The Donkey Mill Art Center will be directing funds raised at the Kona Brewer’s Festival towards their tuition assistance for youth programs.

When was Holualoa Foundation for Arts and Culture founded?

The Holualoa Foundation for Arts & Culture was founded in 1995 with a mission of enhancing the lives of people of all ages and abilities through arts and cultural education. In 2002, we renovated an old coffee processing mill and gave it new life as a thriving community art center.

What are some of the Donkey Mill Art Center’s proudest moments and biggest sucesses?

Each day we see the spark of creativity ignited in a child or an elder is a successful day at the Donkey Mill Art Center. We are honored to host internationally recognized artists as well as beginning students who have never explored their creative or cultural identity.

What are some of the biggest/most exciting challenges ahead?

The strategic plan of the Donkey Mill Art Center is to build an Artist-In-Residence program on our campus that would provide housing and studio space for emerging and established artists. We would also like to build a performance space in order to expand our program offerings for the community. We envision a destination art center where people from all over the world will gather to share inspirations, imaginations and aloha.

And how do you plan to face those challenges?

The continuing success of the Donkey Mill Art Center depends on the generosity of members and art supporters. We get a great amount of work done with volunteer help and in-kind contributions, but financial donations are always respectfully appreciated. Every dollar counts.

How can the community help/get involved?

The Donkey Mill Art Center thrives on the dedication and commitment of many volunteers. Some of the ways you can contribute include helping in the studios, office, and retail shop as well as gardening, cleaning, and building maintenance. There’s always something happening at the Mill!

Links

• The Donkey Mill Art Center
• Donkey Mill Art Center on Facebook
• Donkey Mill Art Center on Twitter
• Donkey Mill Art Center Events
• Donkey Mill Art Center Classes and Programs
• Donkey Mill Art Center Class Registration
• Contribute to Donkey Mill Art Center

Hawai’i Montessori Schools will be directing funds raised at the Kona Brewer’s Festival towards their tuition assistance program. This will be Hawai’i Montessori’s 6th year of organizing the Kona Brewer’s Festival Golf Tournament at the Big Island Country Club.

When was Hawai’i Montessori Schools founded?

Hawai’i Montessori Schools first opened August 1980 in Kamuela. We started out as a preschool program offering early childhood education using the Montessori Methodology and Philosophy for children ages 3-6 years old. In 1992 HMS opened a second campus in Kailua-Kona at the current Manawale’a location. Over the years we opened a Toddler programs at both campuses providing E.C.E. to children ages 15 months to three years old.

What are some of Hawai’i Montessori Schools’s proudest moments and biggest successes?

Our proudest moments is the success of our students after they have left us. We see many of our students as young adults now and many have been successful in their academic career. We also have parents of former students who attribute the success of their children to their time at Montessori.

In the Kona Campus Garden

What are some of the biggest/most exciting challenges ahead?

Currently, we see the need to be able to reach out to families of young children. In West Hawai’i 52% of children entering Kindergarten have never had any early childhood education experience, this includes home and center care, because their families can not afford the full cost of quality care. Now with Hawai’i being one of the Race to the Top schools for K-12, these young children will be starting at a disadvantage compared to their peers who have had early childhood education experience.

And how do you plan to face those challenges?

We are doing our best to meet this challenge by writing grants and putting on fundraising events, such as the Bill Healy Foundation’s KBF Golf Tournament to raise funds for our Financial Aid program. Each year we have been fortunate to have received funds from foundations as McInerny, G. N. Wilcox, Samuel N. & Mary Castle Foundation as well as funds from the Bill Healy Foundation. We also do other fundraisers, such as the Keiki WinterFest at the Keauhou Shopping Center and the Annual Benefit Luau in Kamuela. With these funds, and in some part through our operating budget, we do our best to provide as much financial aid as we can. We accept children who are receiving child care subsidies through the Department of Human Services. Hawai’i Montessori Schools is also on Kamehameha Schools list of participating school for the Pauahi Keiki Scholars scholarship.

