live our lifestyle...follow our dreams and
just be Hawaiians
BELIEVING
MNHCoC Events are Live Again!...with the statewide and county COVID-19 restrictions lifted -Welcome Back!
We are already preparing the following in-person Events (details coming soon):
- July/August Second MokuMoku Screening Maui -Westsdie Location.
- August/September Preview Hālau of ʻŌiwi Arts -Wailuku Civic Complex.
- Fall 2023 Hui Holomua, full-day Business Fest conference October 2023.
Ua Pau...
end of June '23.
- (Ua Pau...)Thursday, June 29, 2023, started at 5:30pm
- Annual Meeting/Election/Dinner/Keynote Speaker: Mayor Bissen
Harry & Jeanette Weinburg Family Center
Maui Economic Opportunity Classroom
99 Mahalani St, Wailuku
Ua Pau...
end of May '23.
Screening-TalkStory-GoodEats
Ua Pau...
- 2022 Annual Mtg/Board Elections
Last Year (2022) Dinner, Keynote Speaker and Board Elections by the general membership, in-person at the Maui Economic Opportunity Classroom.
We were blessed and honored to have Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau as our KeyNote Speaker for this years in-person Annual Meeting.
Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau was born on the island of Oʻahu and raised traditionally with the cultural guidance of one of Hawaiiʻs leading authorities in Hula and Chant his makua hānai, the late Kumu Hula, John Keola Lake. His wisdom and guidance instilled years of cultural grounding and culminated in Kaponoʻais ʻuniki as Kumu Hula in 1994. His hālau hula training and traditions come from the hula lineage of Kumu Hula Maiki Aiu Lake of Oʻahu and Kaʻehukaikaae of Maui. His Oli training and traditions come from Kumu Hula, John Keola Lake which was trained by Kumu Hula, Edith Kanakaole of Hawaiʻi and Kaʻehukaikaae of Maui.
Kumu Kapono‘ai has dedicated his life to fulfilling this kuleana not only for today’s generation, but for seven generations which Kumu Lake has said, is the amount of generations needed to ensure that indigenous knowledge is successfully perpetuated and thrives.
In 2003, Kumu Kapono‘ai co-founded Nā Hanona Kūlike ʻO Piʻilani (Nā Hanona), a Maui hālau (traditional Hawaiian school) which teaches hula (dance) and oli (chant). Unlike other hālau in Hawai‘i, Nā Hanona specializes in raising the next generation of kahuna pule (prayer practitioners) whose focus is on the spiritual connection of people and ‘āina (land). In order to conduct this particular practice, Kealaka‘ihonua Heiau, located in Waihe‘e, Maui, was selected as the Hawaiian cultural site in which a traditional school for Hawaiian cultural practitioners can exist.
Another completely separate facet to Kumu Kaponoʻai is as owner of Native Intelligence LLC, a Cultural resource center disguised as a retail store in the heart of Wailuku Town. Here's a video segment produced by HiNow Hawaii and OHA Malama Loans.
Screening-TalkStory-GoodEats
- Wednesday, May 31, 2023
- Tiffany's Restaurant Maui
1424 Lower Main St, Wailuku 96793 - Event SOLD OUT (110 seats)
No ticket sales at the door
Ua Pau...
- 2022 Annual Mtg/Board Elections
Last Year (2022) Dinner, Keynote Speaker and Board Elections by the general membership, in-person at the Maui Economic Opportunity Classroom.
We were blessed and honored to have Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau as our KeyNote Speaker for this years in-person Annual Meeting.
Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau was born on the island of Oʻahu and raised traditionally with the cultural guidance of one of Hawaiiʻs leading authorities in Hula and Chant his makua hānai, the late Kumu Hula, John Keola Lake. His wisdom and guidance instilled years of cultural grounding and culminated in Kaponoʻais ʻuniki as Kumu Hula in 1994. His hālau hula training and traditions come from the hula lineage of Kumu Hula Maiki Aiu Lake of Oʻahu and Kaʻehukaikaae of Maui. His Oli training and traditions come from Kumu Hula, John Keola Lake which was trained by Kumu Hula, Edith Kanakaole of Hawaiʻi and Kaʻehukaikaae of Maui.
Kumu Kapono‘ai has dedicated his life to fulfilling this kuleana not only for today’s generation, but for seven generations which Kumu Lake has said, is the amount of generations needed to ensure that indigenous knowledge is successfully perpetuated and thrives.
