People Who Made A Difference

Jordan Ruidas

Central Maui dispatchers

Paul Tonnessen

Ellen Federoff

Robin Newbold A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Tuesday, December 25, 2018 – Page T1

Shining examples of goodness in Maui County

By LEE IMADA Managing Editor

Every year, we marvel at the selfless deeds, the pure goodness and concern for the less fortunate in our community, the empathy and altruism on display in our People Who Made A Difference.

This year, a woman raised $200,000 for victims of the Aug. 24 brush fires with her Lahaina Strong campaign. Another person stands ready to come to the aid of children of abuse and neglect. There is a defender of Maui’s coral reefs and the teacher in your life who inspired you to greatness.

And there is the team that on your worst day is on the other end of the line when you call 911.

Jordan Ruidas, Paul Tonnessen, Robin Newbold, Ellen Federoff and Maui Central Dispatch are The Maui News 2018 People Who Made A Difference. This is the 24th year The Maui News has been

honoring those people and groups who bring joy to others and make our Maui community a better place to live.

There were so many other nominees and members of our community deserving of recognition. We received more than 30 nominees from our public solicitation and a couple were eliminated because they were past winners.

It was a difficult decision for our voters, The Maui News staff and writers. It is a shame we are only able to recognize five individuals and groups because there were many others worthy of the honor.

People Who Made A Difference is the brainchild of former City Editor Christie Wilson, who is currently with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and with the support of now retired-Editor David Hoff. It was launched in 1994 on New Year’s Eve. The publication date moved to Christmas Day in 2013 and became a Christmas Day

tabloid in 2015.

The feature began by naming newsmakers who made a difference and not always in a “good” way. Eventually, People Who Made A Difference evolved to recognize good people for good deeds, often outside the spotlight of the media, during the year.

Through the years, more than 200 individuals and groups have been recognized by this feature, from Masaru “Pundy” Yokouchi in the first year to major league baseball star Kurt Suzuki last year.

While divisions abound nationally and in our community, People Who Made A Difference offers us a chance to pause a moment, to take in the good work of our awardees this year and to applaud all that is good in Maui County.

■ Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.

A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Tuesday, December 25, 2018 – Page T2

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By SARAH RUPPENTHAL For The Maui News

As the saying goes, not all heroes wear capes. But if you meet Paul Tonnessen, you might start to wonder if he has one hidden somewhere.

Tonnessen is the executive director of the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui, a nonprofit organization that serves approximately 800 children annually who suffer from abuse and neglect. He’s a hero to thousands of kids — because he goes above and beyond to give them what they so desperately need.

Hope.

It is a distressing, heartbreaking reality: According to the National Children’s Alliance, nearly 700,000 American children are victims of neglect or physical or sexual abuse every year. Additionally, research shows that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted by the time they are 18.

In Hawaii, more than 50 percent of reported victims of crime are under the age of 18. In 2015, the state had 2,108 total referrals for child abuse and neglect, according to the Hawaii State Chapter of Children’s Justice Centers. In 2017, more than 800 cases of sexual abuse were reported in Hawaii — of those, 102 were in Maui County.

(And it’s important to note that many cases go unreported.)

Hawaii’s Children’s Justice Centers are programs of the state Judiciary; they were established by the state Legislature in 1986 to ensure a fair and neutral process for the handling of reports of child

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From the heart Paul Tonnessen, a children’s Superman

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Paul Tonnessen, as executive director of the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui, is a hero to thousands of kids.

abuse. Today, there are five centers statewide: West Hawaii, East Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai and Maui.

(The Maui center also serves children living on Molokai and Lanai, who are flown in for interviews and medical examinations.)

Each center is designed to make children feel safe and comfortable while being interviewed about reports of child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, and as witnesses to

crimes. On average, the state’s Children’s Justice Centers see an estimated 1,000 children every year — and many of these children arrive with no more than the clothes on their backs.

That’s where organizations like the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui step in to help.

Like its counterparts on Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii island, the Friends of the Children’s Justice

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Center of Maui supports the Children’s Justice Center, promotes community awareness of child abuse and neglect, and provides funding for direct services to help children recover from the damaging effects of their abuse.

