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We are proud to have played a role in early May in the Retail Reopening Committee that put together the “Hawaii COVID-19 Retail Reopening Guide,” a plan for the phased reopening of retail operations. A&B CEO Chris Benjamin and SVP of Asset Management Kit Millan collaborated with several other business leaders, retailers, landlords and retail associations (including Zippy’s, Kamehameha Schools, Island Insurance, Hawaii Executive Collaborative, etc.) to put together these guidelines. As stated in the following Hawaii Business Magazine article, the diversity of perspectives was valuable because the existing guidance wasn’t responsive to the needs of all stakeholders.” The plan sought to incorporate safety guides from the CDC and Johns Hopkins University, as well as reopening plans from other states and countries, to do what was best for Hawaii’s safety and economy.

Article originally published in Hawaii Business Magazine

Pandemic and protest. Recession and rioting. The first half of 2020 pulled no punches.

Hawai‘i dodged the worst of the pandemic, and we haven’t yet had any riots, but the situation is dire. Massive unemployment, sinkholes in the state budget and crippling uncertainty.

The scale of our crisis is compounded by infighting. In a time when we need to work together, we seem more divided than ever. How can we achieve unity?

Since statehood, Hawai‘i has been dependent on corporate and government bureaucracies to manage social, economic and political relationships. In crisis, these organizations are not always responsive enough.

Yet in the midst of chaos, an alternative form of organization is serving important needs. Networks are forming around common goals, interests and principles. Members of these networks are coming together to help people in need, kick-start the economy and pave the road to a sustainable future.

These networks are flexible and decentralized. They bring together representatives from many organizations. And they provide an alternative way to get things done. Here are three.

Networked Around a Goal: Every1ne Hawaii and #Masks4All

Every1ne Hawaii came together in November 2019 with the goal of increasing civic engagement. At its core were nine friends: Alx Kawakami, Kimo Kennedy, Robert Kurisu, Jeff Laupola, Ryan Matsumoto, Zak Noyle, Dr. Darragh O’Carroll, Nicole Velasco and Keoni Williams. The core group planned to work with a network of community partners and social influencers to drive voter turnout in the 2020 election.

When the pandemic arrived, workplaces and county governments required face masks, but stores were sold out. Every1ne Hawaii pivoted to a new goal: distributing free masks. During their #Masks4All campaign, the group raised funds, ordered 2 million masks from a factory in China, and worked with friends, family and community partners across the Hawaiian Islands to distribute them.

These community partners reached out to their networks, activating more people. Hundreds of people participated in what Velasco calls “the ultimate coconut wireless.” This network allowed Every1ne Hawaii to solidify a statewide distribution network within three days of receiving the masks on O‘ahu.

On Maui, the group partnered with the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, Kai Lenny and Ian Walsh to distribute 160,000 masks. Lenny, Walsh and Deidre Tegarden of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center used their networks to get the job done.

Darryl Oliveira of HPM Building Supply had a connection with the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, which helped fly 200,000 masks by helicopter from O‘ahu to Hawai‘i Island. Every1ne Hawaii reached out to Janice Ikeda of Vibrant Hawai‘i, which led the distribution on that island and was supported by Kūha‘o Zane.

“Everybody stepped up and found a way to help,” Velasco says. “There’s no way that we could do this with nine people. Truly, hundreds of people have helped to make this possible.”

Every1ne Hawaii is now returning to its original goal, increasing civic engagement. The core group members plan to use their existing relationships as the basis for ongoing collaboration, working with social influencers and community partners to spread awareness about voter registration.

“At the core, I think we’re people-focused,” Williams says. “Everyone in the group is focused on helping others overcome their own limitations. It’s about calling on people to do more than what they think they’re capable of as an individual. At scale, it’s about partnering organization to organization to do more than what a single organization can do.”

Networked Around Economic Interests: The Retail Reopening Committee

In early May, a committee of landlords, retailers, business leaders and retail associations created a plan for the phased reopening of retail operations.

The committee included representatives from the Hawai‘i Restaurant Association, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Outrigger Enterprises, the real estate investment trust Washington Prime, Macy’s, Howard Hughes Corp., Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative, The MacNaughton Group, FCH Enterprises (Zippy’s), Kamehameha Schools, Atlas Insurance, Island Insurance, Brookfield Properties and Alexander & Baldwin.

Lynelle Marble, executive director of the Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative, saw a need to coordinate efforts to avoid duplication. “Restaurants and retailers were working on their individual checklists, but they were looking for an overarching agenda,” Marble says. “Everyone agreed to work on a guide that would provide overarching policies and protocols.”

