On Saturday night over 500 folks crowded into a ballroom at the Grand Wailea to show their support for the Maui Economic Development Board's Ke Alahele Education Fund.
The fund was created in 2006 to establish a grant-making vehicle to help schools increase the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills - STEM skills. The fund is to be used to help students meet the high-technology work-force needs of the future.
The fundraiser Saturday night was incredible on several levels. First of all, the explanation of the success of the Ke Alahele Education Fund was mind-boggling. Videos showed students from Molokai and Maui demonstrating their newly learned skills in robotics and digital imaging.
Secondly, watching young people talking enthusiastically about the high-technology careers they intend to pursue was inspiring. So those high-tech careers can be pursued here on Maui and in Hawaii, Sen. Daniel Inouye promised that he would continue to get government money for projects like the enormous solar telescope for Haleakala.
Finally, the way Maui has committed itself to STEM learning is amazing. The fundraiser Saturday night brought in an astonishing $230,011.
The program is successful beyond anyone's wildest dreams. To date, Ke Alahele grants have benefited over 6,800 students in various STEM programs in Maui County.
MEDB's Ke Alahele Education Fund is making the dream of a diverse economy with high-technology jobs at the core a reality. They should be congratulated - and thanked - for the support and encouragement they are giving to tomorrow's engineers, physicians and high-tech leaders.
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.