“Our main focus is: How are we going to heal these kids?” Tonnessen said. The organization works with its community partners to fulfill a child’s needs, which run the gamut from counseling and tutoring to clothes and school supplies — and everything in between.

“Anything they need to begin healing,” he said.

Tonnessen took the helm of the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui in 2012. The newly minted executive director was no stranger to the nonprofit’s mission — he had served on the board of directors for 12 years before being selected to fill the shoes of his predecessor. Tonnessen is the nonprofit’s sole employee, but he’s quick to point out that it’s far from a oneman show — he says he’s indebted to the volunteers and board members who are steadfastly committed to the organization.

Over the years, Tonnessen has been an outspoken advocate for abused and neglected children.

He’s also been a visible presence in the community, particularly during the holidays, when he rounds up thousands of toys so no child goes without a gift. And for some, it’s the only one they’ll receive.

When Tonnessen sees a problem that needs to be solved, he won’t hesitate to take action. And quickly. Case in point: When he learned

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that some foster children were moving from one placement to another toting their belongings in trash bags, Tonnessen swiftly collaborated with child welfare authorities to ensure every child welfare worker would have kid-friendly duffel bags for children moving into new foster homes.

“The more I see a need for something, the more I want to help,” he explained.

In 2012, Tonnessen debuted a teen empowerment program at the Hui Malama Learning Center. It was so successful that the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui launched the “Journey to New Beginnings” project in 2017 for at-risk youth on Molokai. The program has had a profound and transformative impact on participants; Tonnessen hopes to introduce it to Maui youths in the near future.

Even with his jam-packed schedule, Tonnessen has volunteered to serve on a number of nonprofit boards; he’s also the president of Maui Pride, a Juvenile and Family Drug Court mentor, a member of the Rotary Club of Wailuku and a foster parent.

He’s seen his share of tragic stories, but Tonnessen will never lose sight of the bigger picture.

“As sad as this job can be, I know I’m making a difference — there’s no greater reward than giving children hope and seeing them heal,” he said.

To learn more about the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui or to inquire about donor opportunities, visit www.mauicjc.org or call 986-8634.

C ongratulations to P aul Tonnessen!

The fearless leader of the Children’s Justice Center.

An inspiring life – dedicated to helping children and the less fortunate of Maui County.

We are Blessed to have you in our lives! ~ Mahalo from the Marmac Family & Children’s Justice Center of Maui A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Tuesday, December 25, 2018 – Page T3

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By SARAH RUPPENTHAL For The Maui News

For as long as she can remember, Robin Newbold has been enamored with the sea.

As a kid growing up in New Jersey, she spent her summers at the beach. There, she became keenly interested in the creatures that lived on the shoreline — from the tiny critters that skittered across the sand to the barnacles that clung to the pier pilings.

And her childhood fascination was not a passing phase.

Newbold’s passion for the ocean and its inhabitants led her to pursue a degree in environmental science from Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, followed by graduate degrees in biology and education from the University of California, Irvine. She went on to teach marine biology at San Clemente High School and, later, Saddleback College. Newbold cheerfully admits that she would bring her work home: For a decade, she lived aboard a 52-foot boat docked at Dana Point Harbor. Her buoyant residence doubled as a research vessel; on weekends, she’d set sail and explore California’s underwater kelp forests.

While on a teaching sabbatical, Newbold took part in a study of Maui’s coral reefs and fish populations. She participated in other marine research projects in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and throughout the Central Pacific, but says Maui’s reefs were always on her mind. So much, in fact, that she moved to Maui, where she observed an alarming trend: With each passing year, there were significantly fewer fish

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Going deep Robin Newbold is a protector of reefs

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Robin Newbold holds a photo of herself swimming in the watery world she loves. Newbold is the executive director of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, a nonprofit that spearheads and supports clean water/coral reef restoration projects.

on the reefs — and the reefs themselves were in a state of decline.