Committee members met for the first time on May 6. Within 48 hours, they produced the “Hawai‘i COVID-19 Retail Reopening Guide.” They sent the guide to retailers and restaurants, the mayors, the governor and the state’s recovery navigator, Alan Oshima.

A&B CEO Chris Benjamin recognized that his company would have a big role in the reopening effort. A&B is Hawai‘i’s largest grocery-anchored retail property owner, and a safe and speedy reopening was vital for its tenants.

Kit Millan, A&B’s senior VP of asset management, was already in touch with landowners and retail tenant associations. Millan had read the CDC and Johns Hopkins University reopening guides and was researching the reopening plans of other states and countries. When the group formed, he shared the resources he’d been working on.

Members of the committee provided feedback and suggestions, each offering a different perspective. The diversity of perspectives was valuable because existing guidance wasn’t responsive to the needs of all stakeholders.

Tina Yamaki, president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, was dissatisfied with some reopening guidelines produced by government agencies and committees that “didn’t have experience in retail operations.”

Many of these plans were designed with grocery stores in mind, but they weren’t responsive to the needs of local businesses like clothing stores or crack seed shops. Yamaki wanted a simple, visual guide to reopening that would reflect the needs of the diverse retailers in her association.

The final product was only seven pages, with color-coded visuals explaining which businesses should be allowed to reopen in each phase. Specific guidance was provided for different business types, including gyms and restaurants.

The committee convened with the limited goal of producing the guide, though ongoing collaboration will be needed to ensure safety, monitor health outcomes and respond to any resurgence of the virus.

The members of the committee will continue “to work collaboratively” because they are “bound by common interests,” Benjamin says. “COVID-19 doesn’t end when retail opens.”

Networked Around Principles: Uplift Hawai‘i

Uplift Hawai‘i describes itself as an economic recovery platform bringing together organizations, individuals, coalitions and other COVID-19 recovery initiatives. The group’s “informal advisory committee” consists of AJ Halagao, Billy Pieper, Brent Kakesako, Claire Sullivan, Dawn Lippert, Dee Nakamura, Gavin Thornton, Ikaika Hussey, Josh Wisch and Keoni Lee.

The committee came together through a series of informal conversations. They recognized that because of the economic crisis, policymakers would face tough decisions. With input from others, the committee says it produced five principles to guide the economic recovery effort toward a more equitable and more sustainable future. They want to support:

1. The health and well-being of all Island residents
2. A healthy relationship with our natural environment
3. A diverse Island economy with more local business and a new model for tourism
4. Economic equity and community engagement processes
5. State and local government leadership

At the time of this writing, 100 organizations and more than 100 individuals have signed on to support the principles, the committee says. The committee plans to revise the list, with input from other Uplift Hawai‘i members; the expectation is that the revised principles will help influence
policy decisions.

Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Excelerator, views the principles as a way to bring people together during the economic crisis to discuss and make decisions about the future of Hawai‘i.

“This is an imperfect set of principles,” Lippert admits. “Any plan will be imperfect. The best way to move forward is to get as many people as possible in the room and reflected in these decisions.”

Gavin Thornton, executive director of the Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, says that a set of shared principles can help decision-makers push through policy gridlock. In his policy work, Thornton has watched people “beat heads against a wall year after year.” He’s seen “countless reports, countless plans.” The task now is to find a plan people can agree on.

Billy Pieper is a VP at Barclays, the international financial services company, where he oversees the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard program. He believes principles can guide community leaders to better decisions. “Values and principles shape decision making,” Pieper says. “Leaders are hungry for this.”

Ikaika Hussey, an organizer for Unite Here Local 5, views Uplift Hawai‘i’s principles as emerging from Hawaiian culture. They reflect what the Native Hawaiians “figured out over thousands of years,” he says.

Hussey and Keoni Lee were also involved in writing the ‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures Declaration, a set of shared principles backed by an extensive network.

Uplift Hawai‘i includes the Economic Futures Declaration in its “potluck of resources,” a collection of presentations, reports, fact sheets and vision statements related to its objectives. Uplift Hawai‘i says it intends to support other efforts to create change and serve as a bridge between them.

Of course, agreeing on principles is easy. The hard part is translating those principles into policy. Our legislators share this task with Alan Oshima, the state’s economic and community recovery navigator appointed by Gov. David Ige.

