The Hamakua Youth Foundation will sponsor its first hula festival at the Honokaa People’s Theater on Saturday, April 21, from 4 p.m. until pau as a fundraiser for the Hamakua Youth Center. Designed to become an annual event, the benefit will feature an afternoon and evening full of fun, with food, hula by dancers ages keiki through kupuna, music and other entertainment.
The Hamakua Youth Foundation will sponsor its first hula festival at the Honokaa People’s Theater on Saturday, April 21, from 4 p.m. until pau as a fundraiser for the Hamakua Youth Center. Designed to become an annual event, the benefit will feature an afternoon and evening full of fun, with food, hula by dancers ages keiki through kupuna, music and other entertainment.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for youths ages 6-12 and free for lap children 5 and under. Joel and Phyllis Tarail are selling tickets, and you may also purchase them in Honokaa at the Hamakua Youth Center, Jolene’s KauKau Korner, and on Friday afternoons in front of Malama Market. Tickets also are available in Kukuihaele at Waipio Artworks and in Waimea at the Music Exchange and Waimea Coffee Co. Feel free to call Phyllis at 769-4490 if you have questions and/or want to purchase tickets.
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Here is exciting news about the Honokaa sports complex. The bid for the long-awaited gymnasium roofing repair project has been awarded. Ivan Mochida Contracting Inc. submitted the low qualifying bid in the amount of $570,932. The project will commence shortly and will improve the overall safety of our facility. Also, the County of Hawaii last week opened the bidding process for the Honokaaa Park Upper Ballfield lighting wire replacement project. This project will allow our community to hold more events into the evening with a well-lit ballfield. Councilman Dominic Yagong’s office will continue to monitor and update us on these projects. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the office at 961-8538.
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The state Department of Education West Hawaii District Office will offer a Teen Health Camp for Big Island students from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, in the Kealakehe High School cafeteria. A group of multi-disciplinary graduate students, including those studying medicine, nursing and public health, from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Hilo campuses will conduct the workshop for students in grades 8-12 interested in the health care professions.
This camp will be open to all Big Island students. Register early, as space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up online at http://teenhealthcamphawaii.com and submit the requisite forms and $5 registration fee to secure a slot. East Hawaii students should contact resource teacher Dan Banks at 933-3455 or Dan_Banks@notes.k12.hi.us. The registration deadline is April 13. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity. According to third-year medical students and camp co-founders Eduardo Duquez and Teresa Schiff, this workshop offers students the opportunity to explore career options in the health field, learn medical skills such as suturing and casting, and discuss health issues including nutrition and decision-making.
It will be a fun-filled day in which participants will rotate through five different hands-on activities, plus an interactive lunch hour during which professionals from the field will be on hand to answer questions. For more information on the Teen Health Camp or Career & Technical Education programs and courses, please contact resource teacher Nem Lau at Nem_Lau@notes.k12.hi.us or 327-4300, ext. 2449.
For the various areas around the island, here are your local contacts: Honokaa High and Intermediate, Marci Manker, 775-8800, mgmanker@aol.com; Ke Kula Ehunuikaimalino, Kahealani Rafael, 323-1900, Kahealani_Rafael@notes.k12.hi.us; Kealakehe High, Jerrie Anderson, 327 4300, Jerrie_Anderson@notes.k12.hi.us; Kealakehe Intermediate, Dayle Yokoyama, 327-4314, Dayle_Yokoyama@notes.k12.hi.us; Kohala High and Kohala Middle, Joyce Hashimoto, 889-0930, JHashimo2002@yahoo.com; Konawaena High and Konawaena Middle, Pearl Dias and Maverick Kawamoto, 323-4500, Pearl_Dias@notes.k12.hi.us; and Waikoloa Middle, Kathy Jo Kube, 883-6808, Kathy_Jo_Kube@notes.k12.hi.us.
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The Honokaa High School Class of 1962 has selected “Hawaii 5-0, the Year of the Dragon” as its reunion theme. The celebration is planned for Sept. 14-15. Coordinators are trying to reach all classmates. Contact Milo Botelho Ferreira at 776-7161. Coordinators also want to know who served in the military. The kickoff starts on Friday, Sept. 14, at with a tour of the KHS facility and presentation of the class gift to the school.
Friday evening’s pupu gathering at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort in Hilo will give all the opportunity to talk story and catch up on each other. This will also be a good time to arrange for any pick-up activity with fellow classmates (i.e. golf, beach day, explore the volcano, etc.) during the day on Saturday or Sunday.
Saturday evening, Sept. 15, there will be a Hawaiian luau in the Sandalwood Room at the Naniloa with Hawaiian music, hula dancers and more. This will be a great time to share your individual talent in entertainment, handcrafts, or something special from your state or community.
The reunion registration deadline is Aug. 31. If you did not receive the registration information, please contact Milo at 776-7161.
Carol Yurth’s column is published every Sunday and spotlights activities on the Hilo-Hamakua coast. She welcomes items for her column. Reach her by mail (46-1240 Kalehua Road, Honokaa HI 96727) at least 10 days before the requested publication date, call her at 775-7101, or e-mail waiukahe@interpac.net.