In 2007, she teamed up with the late Uncle Ed Lindsey and created the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) to address the declining coral reefs and waning reef fish populations. Newbold and Lindsey were aware of the myriad threats to Maui’s reefs, including pollution-bearing runoff, overfishing and outdated wastewater systems. Through partnerships and community involvement, Newbold

said, “We knew we could do something to reverse the trend.”

So, the duo formed an all-volunteer council composed of members from different walks of life — fishers, scientists, educators, cultural practitioners, marine tourism representatives, and county, state and federal officials. The council’s goals were (and still are) threefold: protect coral reefs, promote clean ocean water and restore native fish.

Before his death in 2009, Lindsey insisted Newbold lead the

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council — and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Newbold honored Lindsey’s request; she has chaired the council (now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) ever since.

Under Newbold’s direction, the MNMRC has covered a lot of ground. Among other things, it established the Maui Coral Reef Recovery Team; recruited renowned scientists to write a first-of-its-kind Maui Coral Reef Recovery Plan; created Community Managed Makai Areas (CMMAs) so residents could collaboratively supervise marine resources; and launched the Hui O Ka Wai Ola (“Association of The Living Waters”) ocean water quality testing program in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and West Maui Ridge to Reef (volunteers collect samples at 39 sites in South and West Maui every two to three weeks). Most recently, the MNMRC kicked off a pilot project to determine if oysters could improve water quality in Maalaea Small Boat Harbor.

And that’s only a fraction of what the council has done.

Through its many communitybased programs and projects, it is making considerable headway.

The same can be said for Newbold. Since 2007, she has spent countless hours working on field projects, convening and facilitating meetings, testifying before lawmakers, coordinating volunteers, writing grant proposals and reports and following through on deliverables. And she’s done all of it pro bono.

“I do it for the reefs — because they do so much for us,” she said.

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Coral reefs are more than ocean eye candy. These highly diverse ecosystems are home to a quarter of all marine life, provide food to millions of humans and protect coastal communities from natural disasters.

And they are in grave danger.

Apart from the impacts of landbased sources of pollution, global warming has increased the frequency of underwater heat waves, which trigger mass bleaching events and turn once-colorful corals ghostly white. An international climate report issued in October warned that the world’s coral reefs could decline by 70 to 90 percent by the year 2100 if global temperatures continue to rise.

It’s a bleak outlook, but Newbold says there’s still hope. “The reefs are in peril, and we could lose them . . . but not if we start doing what we can to keep them as healthy as possible.”

That’s why Newbold will continue to bring the mission of the MNMRC to the forefront — and continue to bring as many people as she can to the table.

“If we have everyone working together, we can turn things around,” she said. “I think we can do it.”

To learn more about the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council or to inquire about donor or volunteer opportunities, visit www.mauireefs .org. All residents are invited to attend the council’s meetings on the first Wednesday of the month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Whale Foundation Discovery Center classrooms at the Ma‘alaea Harbor Shops.

Congratulations to all the deserving nominees & winners.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. — Margaret Mead

M ahalo to allM auivolunteers w ho m ake ourcounty a betterplace! ~ Paid for by Friends of Kelly King | 72 Kalolo Place, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96753

A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Tuesday, December 25, 2018 – Page T4

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By SARAH RUPPENTHAL For The Maui News

It started out like any other weekend. But the morning of Saturday, Jan. 13, turned out to be anything but normal.

Emergency services dispatcher Kanoe Agcaoili had just finished her overnight shift and was headed home to get some well-deserved shut-eye. As she drove out of the Wailuku Police Station parking lot, her cellphone buzzed.

Glancing over at it, she was startled to see the all-caps text message: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” Agcaoili didn’t know it at the time, but a Hawaii Emergency Management Agency employee had mistakenly sent out a false warning of an imminent ballistic missile attack to mobile phones across the state at 8:07 a.m. (a second emergency alert was issued 38 minutes later clarifying it was a false alert). Without a moment’s hesitation, she flicked on her blinker, made a U-turn and drove back to the police station. Inside the communications center, the phones were ringing off the hook. Agcaoili returned to her desk and began answering calls.

