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Girl Scouts program to expand with donation from Hawaiian Electric
After School Leadership Program promotes STEM curriculum

HONOLULU, Jan. 8, 2016 – A $5,000 donation from Hawaiian Electric to the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi will be used to expand an afterschool leadership program for girls in underserved communities on Oʻahu. The program introduces girls to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts and creates opportunities for leadership development through hands-on, out-of-classroom learning experiences.

Through Hawaiian Electric’s donation, the Girl Scouts 2015-2016 Afterschool Leadership Program will be offered at a reduced fee and part of the donation also will be used for supplies, activities, excursions, and staffing.

“STEM is one of the key curriculums for Girl Scouts nationwide,” said Shari Chang, Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi CEO. “By offering a wide variety of innovative programs and unique opportunities, Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi is committed to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to explore and build an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Hawaiian Electric’s support allows us to expand these opportunities for girls in under-resourced areas.”

The Afterschool Leadership Program is a STEM-focused curriculum that explores earth science, water conservation and energy topics through a series of activities that are aligned with the Hawaiʻi Common Core State Standards and based on the Girl Scouts’ program grade level. In addition to the after school activities, the girls also will participate in at least one outdoor day trip.

Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi is a nonprofit organization with a mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

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HONOLULU (January 6, 2016) – The Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi Cadette Troop 709 used their proceeds from the 2015 cookie season to purchase toys for a toy chest at Tripler Army Medical Center’s Pediatric Treatment Room, which they delivered on December 21, 2015, just in time for the holidays.

Pediatric patients at Tripler Army Medical Center can choose toys from the chest to comfort them during their hospital stay. The toy chest is a project the scouts undertook three years ago for their Bronze Award project. Cadettes from Troop 709 restock the chest with new toys every Christmas season.

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About Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi

Supporting almost 5,000 girl and adult members statewide, the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi (GSH) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. GSH’s headquarters is located on the island of Oʻahu, with three neighbor island service centers on the islands of Hawai’i, Kaua’i and Maui. GSH is chartered by the national office, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and is responsible for the leadership, administration and supervision of Girl Scout programs in the state of Hawai’i. For more information about GSH, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or call (808) 595-8400.

Photo caption: Cadettes from Troop 709 restocking the toy chest at Tripler Army Medical Center’s Pediatric Treatment Room (Photo attached).

HONOLULU (January 4, 2016) – In preparation for the upcoming cookie season, the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi will host its first Cookie University event to prepare scouts for the largest girl-led business in the world. Cookie University will take place on January 9, 2016, and will introduce scouts to financial, sales and customer service professionals, who will teach them valuable skills when operating their own business.

“We are very excited to host Cookie University for our Girl Scouts,” said chief executive officer Shari Chang. “The Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneur program in the world and is very important for our scouts, and with Cookie University, we hope to equip them with valuable resources and inspiring mentors who can teach them everything from money management to business ethics.”

The Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi is deeply appreciative of its corporate sponsor, The Rice Partnership, and Bonnie Rice, principal and chief compliance officer, for making Cookie University possible.

Among the Cookie University speakers are:

• Michele Saito, president of DTRIC, will discuss goal setting
• Jodi Nozoe Chang, senior vice president of UBS, will speak about budget plans
• Cara Goodrich, vice president of revenue management at Castle Resorts & Hotels, will present on customer service and sales
• Stacey Acma, non-profit consultant and former executive director of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Hawaii, will talk about community service and business ethics

The Cookie University event will take place from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., with check-in at 1:00 p.m. at ʻIolani School’s Sullivan Center. For more information on Cookie University call (808) 595-8400.

About Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi

Supporting almost 5,000 girl and adult members statewide, the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi (GSH) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. GSH’s headquarters is located on the island of Oʻahu, with three neighbor island service centers on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi and Maui. GSH is chartered by the national office, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and is responsible for the leadership, administration and supervision of Girl Scout programs in the state of Hawaiʻi. For more information about GSH, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or call (808) 595-8400.

HONOLULU (September 14, 2015) – The Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i is kicking off recruitment season and encouraging girls, adult women, and even men to get involved today! We’ve served girls through a unique all-girl environment for nearly 100 years! With that history, its safe to say we know girls. There are no limits to a girl’s success and at the Girl Scouts we create fun and engaging opportunities that help girls realize their potential. As a Girl Scout member, girls enjoy a safe environment within a network of friends, new and old, where she can feel confident while learning and exploring.

“In Girl Scouting, every girl is welcomed with her unique interest, skills, and personality,” said chief executive officer Shari Chang. “There are also opportunities for adults – both women and men – to get involved with the Girl Scouts. Today, we have dads who are troop leaders and helping to mentoring girls to become strong young women. By getting involved with the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi, both young girls as well as experienced adults work together to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.”

Girls in kindergarten through high school will get to do things they love, as well as try out new experiences through customizable programming and activities. Their Girl Scout pathway will help in building self-esteem, friendships and invaluable leadership skills.

Adult men and women can also work with the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi in a range of volunteer positions. By choosing different pathways to fit their schedule, adult volunteers can positively influence the lives of young girls, helping them to become tomorrow’s leaders.

To become a member, or to learn more about volunteering with the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi, call (808) 595-8400 or visit girlscouts-hawaii.org.

About Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi

Supporting almost 5,000 girl and adult members statewide with approximately 20 staff members, the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi (GSH) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. GSH’s headquarters is located on the island of Oʻahu, with three neighbor island service centers on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi and Maui. GSH is chartered by the national office, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and is responsible for the leadership, administration and supervision of Girl Scout programs in the state of Hawaiʻi. For more information about GSH, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or call (808) 595-8400.

HONOLULU (September 1, 2015) – Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts on Maui participated in the Barbie – Be Anything, Do Everything program on August 15. Imitating Barbie and her ability to “try on” different careers, the Girl Scouts in kindergarten through third grade had the opportunity to work with industry professionals to experience four different career fields: computer programming, nursing, gardening and aviation.

Representatives from Goma Games introduced the Girl Scouts to the computer programming field. Scouts learned about computer commands and variables, and then used their new coding knowledge to design their own story.

Registered nurse and former Girl Scout Troop Leader Emily Ventura taught scouts how to find a pulse, wrap a sprained ankle with an ACE bandage, and use safety barriers such as masks and gloves properly.

Grow Some Good, an organization that partners with local elementary schools to grow sustainable gardens on school grounds, taught the scouts about the key ingredients plants need in order to grow. Girl Scouts got to try on a beekeeper’s outfit and honey harvested from Grow Some Good bees. By the end of the day, the scouts had planted basil in their own take-home pots.