In 2003, Kumu Kapono‘ai co-founded Nā Hanona Kūlike ʻO Piʻilani (Nā Hanona), a Maui hālau (traditional Hawaiian school) which teaches hula (dance) and oli (chant). Unlike other hālau in Hawai‘i, Nā Hanona specializes in raising the next generation of kahuna pule (prayer practitioners) whose focus is on the spiritual connection of people and ‘āina (land). In order to conduct this particular practice, Kealaka‘ihonua Heiau, located in Waihe‘e, Maui, was selected as the Hawaiian cultural site in which a traditional school for Hawaiian cultural practitioners can exist.
Another completely separate facet to Kumu Kaponoʻai is as owner of Native Intelligence LLC, a Cultural resource center disguised as a retail store in the heart of Wailuku Town. Here's a video segment produced by HiNow Hawaii and OHA Malama Loans.
Ua Pau...
Bobby Pahia, Taro Farmer...
We were honored and enthralled to have Bobby Pahia and some of his team members share his story with us at the inaugural in-person event of 2022. Bobby is the farm manager of Hawaii Taro Farm LLC supplying dozens of restaurants on island with several varieties of kalo and other crops. Today Bobby grows two-dozen heirloom kalo varieties in Waikapū, including mana ‘ulu, the popular Maui lehua, and the rare ele‘ele naioea.
Born and raised in rural O‘ahu, the green-thumbed Hawaiian moved to Maui in the 1980s to work for the University of Hawai‘i’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Growing up, his friends all had to work on taro farms after school — there was no way he would do that kind of hard labor. Nope. Not happening. Never. Bobby refused to be a taro farmer. In his 30s, something changed. “...my whole mission is to get taro and poi back on people’s tables. Right now today, it’s a luxury item. Another one of my missions is to build biology back in the soil,” says Pahia, “We want to make the taro industry sustainable and affordable.” In addition to Hawaii Taro Farm, Bobby’s extensive farming experience and vision has him serving as a mentor/leader for farmers and others. Bobby is the interim-president of the Mauna Kahalawai Chapter of Hawaii Farmers Union United. He is managing 310-acre Hoaloha Farms and another roughly 300 acres of farmland owned by developer Mike Atherton (as part of 2,000 acres of a planned mixed-use community called “Waikapu Country Town”) Bobby then subleases between 1 and 13 acres to about eight individual farmers.“The intention isn’t to hoard 300 acres,” he said. “I know how hard it is to get land and water. Long-term leases and water security are a hard thing to come by. Hard work, endurance and passion are essentials to farming”. Delicious Dinner was provided by Cafe O'Lei at the Mill House.
Bobby Pahia, Taro Farmer...
- Thursday, Apr 28, 2022
- Tram Station -Maui Tropical Plantation, Waikapū
We were honored and enthralled to have Bobby Pahia and some of his team members share his story with us at the inaugural in-person event of 2022. Bobby is the farm manager of Hawaii Taro Farm LLC supplying dozens of restaurants on island with several varieties of kalo and other crops. Today Bobby grows two-dozen heirloom kalo varieties in Waikapū, including mana ‘ulu, the popular Maui lehua, and the rare ele‘ele naioea.
Born and raised in rural O‘ahu, the green-thumbed Hawaiian moved to Maui in the 1980s to work for the University of Hawai‘i’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Growing up, his friends all had to work on taro farms after school — there was no way he would do that kind of hard labor. Nope. Not happening. Never. Bobby refused to be a taro farmer. In his 30s, something changed. “...my whole mission is to get taro and poi back on people’s tables. Right now today, it’s a luxury item. Another one of my missions is to build biology back in the soil,” says Pahia, “We want to make the taro industry sustainable and affordable.” In addition to Hawaii Taro Farm, Bobby’s extensive farming experience and vision has him serving as a mentor/leader for farmers and others. Bobby is the interim-president of the Mauna Kahalawai Chapter of Hawaii Farmers Union United. He is managing 310-acre Hoaloha Farms and another roughly 300 acres of farmland owned by developer Mike Atherton (as part of 2,000 acres of a planned mixed-use community called “Waikapu Country Town”) Bobby then subleases between 1 and 13 acres to about eight individual farmers.“The intention isn’t to hoard 300 acres,” he said. “I know how hard it is to get land and water. Long-term leases and water security are a hard thing to come by. Hard work, endurance and passion are essentials to farming”. Delicious Dinner was provided by Cafe O'Lei at the Mill House.
