Calling all members of the Honokaa High School Class of 1963. After 50 years, the class will hold reunion activities beginning on Friday, Sept. 27, starting at 3 p.m. at the Honokaa Golf Course Club House and followed the next day at noon on Saturday at the residence of Winfred Mochida.
The class consisted of 124 graduates who dispersed all over the country and the State of Hawaii with careers covering all fields in the private and public sectors, some with distinction. Class members are encouraged to attend this half a century gathering that happens only once in a lifetime. For more information, contact Romel Dela Cruz, by email at ahufarm@gmail.com or call 775-0768 for details.
—————
The Kohala Center’s High School Agriculture Internship Program will run Oct. 7-11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day from the farm located on Lehua Street in Honokaa. This internship is recruiting five interns. For this first class, the recruits will be students from the Honokaa/Waimea area, or those with transportation to/from the Honokaa Farm site. Each day they will visit a few farms and other agricultural businesses in different parts of the island. Interns will also do about 2 hours of farm work each day at various farms to get some hands of farming experience. In exchange, the interns will receive a stipend of $125 for some of the work that they’ll be doing for the first several hours of each day.
The deadline is Friday, Sept. 27. Should you or anyone interested have any questions, they can either call Derrick Kiyabu at 808-220-2312 or send an email to dkiyabu@kohalacenter.org.
—————
Rep. Mark Nakashima would like to inform you of two events. For over 40 years, The Brantley Center Inc, has been the only provider of services to disabled adults and teens for those living in North Hilo, Hamakua and Kohala. Their services foster independent living and job skills development. Severe cuts to their funding five years ago caused a decreased service to clients in certain areas. Fortunately, the Brantley Center was awarded Grant-In-Aid funding and upon the release of these funds will be able to restore service as well as begin renovations to meet current ADA requirements for their Honokaa facility that was build in the early ’70s. Be prepared for the Brantley Center second annual Honokaa 5K, Half Marathon and 30K Waipio Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 19, starting from the Honokaa Sports complex at 6:30 a.m.
This is a spectacularly scenic run along the route to Waipio Valley with amazing views of Haleakala and Waipio and Waimanu Valleys. For a good cause too — Brantley Center has been providing services for the developmentally and intellectually disabled of North Hilo, Hamakua and South Kohala for over 45 years from its base in Honokaa Please register by Oct. 18. The 5K run is $30; the Half Marathon is $75 and the 30K is $85. Make your checks payable to: Brantley Center, Inc. Log onto Brantley website, thebrantleycenter.org, to download registration form and mail to P.O. Box 1407, Honokaa, HI 96727. For more information, call 775-7245 or email: bcenter2@hawaiiantel.net.
—————
Join in at the next CDP Steering Committee Meeting Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at NHERC, North Hawaii Education and Research Center, in Honokaa. Dinner will be served and the Steering Committee will discuss the “Aina” section of the draft analysis.
—————
The new Kamakoa Nui Skatepark in Waikoloa Village will celebrate its grand opening on Sunday, Sept. 29, from noon to 4 p.m. Land for the park has been provided for the skateboard facility by the County of Hawaii, located at the end of Paniolo Estates on Iwikuamoo Street.
The community is invited and skaters are encouraged to bring their skateboards, helmets and pads and be among the first to skate in the new park, and to enter the Best Trick Contest with prizes for winners.
A free, family event, the grand opening also includes a silent auction fundraiser, food, music, shave ice and fun activity for all ages.
Initiated in 2004 by the Waikoloa Community Development Corporation, the park was designed and built by California Skateparks, led by Brian Sandlin.
Phase I of the plaza-style skateboard facility, which opens Sunday, incorporates a variety of features for an exciting and rewarding experience for skaters on all levels. Managed by Transition Youth Projects, additional phases will begin as fundraising levels are reached.
—————
An Elder Law Clinic hosted by the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office and Legal Aid Society is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at NHERC; call 775-8890.
—————
Happy to share the news that this year’s Moku O Keawe festivities will take place at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, with a grand ballroom setting, expanded Made-in-Hawaii Marketplace and engaging new lineup of hula and Hawaiian cultural workshops. Please mark your calendars and make plans to come to this event Nov. 7-9 at the Waikoloa Beach Resort.
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 (46-1250 Kalehua Road, Honokaa HI 96727) at least 10 days before the requested publication date, call her at 775-7101, or e-mail waiukahenutz@gmail.com.