Pilot Shannon Christensen introduced scouts to the basic principles of flight. She also brought in a flight simulator program, allowing the girls to experience first-hand what it’s like to be a pilot.

About Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi

Supporting almost 5,000 girl and adult members statewide with approximately 20 staff members, the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi (GSH) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. GSH’s headquarters is located on the island of Oʻahu, with three neighbor island service centers on the islands of Hawai’i, Kaua’i and Maui. GSH is chartered by the national office, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and is responsible for the leadership, administration and supervision of Girl Scout programs in the state of Hawai’i. For more information about GSH, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or call (808) 595-8400.

Photo caption: Maui Girl Scouts “try on” four careers with Barbie – Be Anything, Do Everything Program (Photos attached)

HONOLULU (June 24, 2015) – The Girl Scouts of Hawaii has named Emmaly Calibraro as its new Director of Development. She will develop and implement the organization’s fundraising strategies, as well as manage and coordinate its fundraising campaigns.

“Emmaly’s enthusiasm and strong corporate sales and volunteer background is a great asset to Girl Scouts,” said Shari Chang, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts Hawaii.

With 13 years in the hospitality industry, Calibraro brings extensive corporate experience to Girl Scouts of Hawaii. She was most recently the Director of Sales for Hertz Corporation and was previously Director of Sales Development Asia & Pacific for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Corporation. In 2014, Calibraro was recognized as a Pacific Business News Woman to Watch in Business.

Calibraro serves on the board of directors for Sales & Marketing Executives International. She has been a youth mentor volunteer and coach for several schools and nonprofit organizations.  A graduate of Kamehameha Schools, she attended Creighton University. She has a four-year-old daughter and is looking forward to having her join the Girl Scouts when she begins Kindergarten.

About Girl Scouts of Hawai’i

Supporting almost 5,000 girl and adult members statewide with approximately 20 staff members, the Girl Scouts of Hawai’i (GSH) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. GSH’s headquarters is located on the island of O’ahu, with three neighbor island service centers on the islands of Hawai’i, Kaua’i and Maui. GSH is chartered by the national office, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and is responsible for the leadership, administration and supervision of Girl Scout programs in the state of Hawai’i. For more information about GSH, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or call (808) 595-8400.

HONOLULU (June 9, 2015) – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) named Girl Scout Ambassador Autumn Ollice as Scout of the Year in recognition of her exemplary dedication to scouting, and service to others and her community. Ollice was also selected as the State of Hawaii’s Scout Representative in the VFW’s national level competition, where winners are awarded $3,000, $5,000, and $10,000 scholarships.

Olliace has earned two Gold Level President’s Volunteer Service Awards, logging more than 600 hours of service in the past two years. Her Gold Award project helped to raise awareness about safe and proper recycling in the community. At the Aloha Stadium, she added over 100 recycle barrels and rain run-off lids, and she also volunteered with NOAA and Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam to set up recycling awareness booths for Oceanfest and the Earth Day Fair.

In addition to her Girl Scout activities, Olliace attends both Leeward Community College and Radford High School, maintaining a 4.4 GPA and hopes to pursue a career in the biomedical engineering field to design cutting edge prosthetics.

About Girl Scouts of Hawai’i

Supporting almost 5,000 girl and adult members statewide with approximately 20 staff members, the Girl Scouts of Hawai’i (GSH) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. GSH’s headquarters is located on the island of O’ahu, with three neighbor island service centers on the islands of Hawai’i, Kaua’i and Maui. GSH is chartered by the national office, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and is responsible for the leadership, administration and supervision of Girl Scout programs in the state of Hawai’i. For more information about GSH, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or call (808) 595-8400.

HONOLULU (April 27, 2015) – On Memorial Day weekend each year, the Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i honors the memory of the brave members of the armed services by placing lei at the Hawaii Veteran’s Cemetery in Kane‘ohe. This year, the Girl Scouts are asking for the community’s help to ensure that each of the over 9,000 veterans receive a lei of aloha with donations of flowers or helping to sew lei on Saturday, May 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Windward Mall.

“It’s a proud tradition of the Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i to honor our heroes that have been laid to rest with lei on Memorial Day,” said Shari Chang, CEO of Girl Scouts of Hawai’i. “With our community’s generosity, our Scouts will be able to honor the memories of those who have protected the rights and freedom of our nation.”

Donations of flowers and lei may be dropped off at Windward Mall’s Center Court. Suggested flower donations are blossoms of plumeria, bougainvillea, stephanotis, or crown flowers; stalks of hardy tropical flowers will also be accepted (24-inches maximum). The community is also encouraged to volunteer to sew lei and veterans are invited to come dressed uniform to share their histories and stories with Girl Scouts, volunteers, and mall shoppers.

About Girl Scouts of Hawai’i

Supporting almost 5,000 girl and adult members statewide with approximately 20 staff members, the Girl Scouts of Hawai’i (GSH) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. GSH’s headquarters is located on the island of O’ahu, with three neighbor island service centers on the islands of Hawai’i, Kaua’i and Maui. GSH is chartered by the national office, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and is responsible for the leadership, administration and supervision of Girl Scout programs in the state of Hawai’i. For more information about GSH, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or call (808) 595-8400.

HONOLULU (April 16, 2015) – Girls Scouts of Hawai`i announced today that 18 Girl Scouts have earned the Girl Scout Gold Award – the highest recognition a member of the organization can achieve. The honors will be presented at the Gold Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. at Central Union Church’s Parish Hall.

“The Gold Award recognizes a Girl Scout’s commitment and service to the community,” said Shari Chang, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i. “This year’s recipients join the ranks of generations of young women who have made a difference in their communities and beyond. We are extremely proud of their achievements and are confident they will continue to be exemplary leaders throughout their lives.”

