All Stories

A Different Way of Seeing Things

When you’re surrounded by some of the world’s most gorgeous landscapes and seascapes, painting outdoors instead of in a studio makes sense. But painting outside requires a different technique than painting indoors, says artist Lynne Boyer. Boyer teaches painting in…

Capturing Noisy, Pesky Wild Chickens

Feral chickens are a growing pest problem  in Hawaii, partly because they have no natural predators. “The most common problem is roosters crowing,” says Michael Botha, president of Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions. “And the other part of it is they’re…

What's the Big Idea?

For many years, Vassilis Syrmos didn’t spend much time thinking about business. An electrical engineer with a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech and a new career in academia, he was happy to focus on pure research. “When you’re a young assistant…

Sustainable Schools Earn An A

Private and public schools discover many benefits to their sustainability programs, including financial, educational, motivational and recruiting returns. For companies, the path to sustainability often starts with a volunteer task force (a “green team”) and some small initiatives with quick financial…

Instrument of Aloha

Since the ukulele arrived in the Islands late in the 19th century, it has been a symbol of Hawaii and the aloha spirit. That aloha is shared widely and generously by ukulele makers, performers and teachers, both locally and around…

More Efficient Power

In the hospitality world, it’s not just hotel guests who win points and rewards. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas on Kauai’s North Shore earned a bonus when it installed a system that delivers electricity more efficiently and comes with…

Inevitable Change

Soon – maybe even by the time you read this article – the state’s largest company, Hawaiian Electric Industries, will begin a radical transformation from the stodgy monopoly we’ve known for 124 years, into a much more nimble and competitive…