By 9 a.m., she and five other dispatchers received more than 715 emergency calls, in addition to 374 abandoned calls (dispatchers subsequently contacted those callers to conduct welfare checks).

Agcaoili is among the dedicated men and women who work around the clock — 24 hours a day, seven

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Answering the call Central Maui Dispatch helps people in their time of need Central Maui dispatchers Genella Albino (from left), Reane Gonzales-Fa’alata, Tori Adolpho, Tracy Pellazar, Ikaika Texeira, Susan Egdamin, Valerie Mukai and Kanoe Agcaoili pose last week during a rare moment with no incoming 911 emergency calls. The hard-working dispatch crew was operating in the Kihei Station while the center in Wailuku undergoes renovations.

The Maui News MATTHEW THAYER photo

days a week — answering 911 calls and dispatching police, fire and ambulance units accordingly.

The dispatch team includes Agcaoili, Tori Adolpho, Selina Agunoy, Genella Albino, Terryn Cabigas, Reane Gonzales-Fa‘alata, Melia Johnson, Lyndsey Kahuhu, Natasha Kaiwi, Kathi Kamalani, Bridget Keener, Johnel Lozano, Valerie Mukai, Jennifer Natividad, Tracy Pellazar, Jason Pomeroy, Joseph Souza, Stacy Vinoray and Kevin Wolff; and emergency services dispatcher supervisors Susan Egdamin, Marianne Feteira, Davlynn Racadio, Lore Lee Robello and Mary Toro.

Simply put, they serve as a lifeline for people in emergency situations — often when seconds can mean the difference between life and death.

“They do so much to help oth-

ers,” said Lt. John Foster, who oversees Maui Police Department’s communications section.

“They are the unseen heroes.”

Without question, it’s a demanding job. There’s no such thing as a “typical day.” Dispatchers often field hundreds of calls (both 911 calls and administrative calls for the Maui Police Department) in a single shift. And they routinely talk to people on what may be one of the worst days of their lives.

Even so, being the voice on the other end of the line is intensely fulfilling. Just ask Egdamin, who has worked in the communications center for nearly three decades.

“There are good calls and there are bad calls,” she said. “But no matter what kind of call it is, you know you’re making a difference.

That’s the greatest reward for me.”

Long before they put on a head-

set, the dispatchers undergo rigorous training. Among other things, rookies spend several months learning medical protocol (ranging from CPR to delivering a baby) and how to thoroughly and levelheadedly suss out a caller’s situation and quickly relay it to first responders. They also become fluent in police 10-codes and a dizzying number of acronyms and abbreviations.

And dispatchers take multitasking to a whole new level. It’s an extraordinary feat: They can calm a distressed caller, enter information into a computer, contact medics on a two-way radio and talk to a supervisor seated next to them — all at the same time. As if that weren’t impressive enough, they also have a seemingly superhuman ability to remain focused and composed under pressure.

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It’s a fast-paced and adrenalinefueled job, but these dispatchers say providing such a critical service to the community is profoundly rewarding. Whether it’s saving a life or catching the bad guy, Egdamin said, “We are here to help you.”

And there’s a few things they’d like you to know.

If you are in a serious situation where police, fire or emergency medical assistance is required, call 911 and answer all of the call-taker’s questions, even if they seem irrelevant (Egdamin assures every question is deliberate and significant).

Foster says many people accidentally dial 911, particularly if their mobile phone is in a purse or pants pocket; these calls can tie up the line and compromise legitimate emergency calls. Foster suggests passcode-locking phones to prevent these snafus. And if you’re aware you inadvertently dialed 911, don’t hang up (if you do, someone will call you back); stay on the line and explain the error to the dispatcher.

If you need assistance for a nonemergency situation, the Maui Police Department’s nonemergency number is 244-6400. If you are unsure if your situation qualifies as an emergency, dial 911; dispatchers will determine if immediate action is required or if you should hang up and dial the nonemergency line.

Foster is currently seeking applicants for several vacant dispatcher positions. To learn more, visit www.mauicounty.gov/428/JoinMPD, call 244-6380 or email joinmpd@mpd.net.