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout’s commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 6 percent of eligible girls nationwide earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Recipients of the Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i 2015 Gold Awards are:

• Alexa Anderson, Troop 709 – Fine Arts Bonanza Project.  Alexa worked with musicians around the island to deliver a workshop allowing girls in grades 4 – 6 to learn about different instruments and create music. The workshop highlighted the benefits of music programs and also brought attention to the declining availability of these programs in undeserved, at-risk areas.
• Presley Anderson, Troop 709 – Fine Arts Bonanza Project.  Presley helped at-risk students find healthy outlets for their time and energy through a resource guide of music opportunities around Oahu. She also created a video of students around the island participating in music, and a manual to help others duplicate the Fine Arts Bonanza workshop lead by her and her sister.
• Joy Andres, Troop 377 – Walk Away Don’t Ever Look Back Project. Joy worked with the Honolulu Police Department to teach students what to do in the face of sexual harassment. She wrote, filmed, and directed a video that was used as an educational tool at school assemblies across Oahu.
• Jessica Dang, Troop 379 – Book Nook Project. Jessica created a comfortable reading corner with modern books to get students in grades 7 – 12 interested in reading. She worked with the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii at the Waianae Clubhouse campus to create a reading “nook” for their students.
• Hayley Dietrich, Troop 709 – Elementary School Science Olympiad Project. Hayley planned and hosted the first Science Olympiad at Le Jardin Academy since 2009. She shared her passion for science with the students through a variety of fun science experiments lead by Hayley and her team.
• Kiana Hiranaga, Troop 1010 – Music a New Beginning Project. Kiana created a preschool affordable music program, which, based on her research, improves participating students’ math and memory skills. The preschool intends to deliver the curriculum developed by Kiana for years to come.
• Yin Young Kim, Troop 379 – Organizing a Camp to Develop Leadership and Confidence in Children Project. Yin Young worked with the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii to organize an educational camp for children ages 10 – 17 to fight against childhood obesity. She taught campers about eating right staying active.
• Jamie Kosaki, Troop 379 – Mission Sisterhood: Obesity Project. Jamie addressed the issue of obesity by taking fourth and fifth graders from the Boys & Girls Club to Camp Paumalu and teaching them about the importance of a balanced diet and exercise. She got the campers moving through soccer and volleyball, and delivered nutrition lessons to promote healthy eating.
• Jenna Kumabe, Troop 379 – Organizing a Camp to Develop Leadership and Confidence in Children Project. Jenna organized a weekend camp for 60 girls at the Boys and Girls Club to help girls develop their confidence and leadership skills.
• Alice Liggett, Troop 404 – Joining Forces-Community Support for Junior Enlisted Military Families Project. Alice created a project that addressed the needs of military families when their loved ones are deployed. She developed, directed, and staged recreational opportunities for young military families through the Armed Services YMCA at Pearl Harbor.
• Autumn Ollice, Troop 188 – Keep It Clean, Sort it Out Project. Autumn worked with a team at Aloha Stadium to revamp their recycling program after noticing that the recycling bins were not being used properly. She raised awareness of this issue in the community by speaking at Earth Day events, and creating a PSA showcasing her new recycling program to be shown during athletic events at the Stadium.
• Hannah Shor, Troop 377 – Hawaii Oceans to Kids Project. Hannah taught younger children about the importance of the ocean and keeping sea and marine life healthy through a series of afterschool workshops and beach cleanups. As part of her project, she also wrote and illustrated a children’s book entitled “Micah the Monk Seal.”
• Cori Sutton, Troop 415 – Save the Orangutans: If the Girl Scouts Can Do It, So Can You Project. Cori educated children and visitors of the Honolulu Zoo about the deforestation caused by palm oil production. She created a video and presentation for the Zoo to showcase and educate patrons about the use of unsustainable palm oil.
• Mary-Brister Thomas, Troop 848 – The Gold Labyrinth Project. Mary-Brister created a 22-foot labyrinth that promotes a positive attitude and reduces stress. The maze is used in the curriculum for the Punahou Chapel and the Luke Center for Public Service, but is portable and may be borrowed by members of the community by contacting [email protected].
• Cailyn Tsukamoto, Troop 379 – Incorporating Eco-Friendly Art Expression with a Focus on Nature Project. Cailyn organized a sustainable art project for girls from the Boys and Girls Club at Camp Paumalu. She developed activities using plants and recycled materials to help the girls express themselves through environmentally friendly arts and crafts.
• Hannah Uehara, Troop 720  – Keiki Gospel Project. While attending Saint Anthony Parrish, Hannah noticed the lack of religious education for pre-school aged children. To address this issue, she worked with Sr. Eva Messina, Director of Religious Education, to create a gospel class for preschoolers by adapting the National Catholic Curriculum.
• Rachel Watanabe, Troop 289 – The Mysteries and Wonders of Food Project. Rachel highlighted the issue of Hawaii’s dependence on imported goods by teaching children at the Mililani Presbyterian Preschool where their food comes from. She and her team installed an aquaponics system at the school and Rachel created lesson plans and workbooks to teach the students how aquaponics systems work and their benefits.
• Madisyn Young, Troop 415 – Feel the Need to Succeed? Read! Read! Read! Project. Madisyn created a book area for children of all ages to read and learn in the Vancouver House, a transitional housing solution to help Hawaii’s homeless. She spent time weekly with the children there, many of whom did not speak fluent English, to teach them English and other school skills through activities, which are described in her blog: feeltheneedtoread.weebly.com.

Silver Awards to Girl Scout Cadettes and Bronze Awards to Girl Scout Juniors for their community service projects will also be presented at the ceremony.

About Girl Scouts of Hawai’i

Supporting almost 5,000 girl and adult members statewide with approximately 20 staff members, the Girl Scouts of Hawai’i (GSH) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. GSH’s headquarters is located on the island of O’ahu, with three neighbor island service centers on the islands of Hawai’i, Kaua’i and Maui. GSH is chartered by the national office, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and is responsible for the leadership, administration and supervision of Girl Scout programs in the state of Hawai’i. For more information about GSH, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or call (808) 595-8400.

HONOLULU (Feb. 27, 2015) – Everyone loves a Girl Scout cookie. Four Hawaii restaurants love Girl Scout cookies so much they’ve created special desserts featuring iconic cookie flavors like Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs! Farrell’s Hawaii on Oahu, Ruby’s Diner on Maui, and Huggo’s and Lava Lava Beach Club on Hawaii Island will launch their limited edition desserts in celebration of National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend on Friday, Feb. 27 and the specials will be available throughout the month of March. The restaurants will donate $1 from each dessert sold.

“We are extremely grateful for the partnerships and support of Farrell’s, Ruby’s Diner, Huggo’s and the Lava Lava Beach Club said Shari W. Chang, CEO of Girl Scouts of Hawai’i. “It’s encouraging when local businesses support the world’s largest girls’ entrepreneurial program, which helps our local troops in their community service efforts.”

Farrell’s Hawaii has three Girl Scout cookie themed desserts, including: Not-So-Thin Mint Shake with creamy mint chocolate chip ice cream topped with whipped cream, Thin Mint crumbles, and a Thin Mint cookie; Tag-along With Me Sundae featuring a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with whip, caramel drizzle, Tagalong crumbles and a Tagalong cookie; and Gotta Have Sa-Moa Sundae, a scoop of chocolate ice cream, rolled in toasted coconut flakes, drizzled with chocolate syrup, topped with whipped cream, Samoas crumbles and a Samoas cookie.