New Networks

Oshima views the recovery as “a play with an ensemble cast and no lead actor.” To make it through the recovery, he says, we’ll need to manage expectations, support safety nets and listen to different voices.

As navigator, Oshima has convened 18 economic sector groups to provide input in the recovery planning process. He’s working with these groups to strengthen existing ties and establish new connections between leaders in unrelated economic sectors. These new networks will facilitate collaboration and stimulate innovation during the recovery, he says.

Oshima says we shouldn’t “build an economy that looks like now, just bigger and better.” Instead, we need to take “an inventory of the new world.” Because of technological improvements in telework, telemedicine and remote learning, Hawai‘i’s “geographical isolation is no longer an impediment.”

“We already know how connected we are to each other,” Oshima says. “But connectivity has revealed our fragility. (After hurricanes) Iniki and Iselle, the damage was localized. The effect of the pandemic has been huge.

“We’re looking for sustainable fixes, not quick fixes. It can’t be what’s good for me, it’s got to be what’s good for us.”

Originally published in Hawaii Business Magazine

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling on June 15 that protects gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

In Hawai‘i, state law already made it unlawful for employers to discriminate because of sex (including gender identity or expression) or sexual orientation. Emily Marr, assistant general counsel at the Hawaii Employers Council, explains the significance of the federal decision and offers legal insights into how employers can prevent discrimination in the workplace.

Why is the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County significant?

The Bostock case is actually a consolidated case composed of three different cases heard by lower courts. In each case, an employee alleged their employer fired them simply for being a homosexual or transgender person and sued under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII, which applies to employers with 15 or more employees, makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate based upon certain protected characteristics, including sex.

However, the term “sex” was not defined by Title VII, and the question before the Supreme Court was to determine whether Title VII’s ban on discrimination because of “sex” includes gender identity and sexual orientation. On June 15, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court held that an “employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII.”

Bostock is a landmark decision for civil rights and employment law. Before Bostock, civil rights protections for gay or transgender individuals at work were dependent on state law. While Hawai‘i employers were already prohibited from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, this is an important time for employers to ensure they understand the laws and are promoting an inclusive workplace for all employees.

Are companies allowed to use the religious convictions of their owners as a reason for firing openly gay, lesbian or transgender employees?

 None of the employers in Bostock argued that compliance with Title VII would infringe upon their religious liberties, so the decision does not squarely tell us how the courts would decide this question. It seems inevitable that, after Bostock, employees will argue that Title VII’s prohibition against gay and transgender discrimination cannot be nullified by an employer’s assertion of a sincerely held religious conviction.

However, as the Bostock court decision noted, employers have a number of defenses to such claims, including: Title VII’s statutory exception for religious organizations; the First Amendment; and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. The Bostock ruling described the RFRA as a “super statute” that “might supersede Title VII’s commands in appropriate cases.”

Ultimately, however, the Bostock decision observed that “how these doctrines protecting religious liberty interact with Title VII are questions for future cases.” So, at this point, whether employers will prevail if they use a sincerely held religious conviction to justify firing openly gay, lesbian or transgender employees remains to be seen.

Can religious organizations, such as churches or private religious schools, use their religious mission as a reason for firing openly gay, lesbian or transgender employees? 

As mentioned above, Title VII does contain a religious organization exception. This exception allows religious organizations – i.e., institutions whose “purpose and character are primarily religious” – to give preference to members of their own religion. However, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has made clear that this exception does not allow religious organizations to otherwise discriminate in employment on the basis of a protected Title VII category.

What happens if my employees harass other employees because they are openly gay, lesbian or transgender?

Employers should not tolerate this behavior. In addition to creating poor workplace morale, this type of behavior is legally actionable if it rises to the level of creating a hostile work environment. To avoid this situation, employers should take a proactive approach to developing and maintaining a welcoming workplace. Employers should also demonstrate their commitment to conducting fair investigations and implementing appropriate discipline if harassment does occur.

What steps should I take to prevent such harassment? 

Employers can meaningfully prevent harassment against gay, lesbian and transgender employees by implementing clear and effective equal employment opportunity policies. Employers should provide training and have discussions with management and HR to ensure everyone involved in the hiring process understands and appropriately enforces the policies.

As with any other form of discrimination, employers should make sure that all employees are aware that any behavior that creates a hostile environment, such as verbal harassment, will not be tolerated. Educating employees on sexual orientation, gender identity, and transgender-related issues will help cultivate sensitivity and convey the employer’s commitment to equality in the workplace. Employers should also train personnel responsible for handling internal complaints on proper responsive techniques, including investigation and discipline.