EVERY FALL, MNHCoC hosts its ANNUAL "Hui Holomua Business Fest" conference to explore issues of importance to business leaders who strive to incorporate Hawaiian values into their businesses and those of Native Hawaiian ancestry. The annual Hui Holomua Business Fest offers a full day of expert speakers, thoughtful discussions and networking along with an exhibition of locally-owned business.
Plans are now underway to bring back this Fall 2023's Business Fest IN-PERSON! Watch for details coming soon.
ELECTIONS
- (Ua Pau...) Thursday, June 29, 2023, started at 5:30pm
- Annual Meeting/Dinner/Keynote Speaker: (in-person)
Location: Harry & Jeanette Weinburg Family Center
Maui Economic Opportunity Classroom
99 Mahalani St, Wailuku
- (FY24)2023 Annual Meeting/Board Elections (in-person)
Mahalo for help selecting your FY24 Chamber leaders. As a governing body, non-profit board of directors focuses on the organization's mission by working on strategy, setting goals and objectives, overseeing programs and activities, and actively managing risks.
We are pleased to announce 2023ʻs (FY24) Board of Directors Elect:
- Paul Mancini
- Mercer "Chubby" Vicens
- Joycelyn Victorino
- Pomai Weigert
- Wayne Wong
Frank De Rego Jr, Kainoa Horcajo, Neal Hoapili Ane, Nicole Fisher, Ryan MacLaughlin, Robert "Bobby" Pahia, Barbara Purdy
Paul ManciniA Maui resident since the 1970ʻs, Paul is a partner of the Mancini, Welch & Geiger law firm. Paul has long been actively engaged in the Maui community and currently serves on the boards of Hawaii Public Radio and the Lahaina Restoration Foundation and the Maui Leadership Council of the Hawai`i Community Foundation. A former Peace Corps worker, Paul graduated magna cum laude from Boston College and received his law degree from Georgetown Law Center. He is a resident of Kula.
Mercer “Chubby” VicensAn Oʻahu native, Chubby is well-known as one of Maui’s most involved citizens. He is a charter member and former president of the MNHCoC, owner of Vicens Entitlement Group and a former VP of A&B Properties. He has served as president for Maui Economic Opportunity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and he has been a board member of the Pā‘ia Main Street Association, Rotary Club and the Maui Chamber of Commerce. In 1997 the Chamber of Commerce named him “Humanitarian of the Year” for his volunteer service to the Maui community. Chubby also served as a member of the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), to advise the development of the Maui Island Plan. Currently “semi-retired,” Chubby lives in Pāʻia.
Joycelyn VictorinoBorn and raised in Wailuku Maui, Joycelyn is currently living in Wailuku Heights with husband Michael Victorino. She is proud to have 2 sons, Mikey and Shane, 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. She recently retired from the ILWU Local 142 as an Administrative Assistant after working there for 32+ years. And now volunteers as a Board of Director for the Maui Family Support Services, Inc., Wailuku Heights Extension Community Association, and the Portuguese Club of Maui. Joycelyn serves on the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce because she is a Hawaiian at heart and desires to share her culture, heritage, and Aloha with others.
Pomai WeigertPomai is an AgBusiness Consultant with GoFarm Hawaii, a Statewide program that develops new farmers & provides agri-business support for ag-related businesses. She also serves as an advisor for the Hawaii Agritourism Association and is an Agri-Marketing & Community Relations Specialist for Hawaii’s Agritourism Industry. Her focus is on building relevant and accessible public-private partnerships that generate positive economic and community development. With an emphasis on collaborations between agriculture and tourism, she is able to provide training, leadership and guidance to diversify Hawaii's business pathways and narrative. Pomai currently sits on the HTA Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP) Steering Committees for Maui & Hawaii Island. Is also on the Board of Directors for the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau, and The Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii. Pomai serves on the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce Board to build stronger pathways & leadership for Native Hawaiians in Business. She resides in Keokea, Maui.
Wayne WongWayne is a “reformed dot.com era technologist” that has returned to Maui to serve as the Maui Center Director of the Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center (SBDC), providing no-cost business advising and training to small businesses. He is also a four-time Grammy Award recipient as “Best Hawaiian Music Album” producer. His motivation for serving on the MNHCoC board is to acknowledge his Hawaiian heritage by perpetuating and integrating the Hawaiian culture and traditional values within western commerce constructs. Wayne is a Kamehameha Schools (Kapālama) graduate with a BS from the University of Washington and an MBA from the University of Puget Sound. He lives in ʻIao Valley.