Ruby’s Diner on Maui offers their Chocolate Mint Cookie Shake, a refreshing mint milk shake swirled with ribbons of rich Hershey’s Dark Chocolate and topped with Thin Mints.

At Huggo’s on Hawaii Island, guests will enjoy a Thin Mint Chocolate Mousse Pie, garnished with a Thin Mint cookie. While its sister restaurant, the Lava Lava Beach Club, offers their version of a “Goodie Jar” with vanilla bean-caramel mousse, marshmallow fluff, house roasted salted macadamia nuts, and butterscotch on a crushed Samoas cookie crust.

About Girl Scouts of Hawai’i

Supporting almost 5,000 girl and adult members statewide with approximately 20 staff members, the Girl Scouts of Hawai’i (GSH) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. GSH’s headquarters is located on the island of O’ahu, with three neighbor island service centers on the islands of Hawai’i, Kaua’i and Maui. GSH is chartered by the national office, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and is responsible for the leadership, administration and supervision of Girl Scout programs in the state of Hawai’i. For more information about GSH, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or call (808) 595-8400.

(Honolulu, Hawaii, November 20, 2014)-STEM professionals and interactive projects help girls expand career paths

More than 120 Girl Scouts in Hawaii recently attended the 2014 STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Fest. Female volunteer STEM professionals provided a variety of activities for the girls to give them an insider’s perspective of non-traditional careers for women.

“As more women enter into traditionally male-dominated careers, it is important for leadership organizations, such as Girl Scouts of Hawaii, to expose the girls to all the potential professions,” said Shari Chang, CEO of Girl Scouts of Hawaii.

“Every girl needs a chance to explore the fascinating world of STEM. Girl Scouting encourages girls of all ages by offering ‘fun with purpose’ through its K–12 national program. This is only the second year we have held this event, and the increase in the number of girls participating this year was phenomenal.”

To help the girls visualize the various careers, activities included simulating an archeological “dig,” a science challenge with spaghetti, learning about trajectory from a missile technician, managing personal finances, learning about survival gear from a helicopter pilot, disaster preparedness and more.

“The Hawai’i Girl Scouts who participated in the recent STEM Fest event brought energy and enthusiasm to the event and displayed the kind of motivation that characterizes future leaders and women in science,” said Dr. Miriam Stark, archeologist, University of Hawaii and volunteer at STEM Fest.

Girls from second grade Brownie and above talked to 20 professional women about their experiences in careers in anthropology, geology, civil engineering, helicopter pilot, Army medic, nursing, children’s disaster advocate, missile systems technician, veterinary medicine, math teacher and professor of Native Hawaiian and indigenous health.

“My favorite part about STEM Fest was when I got to visit the environmental scientist because she had a hands-on activity and related her content to the grade we were in. I was able to understand without it being too simple, plus it was fun and got to learn at the same time. She showed me that she is making a difference and so can I,” said Sophia Loo, Girl Scout from Troop 005.

About Girl Scouts

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the nation’s premier leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades. With over three million members, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has more than 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

(Honolulu, Hawaii, October 27, 2014)—Girl Scouts of Hawaii (GSH) has selected longtime Hawaii business leader, Shari Chang, as chief executive officer. Chang, a 30-year veteran of hospitality marketing, began her new position October 23, 2014.

“Shari is a highly recognized marketer in Hawaii, instrumental in the vision and creative development driving numerous high-profile and award-winning marketing campaigns,” said Lori Lum, GSH board chair. “Her community involvement both as a volunteer and a professional will be a big asset for Girl Scouts of Hawaii.”

Chang most recently led the sales, marketing and revenue management strategies at Aston Hotels & Resorts for the past eight years as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to that, she was senior vice president of Aloha Airlines and oversaw the company’s expansion strategy to the Western U.S., Canada and the Cook Islands. Additionally, she served as vice president of marketing and communications for Aloha United Way, where she launched major initiatives including the agency’s first online auction.

As a member of the International Women’s Leadership Federation, a premier women’s networking organization, Chang is an ardent supporter of a healthy work-life balance, mentoring women on how to have success in both career and family. In addition, she generously volunteers her time as a public speaker within a variety of business and community organizations and also serves on the advisory board for the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council.

Chang has been recognized for seven consecutive years as one of the most powerful women in travel nationwide by Travel Agent magazine and is the first woman to be honored in three categories: Hotels and resorts, destination marketing and airlines. She most recently was honored in 2014 and 2013 as a Finalist for Hawaii Business Woman of the Year in the for-profit category.

About Girl Scouts

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the nation’s premier leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades. With over three million members, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has more than 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

(Honolulu, Hawaii, October 6, 2014)—Girl Scouts of Hawaii (GSH) has received a $92,500 grant from NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grant for its Wonders of Water STEAM leadership program. Beginning in early November, this program will help girls understand how water, the world’s most precious resource, and the environment impact each other.

The goals of Wonders of Water (WOW) is for young girls to draw on this knowledge and experience and lead others to adopt responsible stewardship practices resulting in healthier watersheds and a more abundant supply of clean water in Hawai‘i.

“We are very excited to receive funding support from such a prestigious organization as NOAA,” said Reyna Kaneko, interim chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of Hawaii. “This pilot program, at He‘eia Elementary School, in partnership with the Department of Education’s Castle Complex, is a first step to providing a Girl Scout Leadership Experience to more girls statewide.”

Recruiting for the program will begin Oct. 1 and continue through October 15 at Parent Night at He‘eia Elementary School.

The WOW! Curriculum will take girls on a four-part leadership journey that will support girls as they: make and carry out one personal promise that protects water; team up and speak up as advocates to protect water and the watershed; share their efforts for water with others through a community service learning project; and ask their peers, families and community to commit to a water promise.

Hawai‘i Arts Alliance, Pono Pacific LLC., Pacific Resources for Education & Learning (PREL), Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Ko‘olau Mountains Watershed Partnership and The Leader Project will provide additional subject matter expertise.

The Bay Watershed Education and Training Program (B-WET) is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment. The primary delivery of B-WET is through competitive funding that promotes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). B-WET currently serves seven areas of the country: California, Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Hawai’i, New England, and the Pacific Northwest.

Honolulu, Hawai`i – Girl Scouts of Hawai`i Recognizes Gold Award Recipients for Changing Their Communities

On Saturday, April 26, 2014, twenty-five of Hawai`i’s Girl Scouts joined an elite group of Girl Scouts nationwide who earn their Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest achievement that a Girl Scout in grades nine through 12 can earn, and it is achieved by completing a project of at least 80 hours that creates measurable and sustainable change in their local, regional, or global communities. Only five percent of all qualified Girl Scouts nationwide earn this prestigious award.