Learning in the Kamuela Campus classroom.

How can the community help/get involved?

It is very important for the community at large to become very aware of how important early childhood education is for the young child. These children are our youngest constituents of our community and the only have us to be their voice. The Good Beginnings Alliance has a Be My Voice campaign which is meant to bring to the awareness of the importance of ECE (early childhood education) to the community and political forefront.

Links

• Hawai’i Montessori Schools
• Hawai’i Montessori Schools on Facebook
• Hawai’i Montessori Programs
• Hawai’i Montessori Admissions
• Hawai’i Montessori Schools Photos

SKEA will be directing funds raised at the Kona Brewer’s Festival towards their Art Camps for children aged 5-13 from South Kona and Kau, which aim to increase the availability for culturally enriching activities for children and youth and stimulate creative thinking and improve communication skills.

SKEA also has a solar project now underway. By the end of February, a lot of their activity will powered by solar!

When was SKEA founded?

Founded in 1981 by a group of young families who wanted to provide education in the arts for their own and others’ children, SKEA now provides activities in the arts to over 1200 children each year, through two major programs: the Art of Learning, which brings teaching artists into Kona schools for curriculum based art projects; and Art Camps, fun weeks of creative activities during the school breaks.

What are some of SKEA’s proudest moments and biggest successes?

Our biggest successes come from our programs. SKEA is dedicated to providing excellent activities in the arts for children at a reasonable cost. The Art of Learning is free to the schools and the tuition for Art Camps is very reasonable, thanks to the loyal support from funders like the Kona Brewers’ Festival. We regularly receive very positive feedback from classroom teachers and parents who evaluate our programs.

The work that SKEA does in local schools and their center in Honaunau, South Kona, provides education and projects for children in the arts that would not happen otherwise.

What are some of the biggest/most exciting challenges ahead?

Challenges abound in the non-profit world. Obtaining enough money to run the programs and maintain the property and two historic (and very old) buildings at our site are our biggest challenges. SKEA keeps overhead very low and earns money through fundraising and other endeavors, but it is never enough and therefore we are grateful for the support of individual donors and grantors from private foundations and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Another challenge that we face is our location-it is a mixed blessing. SKEA is in a rural, mauka area about 20 miles from the population center of Kailua Kona. It is beautiful up here, but it is hard to get people from the makai areas to make the journey. However, we are in a community that has few resources, and so our activities are greatly appreciated and supported by the local residents.

And how do you plan to face those challenges?

We can’t do anything about our location, and so we are making improvements to our facility so that it is a delightful, ‘old Hawai‘i’ place to take a class or have an event. The funding issues are a universal challenge for non-profits; we will continue to watch our expenses and to hold our own fundraising events and to help at other events like the Kona Brewers’ Festival.

The work that SKEA does in local schools and their center in Honaunau, South Kona, provides education and projects for children in the arts that would not happen otherwise.

How can the community help/get involved?

SKEA is always open to the participation of new people. Our facility is available for people to use for their own programs, such as classes or small events, that are within our mission. Currently we have classes in tai chi, Pilates, hula, ukulele, and yoga, and small groups that meet for printmaking, sumi-e, and quilting. (See the calendar of events.) We encourage membership in the organization, and individual donations are always welcome. 84% of our budget goes to programs.

Links

• Society for Kona’s Education & Art
• SKEA on Facebook
• SKEA Art Camps
• Art of Learning: Bringing art to schools
• Join or donate to SKEA
• Classes and Workshops at SKEA
• SKEA Photos

When was Aloha Performing Arts Company founded?

APAC was founded in 1986 with the mission of enriching the lives of Hawaii residents and visitors by presenting quality theatre and providing theatre education. APAC also maintains and operates a venue which provides opportunities for APAC and other organizations to present performing arts. We are a nonprofit 501c3, run primarily by donations from the community we serve.