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Call to action Jordan Ruidas led Lahaina Strong to aid fire victims

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Jordan Ruidas started a Facebook Lahaina Strong fundraiser to help the 20 families affected by the fire that ravaged Lahaina in August and wound up raising close to $200,000. She poses last week near a blackened Lahaina palm tree and melted tire.

WHERE ALOHA LIVES

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By SARAH RUPPENTHAL For The Maui News

At 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 24, Jordan Ruidas was startled awake by the insistent ring of her cellphone. Groggily, she answered — and says her pulse quickened when the caller told her there was a large brush fire near Puamana in Lahaina.

Ruidas, 23, is the co-owner of Westside Tow and Westside Jumperz; the baseyard for both companies is in Puamana. She was alarmed but held out hope the fire would be quickly extinguished. So, she decided to monitor the situation from her home in Honokowai. But an hour later, Ruidas checked her Facebook news feed — and was horrified to discover the wind-fueled fire was spreading rapidly and had forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes in the area.

She hopped in her truck and headed to Puamana to check on her family members and gather important documents from her baseyard office across the highway from the blaze. As she neared Lahaina, glowing embers and bits of ash began to coat her windshield.

“It was like a scene from a movie,” she recalled. “It didn’t feel real.” But as she inched closer to the out-ofcontrol flames, Ruidas said the reality of the situation began to sink in.

Several hours later, after an

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angst-ridden, sleepless night, she and her business partner, Alan Vierra, drove to Lahaina to survey the damage. Fortunately, the baseyard was unscathed and her loved ones were unharmed, but Ruidas says her heart sank when she saw the fire’s aftermath: It had scorched more than 2,000 acres and claimed 21 homes and 30 cars.

“I knew I needed to do something to help,” she said.

“I just didn’t know what I could do.”

That’s when she picked up her smartphone and logged on to Facebook. She typed a message to her friends: “What can we do about this?” After bouncing some ideas back and forth, Ruidas went home to get some sleep, but her mind was occupied with thoughts of the families who had lost everything in a single night.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about them,” she said.

Ruidas is the reigning Miss Valley Isle, and as a Miss Hawaii contender, she’d planned to prep for the judges’ interview — scheduled for that Sunday — all weekend.

Instead, she spent the afternoon and evening online, scrolling through heartwrenching photos of the devastation and reading and posting comments about the fire.

At some point, she says a message from Facebook popped up on the screen.

“It suggested I start a fundraiser,” she said.

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And so she did.

Ruidas created a Facebook fundraising page, titled it “Lahaina Strong” (which she later trademarked) and clicked “post.” Then she went to bed.

When she woke up the next morning, Ruidas logged on to Facebook and was astonished to find that online donors — friends and strangers alike — had contributed close to $12,000 overnight.

“I went to bed on Friday night thinking I’d raise about $100 for each family (who had lost their home),” she said. “When I saw how much had been raised, I knew we could do more to help them.”

She ramped up her fundraising efforts, and as the hours passed, the number continued to climb — from $12,000 to $25,000 to $75,000. Realizing the fundraiser had taken on a life of its own, Ruidas, a Lahainaluna High School graduate, partnered with the Lahainaluna High School Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to assist with the accumulation and distribution of funds.

At the same time, she says another idea was percolating.

“I wanted to have an event,” she said.

Ruidas contacted Luis Fuentes of Go Big Productions Hawaii, who helped bring her vision to life. She quickly rounded up sponsors, silent auction items, food vendors and musicians, and on

E Saturday, Sept. 8 — only two weeks after the fire — debuted the Lahaina Strong Kokua Fest at the Lahaina Gateway Center; the event drew more than 2,500 attendees and netted an additional $20,000.

Between the Lahaina Strong Kokua Fest, Facebook fundraiser (which ultimately raised $150,753) and individual and corporate donations, Ruidas raised close to $200,000 to be distributed evenly among the fire-affected families.

“I am so appreciative of the people who donated to the (Facebook) fundraiser and attended the event,” she said.

“And I am grateful to the community for trusting me to do the right thing.”