Last year’s event sponsor, First Hawaiian Bank Foundation again supported the Gold Award process with a generous $5,000 grant. Joanne Arizumi, Senior Vice President of First Hawaiian Bank and Girl Scouts of Hawai`i board member, acknowledged the girls’ exceptional projects at Saturday’s ceremony. “The projects today have shown that girls and young women today can accomplish anything they set their mind to,” said Arizumi. “It is truly a privilege to take part in the opportunities that the Girl Scouts provide.”

Some of the Gold Award projects honored on Saturday included decreasing the feral cat population by organizing affordable spay and neuter clinics, re-landingscaping the gardens at the Veterans Administration rehabilitation center to enhance recovery, and organizing a school supplies drive to send to students in impoverished Dakar.

Lori Lum, Public Affairs Director at Watanabe Ing LLP and Chair of the Girl Scouts Hawai`i’s board of directors, thanked parents, family and friends for attending Saturday’s ceremony and supporting Hawai`i’s Girl Scouts. “The Girl Scout Gold Award provides an extraordinary opportunity for young women to make a powerful difference on the lives of so many people, while developing leadership skills that will help the girls succeed in life. Today’s Gold Award recipients are a true testament to the positive impact of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.”

The following young women were recognized for their Gold Award projects on Saturday:

Bethany Anderson, age, city, “Preventing Inhumane Treatment of Cats and Dogs”
Caitlyn Anderson, age, city, “Limiting the Impact of Invasive Mammals on Hawaii’s Fragile Ecosystem”
Dori Lei-Chee, age, city, “Saving a Life Can Make a Difference”
Bethany Cole, age, city, “From the Garden to the Table”
Catherine Coleman, age, city, “Native Stories”
Carley Coppin, age, city, “Horses Fostering Youth”
Heather Arielle Dupire-Nelson, age, city, “Diagnosing Early Reading Challenges”
Kaylie Eko, age, city, “Giving Aloha to Our Furry Friends”
Amra Evers, age, city, “The Key to Volunteering”
Emma Green, age, city, “Healing Garden”
Briana Grenert, age, city, “Rocket Readers”
Jessie Haylor, age, city, “Health & Wellness Fair for Foster Children”
Hannah Henderson, age, city, “Island Sustainability”
Kelsey Kozuma, age, city, “Self Defense for Teens: Anti-Bullying”
Kelly Lam, age, city, “Star Spangled Citizenship for Schools”
Rafael Lee, age, city, “Bullying Beware”
Jocelyn Louie, age, city, “Aquaphonics, Nutrition and You! Eat Local, Live Healthy”
Diane Low, age, city, “Healthy Snacks”
Marissa Lum, age, city, “Lei of Aloha”
Emma McCleod, age, city, “The Other Forgotten Heroes of Pearl Harbor”
Diana Sellner, age, city, “Bring Your Own Bag Hawai`i”
Ariel Todoki, age, city, “Shooting for the Stars”
Erin Todoki, age, city, “Heart To Heart: Medical Play”
Nicole Wheatman, age, city, “Repurpose for Learning: Project Senegal”
Charlyn Yeung, age, city, “A Voice for Change: Raising Awareness for the Darfur Conflict”

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades. It serves girls in every zip code throughout the United States as well as those attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. As the country’s pre-eminent all-girl organization, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has approximately 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

(Honolulu, Hawai`i – October 11, 2013) – The Girl Scouts of Hawai`i announced that it will honor three women at their 2013 Woman of Distinction Dinner in November: Dr. Elizabeth Ignacio, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, Imua Orthopedics; Sheryl Seaman, Vice Chairman, Group 70 International; and Jan Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, Oceanit. The theme of this year’s dinner, which raises funds for local program initiatives, is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

A 2012 study showed that while 74 percent of today’s girls are interested in STEM, few pursue STEM-related careers for various reasons. According to the study, today’s girls need female role models—just 46 percent of girls know a woman in a STEM career—who show them that success as a woman in a STEM field is possible. The 2013 Woman of Distinction honorees illustrate success not only as women in STEM-related careers, but also as community leaders who continually strive to make the world a better place.

“Nearly all girls are motivated to help people and want careers that require them to think and change the way people do things. Yet, most girls do not consider STEM related fields as a way to realize their personal dreams and aspirations,” said Girl Scouts of Hawai`i CEO Gail Mukaihata Hannemann. “We need to do better for girls and the world. Part of how we address this challenge is helping girls learn about women who have exceled in STEM fields despite gender barriers. We want girls to see how these women are improving our world everyday by healing people, enriching the quality of life for communities, and fueling innovation and scientific discoveries.”

The dinner will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Coral Ballroom. A reception and silent auction will be held at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and a program at 6:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $300 and table sponsorships start at $3,000. All proceeds from the 2013 Woman of Distinction dinner will support Girl Scouting across the state of Hawai`i. For more information, contact Kristi Cardoso, Director of Corporate Relations, at [email protected] or 808-675-5516.

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the nation’s premier leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades. With over three million members, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has more than 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

(Honolulu, Hawai`i – October 2, 2013) – Girl Scouts of Hawai`i boosted its recruitment campaign today with a video from Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, Girl Scout volunteer and President Barack Obama’s sister. Dr. Soetoro-Ng’s video comes in response to her sister-in-law First Lady Michelle Obama’s video released Sunday urging adults nationwide to volunteer for Girl Scouts. Having already featured two other local volunteers in its national recruitment campaign, GSUSA will now be using Dr. Soetoro-Ng’s videos in grassroots efforts nationwide, putting the local council on the Girl Scout map.

“Four years ago I started a Girl Scout troop so that my daughter would have many of the opportunities that my sister-in-law Michelle Obama speaks of in her video,” said Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, Hawaii-based writer, educator and Girl Scout volunteer. Soetoro-Ng and her troop co-leaders, most of whom are also female educators at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, develop unique, place-based activities based on the Girl Scout Journeys curriculum. As part of the It’s Your Planet—Love It! Journey series, her Brownie Troop cleared trash bags full of invasive algae after learning about water pollution from a scientist at Malama Maunalua. Another favorite spot for the troop is Ho`oulu `Aina, the Kalihi Valley Nature Preserve, where the girls learned about the valley’s reclaimed resources, indigenous plants and food sovereignty.

Four years ago, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i Chief Executive Officer Gail Mukaihata Hannemann spoke with Dr. Soetoro-Ng, who has a strong commitment to youth development. After reading the Girl Scout Journey “It’s Your Planet—Love It!” Dr. Soetoro-Ng was inspired to start a troop for her daughter Suhaila.”

