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"It would be almost impossible to recall a year in our lifetimes more challenging than 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic touched everyone -- if not by contracting the virus itself then certainly with familial, financial, professional, emotional ramifications. There was political division, racial unrest, natural disasters."
That was the first paragraph of my column in this space exactly one year ago. To understate the obvious, 2021 served up new and persistent challenges. Words and phrases we never used or even heard before became commonplace -- boosters, long-haulers, supply chain disruption, variant and, most recently, omicron. It's no wonder many of us have been a little "fussy." But the way to beat the "fussy" and to welcome the new year with hope is to acknowledge how far we've come -- most notably, of course, due to the readily available and very effective vaccines -- and to do what we have always done: join together as a community to overcome the challenges and move forward.
For the second consecutive year, the UH system participated in the national Giving Tuesday initiative. The support was record-breaking. More than 1,200 donors contributed more than $245,000 to the UH Foundation, more than tripling last year's total. UH-MC is the grateful recipient of some of those generous donations.
We know you are inundated with requests. We humbly ask that you consider supporting UH-MC programs and our students as part of your year-end giving. This year, we are focused on three specific areas -- Hulihia, Puko'a hina'ole (our water quality testing lab) and our Workforce Development programs.
Hulihia: A Maui Sustainability Systems Center is a partnership between UH-MC and Kamehameha Schools' Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i Community Strategies Team which launched this past May. Our vision represents a complete change for Maui County -- to have by 2040 clean energy and transportation, food security, clean and sufficient water for the future, protected ecosystems, waste reduction, sustainable tourism, green employment and a green economy. We need wide community support and input to succeed. Please visit hulihiamaui.com and click the "Get Involved" button at sites.google.com/ksbe.edu/hulihia/get-involved?authuser=0 to join us.
UH-MC is fortunate to have Andrea Kealoha as an oceanography instructor and director of Puko'a hina'ole, our water quality testing lab. Born and raised in Pa'ia, Andrea grew up in and around the ocean and cares deeply about the health of this precious resource. The lab makes monitoring more accessible for permit holders who discharge waste into the ocean, farmers who monitor their agricultural water and for conservation groups, all of whom previously had to send samples to O'ahu to be analyzed. Andrea and her lab assistant, Arik Dadez, also participate in important research at Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. We encourage you to visit maui.hawaii.edu/waterlab/ to learn more.
Our office of Extended Learning and Workforce Development is another significant community asset. Under the leadership of Karen Hanada, the program addresses Maui County workforce training needs, community job placement demands, international engagement opportunities, diversified agriculture and food entrepreneurship opportunities, and continues providing broader access to higher education through the University Center. Our new Maui Food Innovation Center -- set to open soon -- will be a shining centerpiece. The renovation of the 4,000-square-foot, fully equipped food manufacturing and packaging facility, that will be county, FDA and USDA compliant, is fully funded by the State of Hawai'i. This $7 million investment recognizes the economic value the Maui Food Innovation Center offers Hawai'i's new and established food businesses, students, farmers, ranchers, chefs and restaurateurs. It is a unique, first in-state incubator helping to build a stronger, economically diverse and sustainable Maui by supporting the value-added food industry.
My column in this space exactly one year ago ended this way.
"It would be almost impossible to imagine a year in our lifetimes arriving with more positive anticipation than 2021. The horizon looks brighter -- effective vaccines are being administered right now on our campus as well as many other places across our state. The outlook for the new year is hopeful. We at UH-Maui College are grateful beyond words for your support and we wish you and your families a bright, happy, and, most important, a healthy new year."
We are again looking toward the new year with positive anticipation and hope. Although the pandemic lingers, we are proud of both our campus's efforts throughout 2021 in helping to vaccinate so many residents and the fact that more than 95 percent of our students, faculty, administration and staff are fully vaccinated. We certainly remain grateful beyond words for your support. And we most assuredly do wish you and your families a bright, happy, and, most important, a healthy new year.
Every donation, no matter the size, moves both our campus and our community forward. To contribute to any of the UH-MC funds supported by the UH Foundation, please visit giving.uhfoundation.org/. For more information about the UH Foundation and the many other ways to help, please visit uhfoundation.org/ or contact our UH Foundation Director of Development, Jocelyn Romero Demirbag at Jocelyn.RomeroDemirbag@ uhfoundation.org.
* Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is chancellor of the University of Hawaii Maui College. Ka'ana Mana'o, which means "sharing thoughts," appears on the fourth Saturday of each month. It is prepared with assistance from UH-Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.