Managing a large-scale — not to mention, impromptu — fundraiser is no small feat, especially while juggling two businesses and a Miss Hawaii pageant. It was far from easy, but even so, Ruidas says she’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

“I’m so happy I got to help,” she said. “And I want to do more.”

True to her word, Ruidas says she plans to launch her own nonprofit organization.

She’s still hammering out the details but says she’d like to assist Maui County residents in times of crisis.

“I want to do so much for this community,” she said.

And it’s a safe bet she will.

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By SARAH RUPPENTHAL For The Maui News

Maybe you had that one teacher.

The one who was always there for you. The one who inspired you to work hard and dream big. The one you’ll never forget.

Ellen Federoff is one of those teachers.

When she landed a job teaching 6th grade in her hometown of Los Angeles fresh out of graduate school, Federoff knew she’d found her calling. But it wouldn’t be the only one.

Federoff moved to Maui 14 years ago, and not long after she arrived, accepted a neighbor’s invitation to give outrigger paddling a try. At the time, Federoff’s sport of choice was beach volleyball (she played semi-professionally for 15 years), but she was hooked the moment she climbed into the canoe.

Soon after, she joined the Kihei Canoe Club and began competing in regattas. In 2014, she became the head coach of the club’s Na Opio junior racing program, a competitive sports and cultural program for youths (she now serves as program manager). Today, Federoff is out on the water — coaching, training or racing — 11 months out of the year.

In 2006, a group of breast cancer survivors on Maui banded together to replicate Canada’s “Abreast in a Boat” program, which raises breast cancer awareness through dragon boat paddling.

But instead of dragon boats, they opted to paddle outrigger canoes.

The women eventually turned their passion project into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Mana-

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A class act Ellen Federoff is an inspirational teacher Ellen Federoff, dean of student life at Kihei Charter School, is the founder of the school’s paddling program, the program director at Kihei Canoe Club and also launched Paddle for Life, participating every year since its inception.

The Maui News MATTHEW THAYER photo

‘olana Pink Paddlers. As more cancer survivors and their supporters began to sign up, Federoff volunteered to help rookie paddlers learn the ropes — something she continues to do today.

In 2008, Federoff and several cancer survivors and caregivers embarked on a then-unprecedented journey: They paddled across the Auau Channel from Lahaina to

Lanai, where they camped overnight. The group paddled back to Lahaina the following day. The trip was profoundly empowering, Federoff said.

“We wanted to keep doing it.

We knew it could be a great thing for others.” That maiden voyage evolved into an annual noncompetitive event called Paddle for Life, a fundraiser for the Pacific Cancer

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Foundation; Federoff has participated in the two-day event every year since its inception and helps train crews for the 34-mile roundtrip endeavor.

In 2011, a fellow paddler told Federoff that Kihei Charter School was searching for a new 6th-grade teacher. She’d been working as an education outreach coordinator for Akimeka’s Digital Bus, and while she loved the job, was ready to return to the classroom. She joined the faculty roster soon after, and a few years later, made the switch from teaching middle school to high school. In 2017, Federoff became the high school’s dean of student life; she also teaches 9th-grade social studies.

“Ellen is always there for her students. It’s rare to find people who care about kids on a 24-hour basis,” said John Colson, executive director of Kihei Charter School.

Without question, Federoff is one of those rare finds. Over the years, she’s done more than write lesson plans and grade essays — she’s also made a big difference in her students’ lives, both in and out of the classroom.

In 2015, she started the school’s first-ever paddling team, which has grown from a handful of students to 44 (nearly a quarter of the high school). The team practices at the Kihei Canoe Club hale after school and competes against other Maui Interscholastic League schools.

As head coach, Federoff teaches her paddlers the nuances of the sport — and imparts broader lessons, too: leadership, teamwork, accountability and giving back to others.

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Among other things, she has encouraged and inspired her students to participate in cultural activities; volunteer and fundraise for local nonprofit organizations; help weave the 2.5-mile-long Lei of Aloha to honor the 17 victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla. (three of her students flew to Florida to present the lei); and take part in Maui’s March for Our Lives rally and concert.