Dr. Soetoro-Ng and her daughter are now two of four local faces featured in GSUSA’s national campaign, making almost half of GSUSA’s recruitment videos Hawaii-focused. The other two volunteers are Erica Kamanu and Tiffany Carritt. “Maya, Erica and Tiffany are great examples of volunteers who, despite their hectic lives, provide leadership opportunities for both their daughters and other Girl Scouts. They, along with over 1400 active and committed local volunteers, know first-hand the power of Girl Scouting. We want to make these experiences possible for every girl, so we are asking every adult to take an hour out of their week to make a difference in the lives of girls like Suhaila. There are thousands more who want to make a difference in this world, but they need our help.”

“I want to thank my Aunty Michelle for encouraging other girls to join Girl Scouts because I think if they join they’ll have a lot of fun,” Dr. Soetoro-Ng’s daughter Suhaila said. This year, Suhaila can’t wait to meet a marine biologist because of her own interest in studying nautili and cuttlefish. To learn more about volunteering for Girl Scouts of Hawai`i, visit girlscouts.org/volunteer.

 

About Girl Scouts

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the nation’s premier leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades.  With over three million members, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has more than 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

(Honolulu, Hawai`i – August 21, 2013) – Girl Scouts of Hawai`i is launching its second year of Design It! Build It! Launch It! The International Space Station Program in early September 2013. Through this project, a selection of high school girls from Oahu have a once in a lifetime opportunity to design, build and launch their own science experiment, which will be housed and monitored aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for one month early next year. Last year eight girls used local micro-arugula from Nalo Farms to test the possibility of growing food in space.

This program offers a unique opportunity to all girls interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) as well as agriculture, horticulture, programming, and communication. No experience in STEM is required. Interested girls must be enrolled in grades 9-12 during the 2013-2014 school year. Applicants are not required to be Girl Scouts upon application, but must register as a Girl Scout before beginning the program. All applicants must submit an application by Friday, August 23, 2013. There will be an information session for those interested on Friday, September 6, 2013, from 4-7 p.m. at their headquarters in the Ala Moana Hotel.

A 2012 Girl Scout Research Institute study reported that STEM jobs have grown at three times the pace of non-STEM jobs in the past ten years and are projected to grow at the same rate through the next decade. Though girls’ interest in STEM is clear – 74 percent of teen girls are interested in STEM but cite various reasons including gender barriers and a lack of female role models as reasons for pursuing STEM as a career goal — girls must be better equipped to enter into these fields. The project is part of Girl Scouts of Hawai`i’s ongoing initiative to provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in which girls can lead and collaborate on take-action STEM projects. For more information, contact Jennifer Frisbee at [email protected] or 808-675-5520.

Our space station opportunity is made available by Valley Christian Schools (www.vcs.net), the Quest Insitute for Quality Education (www.thequestinstitute.com) and NanoRacks, LLC (www.nanoracks.com), via its Space Act Agreement with NASA’s US National Lab.

 

About Girl Scouts

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the nation’s premier leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades.  With over three million members, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has more than 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

Honolulu, Hawaii, June 13 – In celebration of the Microsoft retail store’s Grand Opening at Ala Moana Microsoft presented a grant of $50,000 to the Girl Scouts of Hawai`i at the store’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Microsoft’s opening could not come at a better time for the Girl Scouts of Hawai`i.   Fully engaged in providing girls from grades K-12 with leadership opportunities steeped in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), Microsoft’s generous gift will make it possible to extend Girl Scouts’ reach and impact, especially in communities where resources are often scarce. “The Girl Scouts of Hawai`i thanks Microsoft for believing in the leadership development of all girls. The resources Microsoft is generously offering our organization will support our on-going work to engage more girls in STEM so they can purposefully lead others in ways that better their communities and the world,” stated Gail Mukaihata Hannemann, Chief Executive Officer of the Girl Scouts of Hawai`i. She went on to say, “We know that these efforts will result in girls fostering invaluable 21^st century skills such as learning to be innovative problem solvers and developing critical thinking processes. We thank Microsoft for being a willing and able partner.”

Girl Scout supporters of all ages lined up this morning to take part in Microsoft’s Grand Opening.   “I’ve been a Girl Scout since I was five years old,” said 15-year old Talissa Wright. “The thought of being able to use Microsoft hardware and software to design our next scientific experiment to send into space is very cool.” This year, Talissa was part of an eight-girl team that made history by being the first High School youth from Hawaii to send a scientific experiment to the International Space Station.

“We’re thrilled that through the Microsoft retail store, we have a chance to extend Microsoft’s commitment to the local community. We hope the community will see us as a local technology resource and keep coming back after the grand opening festivities to learn new technology skills and use our theater space for community events,” said Microsoft at Ala Moana Center store manager Noelle Neverdon.

The Microsoft retail store offers a curated assortment of products to fit anyone’s needs and budgets, including Windows 8 PCs and tablets including Surface, Microsoft Office 365, Windows Phone, Xbox 360 and a variety of software and accessories. The stores provide consumers with excellent value, selection, service and an engaging way to experience the best of Microsoft products. Customers can also learn new technology skills in the store’s theater space, and work with the store’s friendly experts for personalized PC setup and training.

For more information on the Microsoft retail store, including a schedule of local events and activities, follow the Microsoft Store on Facebook and Twitter, or visit www.MicrosoftStore.com.

About Girl Scouts

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the nation’s premier leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades.  With over three million members, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has more than 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

Honolulu, Hawai`i — On Sunday, May 26, over 180 of Hawaii’s Girl Scouts will honor our fallen heroes at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Following a short ceremony, volunteers and Girl Scouts from 28 Oahu troops will decorate each of the approximately 6000 graves with an American flag. Traditionally, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts collaborate in paying tribute to our local veterans; the Boy Scouts decorate the graves at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on Punchbowl and the Girl Scouts have been doing the same at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe for 23 years. The guest speaker for the service will be Col. (Ret.) Ronald Han, Jr., Director of the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services. The ceremony begins at 1:00 p.m. and is open to the public.

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades. It serves girls in every zip code throughout the United States as well as those attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. As the country’s pre-eminent all-girl organization, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has approximately 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

Honolulu, Hawai`i — On Saturday, April 27, 2013, fifteen of Hawai`i’s Girl Scouts joined an elite group of Girl Scouts nationwide who earn their Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest achievement that a Girl Scout in grades nine through 12 can earn, and it is achieved by completing a project of at least 60 hours that creates measurable and sustainable change in their local, regional, or global communities. Just five percent of all qualified Girl Scouts nationwide earn this prestigious award.

