Maui Produces Promotional Space Film and Business Report

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtmKBEG4cEA /] By Sonia Isotov

The Maui Economic Development Board recently released two promotional pieces aimed at raising public awareness about the high-tech and space industries on Maui. One is a short film entitled “Maui in Space” and the other a glossy publication called the Maui Business Report.

The short filled was produced by MEDB with support from the County of Maui, and was directed and written by Jay April, a Maui-based filmmaker and edited by Louis DiLiberto of Artifact Studios. “Maui in Space” can be viewed at: http://youtu.be/dtmKBEG4cEA.

“Making this film made me realize that Maui not only represents the summit of space situational awareness, but it leads the world in mankind’s understanding of asteroids and the sun; an amazing achievement by the largely unheralded but spectacular men and women of science who live and work here every day, ” said Jay April, in a written statement.

“Our society revolves around using space… The video shows Maui’s global contribution to space situational awareness,” said Dr. Stacie Williams, a physical scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Maui site.

Jay April, director and writer of “Maui in Space.” Courtesy photo.

“It’s an educational video that shows the importance of the work being done here.”

MEDB produced the film as an introduction to the astronomy industry on Maui and to show how it collaborates with the Air Force in its research efforts around space situational awareness. “We are pleased that the film will be used by the Air Force in its educational outreach to Maui students in grades K to 12,” said Sandy Ryan, a program director for MEDB.

“We hope this will assist educators in inspiring their students to engage in science and math and see how it relates to their everyday lives on Maui.”

“With tourism and agriculture as the basis of our economy for so long, certainly our workforce had been geared in that direction,” says Jeanne Skog, president and chief executive officer of MEDB, to an interviewer, as she recalls how skeptics once said that high-tech would not work on Maui.

“So we realized we had to look at skill-building in our schools. Through thousands of dollars in private and public support, MEDB has developed a host of programs for both teachers and students so that they can learn to use technology to learn and grow.”

The Maui Business Report encompasses a variety of stories including one that features Molokai Plumerias and another about how one hotel, the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, is working toward being more energy efficient.

“MEDB is committed to providing support by spotlighting the efforts businesses are taking to improve and thrive in today’s economy,” said Skog, in a written statement. “We believe the report conveys the impact business and technology have in Maui County today and in the future.” The business report is available at no charge at the MEDB offices in Kihei.