What are some of APAC’s proudest moments and biggest successes?

In the last six years, we have been able to grow from four mainstage productions a year into hosting a gala event, two fundraising shows, and six mainstage productions.

What are some of the biggest/most exciting challenges ahead?

We are currently trying to expand our theatre education program into a full-time, self-sustaining program. We hired an education director last year to teach and manage the program, and in the last 6 months it has seen enrollment triple. We are incredibly excited about the momentum and promise of the program!

A slideshow from the APAC’s production of The King and I:

How can the community help/get involved?

The biggest thing we need from the community is attendance to both our mainstage and education events. (See the Aloha Theatre Schedule.) We want them to come enjoy the theatre and tell their friends about it. If they want to volunteer we are also looking for concession workers, instructors and production crew and of course monetary donations would never be turned away.

Links

• Aloha Performing Arts Company
• APAC on Facebook
• APAC on Twitter
• Donate to APAC
• Volunteering at APAC
• Classes and Workshops at APAC
• APAC Photos

When was Kona-Kohala Chefs founded?

Our island chapter of the American Culinary Federation was founded in 1978 with twelve members. Today, there are more than fifty chapter members, plus a College Junior Chef Chapter and a High School Junior Chef Chapter.

The American Culinary Federation, founded in 1929, is the largest professional, not for profit organization for Chefs and Cooks in the United States. ACF membership provides opportunities for professional development, career building, and networking. More that 20,000 culinarians and food service professionals have joined the ACF for information, education, inspiration, and prestige.

What are some of the Academy’s proudest moments and biggest successes?

Our membership has won a number of awards and medals over the years, and we are very proud:

• Hermann G. Rusch Achievement Award – Western Region 2010 Chef Jean Hull, CCE, AAC
• ACF Presidents Medallion – Chef Vernon Wong, CEC, 2007
• ACF National Chef and Child ‘Little Oscar’ – 2002, 2006, 2008
• Western Region CCF ‘Little Oscar’ – 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
• Western Region: “Are you Really ACF?” – Gold Medal 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006
• ACF Western Region Service Award – 2006
• ACF Chapter Award – 2004, 2005
• ACF Western Region Chef of the Year – Vernon Wong, CEC, 2000
• ACF Western Region Student Culinarian – Keo Velasques (2003), Tasha Sheldon (2002), Cy Yamamoto (1999)

What are some of the biggest/most exciting challenges ahead?

We are embarking on a project to Equip the Kitchens at Palamanui, the new Hawaii Community College in West Hawaii opening in 2014. We are currently trying to raise $1 million for the project. We have a huge campaign to help this project become reality, and there have already been significant milestones reached.

How can the community help/get involved?

We will certainly be looking for help from the community on the Palamanui Project. You can watch our Events page and Facebook page for more information.

The Big Island of Hawaii offers many culinary events throughout the year. Our chapter holds two fundraising events. The premier fundraising event ‘Christmas at The Fairmont Orchid’ celebrated its 23rd anniversary in 2011, and assists with scholarships for our members and student culinarians.

Our second benefit is the Chef and Child ‘Q’uisine of Hearts, Feb. 12th 2012 (this Sunday!), supports nutrition education for children in Kona and Kohala, giving children a gift that lasts a lifetime: making wise food choices. We are connected with the ACF Chef & Child Foundation: a philanthropic arm of the ACF.

Links

• ACF Kona-Kohala Chefs de Cuisine
• Kona-Kohala Chefs Events
• Palamanui Project
• Chef & Child Foundation
• ACF Kona-Kohala Chefs de Cuisine on Facebook

We are very happy to announce that Sunetric will continue working together to sponsoring solar installation training for corps members of Kupu’s programs. This will be our second year with the program, which was announced last March.

Kupu seeks to train and educate Hawaii’s youth in the growing green job sector. Having completed orientations on product safety and installation protocol, corps members will be on site all day with Sunetric installation teams throughout February at Whole Sale Unlimited in Waipahu, Pacific Fish Instruction, and a residential apartment complex in Makiki.