This year the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation supported the Gold Award process with a generous $10,000 grant. Candice Naito, Senior Vice President of First Hawaiian Bank and former Girl Scouts of Hawai`i board member, acknowledged the girls’ exceptional projects at Saturday’s ceremony. “The projects today have shown that girls and young women today can accomplish anything they set their mind to,” said Naito. “I am certainly happy to take part in the opportunities that the Girl Scouts provide.”

Some of the Gold Award projects honored on Saturday included promoting literacy with “Sharing Shelves” full of books at the Windward Spouse Abuse Shelter and IHS, and an “Adopt-a-Veteran” program that has encouraged teens to spend time with Hawai`i’s veterans. One of the Gold Award recipients constructed a taro hydroponic system to teach the students of Le Jardin Academy about sustainable agriculture and stewardship.

Lori Lum, Public Affairs Director at Watanabe Ing LLP and Chair of the Girl Scouts Hawai`i’s board of directors, thanked parents, family and friends for attending Saturday’s ceremony and supporting Hawai`i’s Girl Scouts: “The Girl Scout Gold Award provides an extraordinary opportunity for young women to contribute to the community while developing leadership skills that will help them succeed in life. Today’s Gold Award recipients are a true testament to the positive impact of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.”

The following young women were recognized for their Gold Award projects on Saturday:

Allexandria B., 16, Kamuela, “To Give Back Around the World”
Alyssa L., 15, Kaneohe, “Early Breast Cancer De‘Duck’tion”
Alyssa L., 17, Hawaii Kai, “Transforming Young Lives with Mentoring”
Dana M., 17, Honolulu, “Mural of Hope”
Virginia R., 17, Ewa Beach, “Tsunami Safety for Seniors”
Erica S., 18, Hilo, “Swim Teams”
Alanna S., 17, Kailua, “Sharing Shelves”
Chase S., 16, Kaimuki, “Hawai`i 5210 ‘Go!’ Kits for Breakfast”
Kayla S., 17, Kaneohe, “Make a Difference-Special Olympics”
Dayna S., 16, Kaneohe, “More Than Just a Game”
Corin T., 17, Pearl City, “Hydroponic Taro Garden”
Kaila W., 17, Hawaii Kai, “Adopt-a-Veteran”
Taylor W., 17, Hawaii Kai, “PB&J Awareness Program”
Erin Y., 18, Manoa, “Children’s Justice Center Support Books”
Cori Y., 17, Hawaii Kai, “Helping ‘Buddies’ for VIP Players.”

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades. It serves girls in every zip code throughout the United States as well as those attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. As the country’s pre-eminent all-girl organization, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has approximately 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

Honolulu, Hawai`i — What do Girl Scout Cookies and helping the community have in common? Girl Scouts of all ages use their hard-earned cookie funds to change the world around them. Girl Scout Isabel, for example, used her earnings raised from the 2012 Girl Scout Cookie Program® to help other girls whose families are economically struggling by designing and sewing sundresses from beautifully patterned pillowcases. With the help of Child & Family Services on Kaua`i, Isabel’s dresses found their way to children in her community through “Nana’s House,” a family support and community outreach center in Waimea.

There’s a Girl Scout story behind every box. Just one purchase can give a Girl Scout like Isabel a lifetime of skills, which, in turn, encourages them to change their local communities for the better.

To celebrate such a monumental program, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has named February 8, 2013, National Girl Scout Cookie Day. Girl Scouts of Hawai`i (GSH) will be honoring this nationwide campaign by hosting a social media event. Throughout the day, GSH will post fun, interactive quizzes; announce a promotional offer at the GSH retail store in the Ala Moana Hotel; and host Facebook contests in which lucky winners will receive a free box of cookies.

Another reason to celebrate National Girl Scout Cookie Day is the first package redesign since 1999. While the iconic Girl Scout Cookies remain, the newly designed boxes highlight the purpose of the $790-million cookie program, which is to teach girls five essential life skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, business ethics, and people skills. The new campaign – “This Is What a Girl Can Do” – reinforces the five skills with contemporary images that capture the power of girls working together.

Every penny earned from cookie sales in Hawai`i stays in Hawai`i, and, as part of the program, Girl Scout Troops use their cookie funds to further develop leadership skills in girls and so they can do good in communities. In this way, Girl Scouts play a big role in making the world a better place. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program^® girls have the opportunity to do anything they set their minds to while learning the importance of leadership, philanthropy and community engagement.

Reyna Kaneko, chief marketing officer at Girl Scouts of Hawai`i, explains, “Girls are not only learning marketable skills as our leaders of tomorrow, but they become caring, responsible and trustworthy citizens today.”

The Girl Scout Cookie Program^® could not be possible without the help of local companies and organizations that permit Girl Scout Troops to sell in front of their establishments. Foodland, Long’s, Times, Safeway and Walmart are just some of the businesses that help to further girls’ development.

Girl Scouts has made supporting girls and the community even easier through the Cookie Locator and newly improved free mobile apps for iPhone or Android, found in the cookie section our website, girlscouts-hawaii.org. During the Girl Scout Cookie® Booth Sale period, which runs from March 1–24, customers can find a complete list of vendors, search for cookie booth locations, and even watch Girl Scout videos.

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades. It serves girls in every zip code throughout the United States as well as those attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. As the country’s pre-eminent all-girl organization, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has approximately 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

Honolulu, Hawai`i – Each year, Girl Scout councils across the country hand-select women members of the local community who embark on personal and professional endeavors aimed at “making the world a better place.” Through their daily work, these individuals demonstrate the type of leadership that girls in the 21st century want to emulate, a person whose principles, ethical behavior and abilities and skills affect positive social change in the world.

On Wednesday, November 7, 2012, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i will celebrate three former Girl Scouts at the 2012 Woman of Distinction Dinner. Their achievements illustrate, that with a commitment to bettering the world, anything can be accomplished. The 2012 honorees are:

Carolyn A. Berry Wilson has built a life based on the principle of giving back. As a passionate philanthropist of music, the arts and education, she is an ongoing supporter of many local organizations, including Honolulu Museum of Art, Diamond Head Theatre, Special Olympics Hawaii, PBS Hawaii, Chaminade University and many others. Berry Wilson has four children and nine grandchildren and is an inspiration to young women raising their children who still want to be an individual and contribute to society.