In 2016, she planned multiple fundraisers so 18 youth paddlers could attend the International Va‘a Federation World Sprint Championships in Australia. In 2017, Federoff and her students raised enough to send 15 Kihei Charter School paddlers to Oregon for a cultural exchange program over the summer. That same year, Federoff coordinated the inaugural Kihei Charter School luau fundraiser, a now-annual event that benefits the school’s athletics program; it has paved the way for two new sports, golf and tennis, to debut in 2019.

Federoff is clearly in her element as a coach, teacher and dean — her face lights up every time she talks about her students.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about the kids. It always has been,” she said. “I believe everything you give comes back to you tenfold — and I get so much back from them.”

The third annual luau fundraiser will be held at the new Kihei Charter School campus in the Maui Research & Technology Park on March 9. For more information, contact Federoff at efederoff@ kiheicharter.org.

“As a prior recipient of the honor of being chosen as a person who made a difference, I honor those who serve our community and make the world a better place.” m

mauidestination.co pluta@maui.net •

lty, LLC Joseph D. Pluta, Rea

VACATION RENTALS .7992 fax REAL ESTATE SERVICES &.45 8.661.7990 ph 808.661 80 ll ce 33 83 8.2 80 • 96761

Joseph D. Pluta (R) (PB)

Lahaina, HI 181 Lahainaluna Rd. #I,

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People who made a difference, past and present 2018: Ellen Federoff, Maui Central Dispatch, Robin Newbold, Jordan Ruidas, Paul Tonnessen. (5)

Brian Kohne; Janna Hoehn; Dr. Melvin Burton; Honokowai Kauhale residents. (10)

2017: Joyce Afalla; Mary Dungans and Mana‘olana Pink Paddlers; Lawrence Kauha‘aha‘a and Wailuku Clean & Safe; Keolahou Church Food Pantry in north Kihei volunteers; Kurt Suzuki. (5)

2010: Spencer Shiraishi, Kenji Kawaguchi, Garner Ivey and Warren Shimabukuro; Jon and Maile Viela; Joanne and Larry Laird; Keola Eharis Rogat and Richard “Noosh” Nishihara; Phoenix Dupree and 16 other Lanai residents. (12)

2016: Holoholo Bookmobile: Sara Foley, Dorothy Tolliver and Susan Werner; Wesley Lo; Don McLeish; Na Hoaloha; Craig Okita and Dean Yamashita. (5) 2015: A Cup of Cold Water; Magdalena Bajon; Judge Joseph E. Cardoza; Bo Mahoe; Betty Ventura. (5) 2014: Capt. Timi Gilliom and members of Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua; Hui O Na Wai Eha; SPCA Maui volunteers; Scottie Zucco; Gina Marzo. (6) 2013: Maui ranchers and farmers breeding moths to fight the invasive Madagascan fireweed; West Maui Kumuwai; Mervin “Uncle Merv” Dudoit; Dennis Burns and Suzanne Burry; Jack Breen. (6) 2012: Rotary Club of Lahaina, Rick Cowan and the Maui Friends of the Library; Maui Economic Development Board; Archie Kalepa; Andrea Maniago; Fred Ruge. (7) 2011: Keith Regan and Lynn Araki-Regan; Steve Colflesh, Albert Paschoal and Mike Kahale; volunteers with the Lanai Native Species Recovery Project;

Department Lahaina Patrol Specialized Unit; Maui Fire Department; Kahekili Terrace Resident Patrol; Byron Ooka. (5)

Kleefisch; Judy and David Mikami. (10) 1999: Alliance for the Heritage of East Maui; Dana Naone Hall and Isaac Hall; Kalama Intermediate Student Council; Ryan Luskin; Ken Nakayama and the Molokai High School baseball team; Roy Tokujo and ‘Ulalena; Mercer “Chubby” Vicens. (10)