This partnership will run until May 11, 2012. Kupu and Sunetric launched a pilot program last year, with Sunetric donating materials and staff time to run weekly labs that introduced corps members to a range of job opportunities at Sunetric, from initial sales to actual installations. After corps members gained foundational skills, they joined Sunetric field crews to assist with residential and commercial installations.

“Kupu is excited to be continuing our partnership with Sunetric,” said Kupu Executive Director John Leong. “Our pilot partnership last year with Sunetric revealed numerous benefits for our corps members including character building as well as on the job skills training; we thank Sunetric for their commitment and look forward to another successful year.”

“Sunetric continues to explore opportunities to invest in our local community” said Sunetric CEO Alex Tiller. “Partnerships with organizations like Kupu is especially important because while we’re providing real life jobs training for corps members, we’re also educating them about the importance of creating a clean, renewable energy future for Hawaii.”

Sunetric is currently conducting a weekly job training class that consists of 10 youth from Kupu programs. The youth receiving this training are being educated on the installation of photovoltaic panels. Members from Kupu’s Urban Corps and Youth Energy Assessment Hawaii (YEAH) programs are gaining a unique experience through this Sunetric training. Provided that positions are available, there may be the possibility of employment when the class is completed.

When was Hualalai Academy founded?

Hualalai was founded and incorporated as an independent school in 1996. It is fully accredited by the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

What are some of the Academy’s proudest moments and biggest successes?

Of course our greatest success stories are our students: They are engaged, active learners, and active participants in the community. It is very gratifying to watch them forge successful lives in college and beyond.

As a school, we are very proud of being named a Hawaii “School of the Future” by the Hawaii Community Foundation. This designation recognizes and supports our innovative programs and statewide leadership in 21st Century Learning pedagogy and curriculum. Through our unique approach, our students are engaged in learning environments that are rigorous, challenging, engaging, creative, collaborative, and project based. This prepares them for the critical thinking and problem solving that they will face in college and in the real world of the 21st Century.

We were also proud of our BIIF High School athletes. In the spring of 2011, Hualalai Academy won the Kaimana Award for BIIF Division 2, a statewide competition that recognized our school as a leader in athletic participation, academic excellence and community service.

What are some of the biggest/most exciting challenges ahead?

We are excited to continue to grow, define and expand our 21st Century Learning Initiatives and continue to be leaders on the local, state and national level in this area.

We are poised to grow our enrollment at all levels, and particularly at the High School level. We are excited to introduce new students and families to the wonderful learning environment at Hualalai Academy.

In 2009, Hualalai Academy was able to purchase our (almost) fifteen-acre campus from Palani Ranch, with the help of First Hawaiian Bank. Our challenge is to now raise the funds to pay off our loan and own the land outright. We have received support from the Atherton Foundation and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, but our campaign continues through the summer of 2012.

And how do you plan to face those challenges?

Through our marketing and outreach, we are planning to continue to showcase our learning environment and educate the Kona Community about our 21st Century Learning approach. In fact, in February of 2012, three of our teachers will be presenting at the National Association of Independent Schools Conference in Seattle Washington on this topic.

How can the community help/get involved?

We welcome community support in any way, including time, energy and expertise! We would like to invite the Kona Community to visit our campus and see what we do by attending our Open Houses and other school events, including school musicals and plays; sports matches; our exhibitions of learning in science, the arts and humanities. We also welcome visitors to our campus throughout the regular school day.

We invite the community to join us at the Four Seasons Resort on Saturday, February 18 for our Annual Gala Fundraiser. The theme for this year is “Imagine…”

Links

• Hualalai Academy
• Hualalai 21st Century Learning Initiative
• Ways to Suppoort Hualalai Academy, and The Hualalai Academy 2011/2012 Annual Fund
• Hualalai Academy on Facebook

Every month, Sunetric introduces you to a member of the Sunetric family. The Sunetric commitment to top-notch service is a value shared by every member of our company, and each of our employees has something special to offer our customers and all of Hawaii. As a full-service solar integrator, our expertise spans every part of the consultation, design, and installation process.