Promoting inclusivity in the workplace is always important, and this landmark decision should prompt some employers to take a close look at their policies and culture to ensure they are prioritizing diversity and inclusion in any initiatives. Listen to your LGBTQ employees to learn how you can help them feel supported and secure at work.

Alexander & Baldwin is proud to support the Maui Fire Department and offer them protection during the COVID-19 crisis. With the collaboration of our Director of Environmental Affairs Sean O’Keefe and Maui VP Carol Reimann, we were able to get unused PPE equipment from Pu‘unene Mill into the hands of first responders. Over 250 pieces of PPE were donated including safety glasses, respirator filters, gloves and hazmat suit pieces. Mahalo to all first responders!

On March 28^th, the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and Hawaii Foodbank along with many partners and volunteers came together to provide food items to the Leeward Coast community at Alexander & Baldwin’s Waianae Mall. Over 50,000 lbs. of food was distributed to 514 families providing free-shelf stable food items to over 2,800 adults and children. A&B was proud to be the site partner location and provide much needed cones through Grace Pacific for this drive-thru community food distribution.

Our retail centers remain open providing essential services including groceries, healthcare, pharmacies, delivery and take-out food and financial services.

The list below features restaurants at A&B’s properties on Oahu, Big Island, Kauai and Maui that are currently open for take-out and delivery services. All of Hawaii’s local businesses and restaurants need our support more than ever during this tough time.

Please make sure you call ahead to check with the establishment, as their status and hours of operation may constantly be updated. List is subject to change at any time.

View list here

Last month, the Nareit Foundation, on behalf of local real estate investment trusts including A&B, awarded a $120,000 grant to Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity (KHFH). A&B was instrumental in the selection of longtime partner Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity for the Foundation’s “REIT Way Hawai‘i Community Giving Initiative.” The program seeks “shovel-ready” affordable housing projects, and we knew from decades of experience with KHFH that they were a well-deserving organization poised to make a life-changing impact on local residents.

Chris commented, “A&B has been a longtime supporter of the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity, providing land, cash and sweat equity dating back nearly 30 years, and we are thrilled to join our fellow REITs in supporting the continued good work KHFH is doing for families and communities on Kaua‘i.”

Stephen Spears, KHFH’s executive director, said the grant will be used to build a self-help house in ‘Ele‘ele for a low-income family. “We are grateful for the generous grant of $120,000 from the Nareit Foundation’s REIT Way Hawai‘i Community Giving Initiative that will enable a local family to be able to build for themselves a lasting and truly affordable home here on Kaua‘i,” he said. “This home will provide many decades of stability where they can not only live, but thrive and contribute to the community.”

In 2018, A&B worked with KHFH after the tragic April 2018 flooding incident on Kaua‘i. Through extensive research and consulting with key opinion leaders on the island, A&B determined the most effective way to provide disaster relief support was to partner with KHFH to help those affected by the floods. The company provided a $25,000 grant to support the flood recovery efforts in the areas with most dire need—Koloa, Anahola, Anini and Kalihiwai.

Over the past 30 years, we have provided over $100,000 in grant support KHFH  and more than $156,000 to Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the state. We even were the source of the land for KHFH’s headquarters and have also provided in-kind support through the years such as drainage and utility easements.

Team A&B volunteers presented a $25,000 check to Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity at the ‘Ele‘ele Iluna “Build Day” 2018 worksite to help support flood recovery efforts.

On November 17, 2018, A&B also hosted a Build Day with KHFH to contribute “sweat equity” to the flood recovery efforts. Over twenty employees from A&B, Grace Pacific, Kukuiula and McBryde Resources attended the workday at Kaua‘i Habitat’s ‘Ele‘ele Iluna subdivision project. Wielding hammers, paintbrushes, and power tools, the volunteers helped with interior paint priming and the construction of stairs and porches for several homes.

Story by Star-Advertiser Staff

Commercial real estate developer and retail center owner Alexander & Baldwin Inc. commemorated its 150th anniversary with its nonprofit partner Kupu Monday by replanting trees at Hamakua Marsh and announcing a program that will give $150 grants to employees’ nonprofit of choice.

“150 years ago, our founders started this company by planting sugarcane,” said Lance Parker, A&B executive vice president and chief real estate officer. “Today we start our 150th year, planting again, and honoring their legacy with the launch of our 150 Days of Service program, providing 150 employee days of volunteer time to organizations across the state. We are proud to initiate our program here, at the Hamakua Marsh, helping to replant native trees, and preserve the wetland, not only for its numerous endemic and endangered water birds, but for the surrounding community.”

