Molokai driver Dino Calairo was named Maui Economic Opportunity Driver of the Year for 2021. The plaque and cash award are sponsored by Atlas Insurance. — Photo courtesy of Maui Economic Opportunity
Molokai driver Dino Calairo was named the winner of the Maui Economic Opportunity Driver of the Year award for 2021, which was announced at the agency’s monthly staff gathering on Feb. 25.
The award, which recognizes driving excellence, is sponsored by Atlas Insurance and included a plaque and a monetary award.
Calairo, who has worked for Maui Economic Opportunity for nearly a decade, has been accident-free for more than eight years and has an excellent work ethic and attendance record the nonprofit said.
“We actually call the team members behind the wheel of MEO buses personal assistance technicians because they do more than drive a bus,” said Maui Economic Opportunity CEO Debbie Cabebe. “They go into homes to wheel passengers to the bus and onto wheelchair ramps and secure them in. They watch out for the safety of their riders, many of whom are kupuna or persons with disabilities. We applaud Dino and all other MEO PATs for the job that they do.”
MEO is looking for drivers on Maui, Molokai and Lanai and runs a training program for prospective drivers to obtain their commercial driver’s license. Drivers are paid during the training period and offered jobs after receiving their license.
For more information about available positions, visit meoinc.org or call (808) 877-7651.
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Pay equity topic of AAUW meeting
Pay equity for county and state government clerks will the topic of the American Association of University Women’s virtual meeting at 10 a.m. today.
Karin Phaneuf and Connie Gouveia will be the guest speakers. Phaneuf is an administrative officer in the Maui County Planning Department. She has identified the gender pay gap for female clerks and contends that wage equity is an ongoing and unresolved issue. Gouveia has worked as a clerk III in the county Department of Public Works for nine years. Since 2013, she has actively fought for pay equity for county clerks.
The meeting will begin with social time at 10 a.m., followed by a business meeting at 10:30 a.m. and the guest speakers at 11 a.m.
For information about AAUW or login details, contact Pat Gotschalk at pg22@hawaii.edu or call (808) 707-2001.
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Volunteers sought for Kipahulu trip
The Friends of Haleakala National Park will host a service trip in the Kipahulu District of the park on Easter weekend from April 15 to 17.
The group of up to 12 will do a variety of tasks, including greenhouse cleanup and maintenance, weeding, native plant habitat restoration, lo’i restoration on the Pipiwai Trail and more.
No backpacking is required for this trip, as participants can drive into the campground and up to the bunkhouse. Participants will prepare their own meals in the bunkhouse, which is equipped with a kitchen, shower and outhouse, but must camp by tent or car in the adjacent lawn.
The Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park is about 12 miles past Hana, near Mile Marker 42. Participants may carpool to Kipahulu early on Friday morning.
To make a reservation for this trip or a future trip scheduled on the website, call (904) 294-2959 or email laura@fhnp.org.
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Shelter participates in crypto campaign
Maui Humane Society is participating in a $10 million cryptocurrency matching campaign, made possible by the nonprofit’s involvement with #CaringWithCrypto, a fund-raising initiative run by The Giving Block and Shift4.
The shelter accepts gifts of cryptocurrency and bitcoin, and through the matching campaign, cryptocurrency holders can double their donation.
After $10 million has been raised and matched for all participating charities, the campaign will be over. To make a cryptocurrency donation to Maui Humane Society, visit www.mauihumanesociety.org/crypto.
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‘Fuel Up. Do Good.’ benefits Maui Farm
The Maui Farm was selected as a beneficiary of Ohana Fuels’ “Fuel Up. Do Good.” program and will receive a donation based on the number of gallons of fuel sold at all Ohana Fuels locations on Maui between April 1 and June 30.
The Maui Farm provides transitional housing and farm-based, family-centered programs that teach life skills for self-sufficient living.
The Maui Farm will use the “Fuel Up. Do Good.” funds to support its family strengthening program, purchase farm program supplies and maintain and repair the homes and facilities on the nonprofit’s 8-acre campus and educational farm.
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