This month, meet Anthony Garnett, our multi-talented Inside Sales and Customer Service Coordinator.

People Person

As our Inside Sales and Customer Service Coordinator, Anthony processes all customer contracts that come into the company and screens each contract to make sure everything we need to proceed with installation is included. Anthony tells us it’s the perfect job:

“I am currently working within the company to fine tune our customer service department and interdepartmental communication. I aspire to become the director of customer service for Sunetric because I enjoy working with our customers and would like to utilize my customer service background – I love people. I’m pleased to have the opportunity to talk with customers on a regular basis to solve problems quickly and efficiently and I strive to improve communications at Sunetric, both with our customers and my coworkers.”

Communication in All Its Forms

Born and raised in southern New Jersey, Anthony’s passion for environmentalism drew him to working for Greenpeace before coming to Sunetric. He is currently pursuing solar product training through SunPower. But there’s more to Anthony than a love of Earth and working with people – he regularly performs slam poetry and is considering going back to school to pursue a degree in literature. He’s even put his talents to work at Sunetric:

“My proudest moment at Sunetric was seeing the inspiration that I was able to provide to the Boys and Girls Club in Kailua when I was a guest performer for a poetry slam we held with the students.”

His favorite part of working at Sunetric are the opportunities he gets to go to schools and perform for students in an educational setting, allowing him to be a part of our community outreach efforts while utilizing his creativity. He recently came with us to Waialae Elementary School to kick off their Energy Art & Poetry Contest and the kids loved it.

Anthony performs spoken word, slam poetry, and underground hip-hop as part of his group Saturated pHat three nights a week – in town, Waikiki, and in Sunetric’s homebase of Kailua. You can catch Anthony, who goes by Epitome MC on stage, performing at Indigo, The Dragon Upstairs, Boardriders, and Jazz Minds in Honolulu. He also enjoys writing, working out, and playing hacky-sack. He also works as a personal trainer and makes it a point to go to the beach at least once a week!

Last Friday, we traveled to Waialae Elementary Public Charter School to meet with the students who use the school every day to show them photos of their new PV system and explain how it works, teaching about the importance of renewable energy and why energy conservation is so important to our islands and to the world.

We also kicked off and will be sponsoring a school-wide art and poetry contest and will be awarding students and displaying entries at the school’s annual Fun Fair in February!

The Energy Art & Poetry Contest for the school’s 460 students, from kindergarten to fifth grade. Students will compete on a grade level basis and will be asked to submit either a poster or poem that portrays environmental problems related to energy and what they can do be part of the solution. A Sunetric team will judge the entries and the winner for each grade level will be announced at the school’s annual Fun Fair on Saturday, February 25th; each winner will receive an iPod, courtesy of Sunetric. In addition, the company will donate $500 of referral fees to the school for each Waialae Elementary family that goes solar with Sunetric this school year.

“This partnership with Sunetric enables us to put our words into action and help demonstrate to our students the importance of being socially and environmentally responsible,” said Waialae Elementary School Principal Wendy Lagareta, “and with our recent PV system installation, we want our students to take pride in our school’s efforts in being green.”

The photovoltaic energy system at Waialae Elementary generates an average of 19,500 kWh of electricity per month, yielding monthly savings of nearly $1,000. With energy and cost savings, the school is estimated to prevent annual greenhouse gas emissions from 32 passenger vehicles and CO2 emissions from 375 barrels of oil each year.

“We’re extremely grateful for partnerships such as these. Having the opportunity to educate Hawaii’s youth is a vital step in helping to create a more sustainable future.” — Sunetric CEO Alex Tiller

KHON2: Be Green 2: Public charter school sets example for going green