Kupu and the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife coordinated the Hamakua event. Hundreds of volunteers were on hand. Native trees kou, koa and lonomea were planted to restore Pu‘u O Ehu, the upland portion of Hamakua, with indigenous Hawaiian species. Hamakua Marsh is a wildlife sanctuary that provides habitat for several of Hawaii’s endemic and endangered waterbirds, including the aeʻo (Hawaiian black-necked stilt), ʻalae keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian coot) and ʻalae ʻula (Hawaiian moorhen).

A&B also announced a “Kokua 150” program that will honor each employee’s community priorities, with A&B providing a $150 grant to their nonprofit of choice, in that employee’s name.

See complete news release here

This past holiday season, A&B was proud to spread festive cheer at our centers across the islands. We enjoy bringing families, neighbors, and the community together to make unforgettable memories. Here are some of the fun festivities we participated in, coordinated or sponsored in December 2019.

Castle Tree Lighting Ceremony

The lighting of Castle Medical Center’s iconic pine tree signals the start of the Christmas season in Kailua Town.

On December 4, A&B helped Kailua Town ring in the holiday season with this Christmas tradition at Castle Medical Center. The 35^th annual event features festive decoration displays, live entertainment and a chance to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus. And of course, we can’t forget the lighting of Castle Medical Center’s 60-foot-tall Norfolk pine! A&B sponsors complimentary trolley service for the public from Kailua Town Center, bringing the community together for this special holiday event.

Xmas Tree Battle Royale

TSAK tenants decorated trees and collected canned goods for charity.

From December 4 –13, The Shops at Kukui‘ula (TSAK) held a Christmas tree throwdown! Seventeen TSAK tenants decked out trees in ultimate holiday flair, and people were invited to vote on their favorites. All proceeds benefitted the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, and over 1,000 pounds of food was donated at the end of the event!

Photos with Santa

Santa parked his sleigh at Queens’ MarketPlace from December 6 – 21 this year, and keiki from all over the Big Island went to visit him to whisper what they’d like for Christmas.

Queens’ MarketPlace brought Christmas magic alive for keiki on the Big Island!

Kaneohe Christmas Parade

Over thirty volunteers, A&B employees, family members and friends, represented Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center in the annual Kaneohe Christmas Parade on December 7! The parade began at Windward Mall and ended at Castle High School. A&B won second place for our creative “Aladdin” themed trolley, complete with Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie. Volunteers handed out reusable Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center bags to the paradegoers.

The parade’s theme this year was “Magical World of Music,” and employee Chris Akiona’s husband decorated the trolley with an Aladdin theme – complete with mechanized, moving musical notes!

Holly Jolly Christmas

At Napili Plaza on December 7, we helped spread holiday magic with our Holly Jolly Christmas event! Members of the community were invited to snap photos with Santa Claus while enjoying a sumptuous hot cocoa bar, activities and more.

Keiki enjoy some festive holiday crafts at the Holly Jolly Christmas event.

Ho‘olaulea

Waianae Mall and Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health’s Ho‘olaulea on December 1 was a lively holiday affair. Each year, residents line up along Farrington Highway to kick-off the holiday season with the Waianae Coast Christmas Parade that starts at the Boat Harbor and ends at the Ho‘olaulea at Waianae Mall. Families gathered to take pictures with Santa and get their holiday shopping done early, enjoy ono food and groove to live music. A&B also donated space to the Waianae Economic Development Council to host their annual “Winter Wonderland” on December 14, which transforms a unit in Waianae Mall into a magical, Christmas maze! Every single child who visits this wonderland gets a special present from Santa Claus himself.

Holiday Sip + Shop

A brand-new event this year, the Holiday Sip + Shop was an effervescent success! Vendors around Kailua Town offered special promotions in tandem with free festive sips, like ciders, twisted eggnog and mulled wine. More than 20 vendors participated, and there was even live entertainment and giveaways.

Eventgoers show off their Sip + Shop passports that gave them the chance to win a Kailua Town gift package valued at $500!

3^rd Annual Keiki Bash

The Shops at Kukuiʻula hosted their annual family holiday celebration on December 13 with live entertainment, culinary delights and a meet-and-greet with Santa Phil. This popular event draws hundreds of attendees from the Kauai community! The Shops also invited students from Kapaʻa Middle School to spread holiday cheer on December 28 with festive holiday caroling.