Faye Kurren has been the president and chief executive officer of Hawaii Dental Service since 2003. HDS was recently ranked #41 in Hawaii Business’s Top 250 companies in Hawaii. Kurren’s accomplishments also include holding a number of executive leadership positions. In 1984, Kurren began her tenure at Pacific Resources, Inc. as counsel; and in 1998, when Tesoro Petroleum Corporation acquired the company, became the president overseeing refining, distribution and retail operations. Kurren contributes to the local community in many ways, including as board member for several organizations: Hawaii Pacific Health, Waikiki Aquarium, Helping Hands Hawaii, et al.

Shelley Wilson, founder, president and chief executive officer of Wilson Care Group, recognized the need for long-term care through a personal experience, and started Wilson Homecare in 1996, at the age of 21. Wilson has been recognized for her entrepreneurial spirit and management skills since starting her company. She has earned many awards, including Pacific Business News “40 under Forty,” “Women Who Mean Business” and the 2009 Small Business Administration’s “Small Business Person of the Year” award for the Island of O`ahu. Wilson gives back in many ways, including helping to vaccinate children in Africa with Rotary International and traveling with Kids Without Borders humanitarian group to Vietnam.

The theme of the 2012 Woman of Distinction Dinner is ToGetHerThere – a nationwide Girl Scouts campaign aimed at building communities of champions to advance the higher cause of female leadership. This year’s honorees help girls aspire to a brighter future through strong leadership and entrepreneurial resilience.

“The Girl Scouts of Hawai`i is both honored and inspired by the three women who have agreed to be this year’s honorees. Each woman is a leader in her own right. Although each woman has taken different paths, their lives speak to what leadership is all about – having the courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place,” said Gail Mukaihata Hannemann, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i’s CEO.

The evening will feature girls leading the event as silent auction runners, and holding true to tradition, as Gala Greeters, lining the driveway of the Hilton Hawaiian Village to set the exciting tone for the night. All proceeds from the event stays in Hawai`i, and benefits local Girl Scout leadership programs designed to help girls discover their own potential, connect with their peers and take action to better their communities.

The public is invited to attend the 2012 Woman of Distinction Dinner. This year, a special rate for Girl Scout alumnae and current Girl Scout Members is being offered. Tickets for the Women of Distinction Dinner are now on sale through girlscouts-hawaii.org. For more information, please contact Kristi Cardoso at 808.675.5516 or at [email protected].

Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Hilton Hawaiian Village, Coral Ballroom
Reception and Silent Auction begins at 5:30 p.m.
Dinner and program is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades. It serves girls in every zip code throughout the United States, as well as those attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. As the country’s preeminent all-girl organization, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has more than 5,000 members statewide. For more information visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

Honolulu, Hawai`i – Alexander & Baldwin Foundation donated $10,000 to Girl Scouts of Hawai`i in support of the 2013 Girl Scouts of Hawai`i CEO (Cookie Entrepreneur Officer) Event.

Meredith J. Ching, president of Alexander & Baldwin Foundation and Senior Vice President of Government & Community Relations at Alexander & Baldwin; and Paul McCully, a representative of Matson Navigation Company, will co-present the gift to Girl Scouts of Hawai`i’s Board Chair Lori Lum. The check presentation will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16, 2012, at Central Union Church’s Parish Hall at the start of “Cookie Entrepreneurial Training” for more than 100 volunteers. The generous donation from A&B Foundation will cover the cost of planning, organizing and hosting the 2013 CEO Event.

“Alexander & Baldwin Foundation has been a strong supporter of the Girl Scouts of Hawai`i and its leadership program. We are pleased to provide this grant to support the CEO Event and the Girl Scout Cookie Program, which motivates and encourages leadership, organizational skills and confidence for girls in Hawai`i,” said Ching.

The event, held in mid-spring, will honor Girl Scouts who have sold more than 750 boxes of cookies during the 2013 cookie season. The Girl Scout Cookie Program® is the largest girl-led business in the country and helps girls to develop five skills—goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. The Program gives girls the opportunity to earn funds for troop activities, trips and service projects as they discover what matters most to them, connect with people in their community, and take action to make the world a better place.

“The Girl Scouts of Hawai`i is grateful to A&B Foundation and Matson Navigation Company. Their support of the Girl Scout Cookie Program not only allows girls to learn the five skills, but to realize first-hand how they can make the world a better place. Girl Scouts across the state often use the proceeds they earn from their cookie sales to fund their community work,” said Lum.

Alexander & Baldwin Foundation was previously funded by the business activities of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. and its subsidiaries. These included A&B Properties, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company (HC&S)/Maui Brand Sugar, and Matson Navigation Company.

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades. It serves girls in every zip code throughout the United States, as well as those attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. As the country’s pre-eminent all-girl organization, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place”. Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has more than 5,000 members statewide. For more information visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.

Honolulu, Hawai`i – Girl Scouts of Hawai`i is pleased to announce Design It! Build It! Launch It! The International Space Station Project. High-school girls will have a unique and rewarding opportunity to design, build and launch a computer-controlled, space science project.

Through this yearlong program, girls will work together to plan, conceive, develop and test a science experiment, called a MicroLab. The team’s MicroLab, along with other experiments from U.S. high schools nationwide, will launch on a spacecraft in March 2013 for delivery to the International Space Station. The MicroLab will stay on the ISS for one month, where data will be downloaded from an astronaut’s laptop and sent to Earth for evaluation by the team.

Interested girls must be enrolled in grades 9–12 during the 2012–2013 school year and submit an application by August 31, 2012. Girl Scouts of Hawai`i will hold an Information Session on September 5, 2012, from 4–7 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel offices for those who want to learn more about the project. The program fee is $550 per girl. Financial aid is available and based on need. For more details about the program, please download our program flyer and program application on our website: girlscouts-hawaii.org.

Design It! Build It! Launch It! The International Space Station Project is part of Girl Scouts of Hawai`i’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) initiative, which is supported through Girl Scouts of USA and aimed at developing solutions to increase girls’ awareness in STEM fields. Based on their February 2012 study, the Girl Scout Research Institute reported that, nationwide, girls are interested in STEM fields and aspire to STEM careers, but need more exposure and adult support to carry this interest into the future. This project will helps girls develop problem-solving, critical-thinking, and collaborative skills while giving them a hands-on opportunity to learn about new and emerging fields.

Our space station opportunity is made available by Valley Christian Schools (www.vcs.net), the Quest Institute for Quality Education (www.thequestinstitute.com) and NanoRacks, LLC (www.nanoracks.com) via its Space Act Agreement with NASA’s U.S. National Lab.

About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grades. It serves girls in every zip code throughout the United States, as well as those attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. As the country’s pre-eminent all-girl organization, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai`i in 1917 by Queen Lili`uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has more than 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.