people with IDD leave school wouldn’t otherwise... and remain jobless and dependent on the It’s a huge ‘ohana Best Buddies booth, “club day” government and their families to survive. For a extended to these at Baldwin High School large number of these children throughout the young men and women, organization.” This offers the support system these the main obstacle is not kids need to be their best and meet the challenges physical or mental... they face in life. its social. Best Buddies Maui High School Faculty Advisor Christine Hawaii is working to Wada and chapter President Shantel Longboy improve the lives of recently attended the Best Buddies International those with Intellectual Leadership Conference on the campus of Indiana Thanksgiving celebration with State University in Bloomington. There they received and Developmental Maui High’s Best Buddies group the award for “Top High School Chapter in Hawai‘i.”

Disabilities and everyone else, as well. It’s a simple Wada said, “You have to go to understand the idea: pair IDD students with non-IDD students to create one-toscale of this organization...” The previous year, Baldwin High one relationships that are mutually beneficial. Non-IDD students School Chapter President Taylor Smith accepted an award for the get the chance to make a difference in someone’s life while Lokelani Intermediate School chapter, which she helped to start learning social sensitivity and care-taking skills, and IDD students when she was a student officer there in 2009. get invaluable experience with peers outside the world of the Also noteworthy at the conference, it was announced that special-needs class. Both benefit from the opportunity of a new the entertainment giant MGM Grand has committed to hiring friendship that can last a lifetime. at least 8% of its workforce with IDD; that’s the percent of Best Buddies Hawaii is part of Best Buddies International, the general population with IDD. It’s an impressive gesture of which has programs in 50 countries around the world. In Maui corporate responsibility in a time when profit seems to dominate nei, Best Buddies has chapters at Baldwin High School, King every business decision. Wada says that Safeway and now Kekaulike High School, Lahainaluna High School, Lokelani Foodland have made commitments along similar lines. The event Intermediate, Maui High School, and Seabury Hall. A new Maui included more than 2,000 student leaders and educators from Waena Intermediate School chapter was started with help from around the world discussing topics like how to end bullying.

HC&S. Hana High School will be the next home of a new Best Individual Best Buddies chapters have to raise their own funds to Buddies chapter, with a generous donation from benefactor attend events like this one in Indiana.

A fundraising event everyone is looking forward to is the “Life is Sweet” celebration, sponsored by the Wailea Baldwin High School’s Best Beach Marriott and being held at the Buddies Chapter, 2009 Shops at Wailea on Saturday, November 8th from 2–5pm at the shopping plaza.

The event showcases amazing desserts and savory treats prepared by some of South Maui’s most renowned chefs. ❖

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