Guests enjoyed live entertainment from local artists and performers.

14^th Annual Snow Day

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow… 40 tons of it at Pearl Highlands Center, to be exact!

Snow in Hawaii? How about 40 tons of it at Pearl Highlands Center! This free event is a holiday favorite for both keiki and keiki-at-heart and is one of the largest snow events on the island. Families flocked to the PHC parking lot on December 14 to make snowmen, snowballs and snow angels in a mountain of real snow.

Families also enjoyed fun activities, performances and giveaways at this winter wonderland event. | Photo Credit: Star Advertiser.

Manoa Christmas Parade

This enthusiastic crew of Santa’s little helpers helped ring in the season in Manoa Valley.

The annual Manoa Christmas Parade was held on December 14. A&B helps to sponsor the event, and over twenty members of the A&B ʻohana donned their holiday pizazz and A&B t-shirts to represent Manoa Marketplace in the parade. They were joined by several students from Roosevelt High School’s eSports team, and all participants handed out reusable shopping bags to paradegoers along the one-mile route.

The rainy weather cleared up just in time for the Manoa Christmas Parade.

Kanoelani Elementary Caroling

Pint-sized carolers helped make the season merry and bright with their holiday tunes.

What better way to ring in the holidays than with Christmas carols? On December 14, Kanoelani Elementary brightened up Waipio Shopping Center with a special holiday performance. Waipio Shopping Center also hosted a Holiday Gift Bag Promotion, where Kanoelani Elementary students decorated gift bags that were sold by various tenants around the center. All proceeds went to the school, and the center matched every dollar (up to $1,000)! The Holiday Gift Bag Promotion was also held at The Shops at Kukui‘ula in partnership with Koloa Elementary, Gateway at Mililani Mauka in partnership with Mililani ‘Ike Elementary, and Kunia Shopping Center in partnership with Kalei‘opu‘u Elementary School.

Employees at Big City Diner in Waipio Shopping Center show off some of the holiday bags decorated by Kanoelani Elementary School keiki.

Pua Na Pua Festival

Lanihau Center on the Big Island hosted their Pua Na Pua Festival on December 14. This 4^th annual event inclusively celebrates the contributions of both developmentally disabled and non-developmentally disabled artists. The collaboration between Full Life Hawaii, Abled Hawaii Artists and Donkey Mill Art Center empowers Hawaii Island artists of all abilities. The fair features artisanal items, homemade crafts, live music and demos.

The festive event featured performances, artwork and talents from people of all abilities.

A Very Merry Culinary Market

What better way to celebrate the holidays than with delicious food? The Shops at Kukuiʻula hosted a Very Merry Culinary Market on December 18, which featured a visit from Santa, holiday bag printing station and–of course–yummy bites!

TSAK presented the Garden Island Arts Council with a $4,000 check at the event.

The donation was a combination of monies raised through the sales of 10th Anniversary tote bags sales and an $1,000 donation from The Shops.

Holiday Concert + Pop-up Market

On the Big Island, Queens’ MarketPlace hosted a special dance performance and jazz concert on December 22. The event included other festive activities like photos with Santa and face painting, and a pop-up market at Yoga Barre. On the 28^th they hosted Movie Under the Stars, featuring the feel-good film “A Dog’s Way Home.”

QMP hosted two popular events that drew crowds of families and community members together.

The Peʻahi surf break on Maui’s north shore, most commonly known as “Jaws,” is renowned for its monster winter swells. When the conditions are right, the World Surf League (WSL) officials will call on the Jaws Big Wave event. They’re looking for swell producing storms that will create huge waves anytime between November 2019 and March 2020. How huge, you ask? The waves need to be 30 to 60 feet high!

On Oct. 30, A&B employees attended the official opening ceremonies of the 2019/2020 Jaws Big Wave Championships. A&B owns the land and permits safe access and viewing opportunities for the surf competition. Instead of charging a site rental fee, A&B asks that WSL donate $12,500 to local charities in the Maui community. We have been donating the site rental fee to Maui charities since the JAWS event first started eight years ago, even when the event was previously run by Red Bull.

This year, A&B designated the nonprofit beneficiaries that the WSL’s donations would support. Mālama Maui Nui, Boys and Girls Clubs of Maui, Maui Interscholastic League Surfing Program, Imua Family Services and Lōkahi Pacific/Teens On Call each received $2,500 cash grants from the World Surf League.