2004: Maui Police Department Juvenile Section; Kula Community Association; Anna Palomino; police officer Joshua Haglan and Capt. Charles Hirata; Clifford Nae‘ole; Community Prosecutor Jerrie Sheppard and the Kalama Park 1998: Akaku: Maui Community TeleviAction Team; Omaopio-Pulehu Neigh- sion staff and producers; Kim Ball; Cynbors; Lisa Texeira; Virginia Brown and thia Conrad; Jerry Labb; Amy Hanaiali‘i 2009: Lance Collins and David Gierlach; Lehua Park Cosma; Pualani Enos; the 411th Battalion Family Readiness Gilliom and Willie K.; David Goode; BarGroup.(12) Dr. William Kepler; Phyllis McOmber; bara Knoeppel; Diane Lee; Brian Moto; Darrell Tanaka and Brian 2003: Alex Baker; Dale Bonar and Maui Linda Lingle; Charles Kauluwehi Yoshikawa. (9) Maxwell Sr. (11) Coastal Land Trust; Blossom Feiteira, Kehaulani Filimoe‘atu and Hawaii Com2008: John Cadman; Val Vines Magee; 1997: Lt. Charles Hirata and DUI Task munity Assets; Auriol and Ed Flavell; Maui Police Department juvenile invesForce; Leonard “Bully” Kapahulehua; tigators; Tim Ellison, Ben Tolentino and Jane Kaleikini; Nick Krau; Sam Milling- Brian McCafferty; Randy Morton; Wes Polli’s Mexican Restaurant; Kent Smith ton; Lisa Schattenburg-Raymond and Friewald; Cathrine Puahala; Barry Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. (13) and Hilton Unemori; Joe Pluta and Rivers. (8) West Maui Improvement Foundation; 2002: Jan Dapitan; Pat and 1996: Hannah Bernard; Holy Ghost Aloha House Crisis Mobile Outreach Richard Endsley; Bernard “Lono” Bread Ladies; Curt Hodge; Buck Joiner; team; David “Buddy” Nobriga. (12) Kalawaia Kaina; Matthew Lopez; Maui Judges Boyd Mossman, E. John McCounty Charter Commission; 2007: Dr. Lee Miyasato, Dr. Chris Neal Connnell and Shackley Raffetto; Barry Shannon and Kathy Collins; and Dr. Ronald Boyd, Maui Memorial Sandra Shawhan. (8) Maui Outdoor Circle. (9) Medical Center stroke specialists; 1995: Aimee Anderson; Alan Arakawa; Ke‘eaumoku and U‘ilani Kapu; Randy 2001: David Garner; Vernon Gosney; Mike Boughton; Mary Evanson; Greg Awo, Hokulani Holt; Save Honolua Christina Hemming; Paul Kauhane Davis; Yvonne Friel; Keali‘i Reichel; Coalition; Maui Long Term Care Luuwai; Art Medeiros; Fred Rohlfing Ernie Rezents; Susan Scofield. (9) Partnership. (10) and Madge Schaefer; Rick Rutiz; 1994: Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli; Dr. Bobby South Maui Citizens patrol. (9) 2006: Lillian Murakami; Maui County Baker; Virgie Cantorna; Shay Chan; firefighters; Jo-Ann Ridao; Bob and Lis Walter Dodds Jr.; Everett Dowling; Kaui 2000: Willie Nelson; Frank Sinenci; Richardson; the Feline Foundation of Doyle; Ian and Marc Hodges; Charles Turtle Patrol volunteers; Maui Police Maui; Brian Yoshikawa; Dorvin and BetJencks; Anthony Ranken; Dr. Rick Department Visitor Oriented Policing ty Leis; DeGray Vanderbilt. (10) Sands; Joseph Sugarman; Art Vento; Unit; Lynn Araki; Chris Cowan and the 2005: Dennis Ishii; Maui Police

Maui Arts & Cultural Center staff; Boyd

Masaru “Pundy” Yokouchi. (15)

Thank you to all who make Maui County so special.

May you have a safe and happy holiday season and prosperous New Year. ~ Alice Mahalo for the opportunity to serve you on the Maui County Council.

Paid for by Friends of Alice Lee, P.O. Box 1606, Kahului, HI 96733 A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Tuesday, December 25, 2018 – Page T8

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COUNTY COUNCIL