Historic Honokaa signs to be unveiled

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Please join the celebration unveiling the New Historic Honokaa Town Signage on Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., Oct. 15 at the Honokaa People’s Theatre. A Bonus for this afternoon features historian Ross Stephenson, Ph.D., who will be doing an update on the Historic Honokaa State Registry initiative.

Please join the celebration unveiling the New Historic Honokaa Town Signage on Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., Oct. 15 at the Honokaa People’s Theatre. A Bonus for this afternoon features historian Ross Stephenson, Ph.D., who will be doing an update on the Historic Honokaa State Registry initiative.

The Heritage Center at UH Hilo’s-North Hawaii Education and Research Center (NHERC) and Historic Honokaa Ad Hoc Committee have worked collaboratively with the State Department of Transportation to design four new signs at the entry locations on Mamalahoa Highway to further define Historic Honokaa Town.

The new signage will enhance Honokaa’s historical identity and community history. While ranching, diversified agriculture (macadamia nuts, coffee, taro, etc.) were important to the area economy, the town’s history is most directly associated with the establishment of Hawaii’s sugar industry. Along with labor history, ethnic diversity, and architecture, Honokaa Town is a gem and best represents the plantation era and architecture that have nearly disappeared throughout our state.

Mahalo to the Department of Transportation; North Hawaii Education and Research Center, NHERC; the Heritage Center; the Historic Honokaa Ad Hoc Committee and the State Historic Preservation Board who have worked together collaboratively to make this acknowledgement possible, adding a significant contribution to Hawaii’s history. Join in this historical connection to our past and future.

l l l

The Princeton Nassoons are coming to the Big Island in October! The Nassoon is a collegiate close harmony singing group from Princeton University. The singers coming soon to the Big Island are not the current undergrads of Princeton’s oldest a cappella group, but a small subgroup of Nassoon alumni hailing from the heady days of the mid-20th century, a close-knit band of 20 singers from graduating classes between the mid-’50s and the mid-’60s. They’re here on the Big Island for a five-day annual reunion following a long standing tradition of meeting regularly for each of the past 17 years in a different city for a reunion filled with conviviality, concert appearances and good old fashioned camaraderie. This year they’ll be celebrating, relaxing and singing at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort &Spa from Oct. 14-19.

Whether you’re familiar with the Nassoons or just plain curious and interested in hearing some wonderful close harmony vocal music, here is one free public performance where you can catch their act: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7:00 p.m. at Davies Chapel on the HPA, Hawaii Preparatory campus. Others concerts are planned. For more information, contact Duncan Dempster @ 776-1828 or duncand@aloha.net.

l l l

Hawaii Community College is planning extensive outreach for the new online certificate programs. Local residents who want to quickly gain specialized education and increase their employability are invited to attend one of several informational events Hawaii Community College (Hawaii CC) will host in October.

The events will highlight Hawaii CC’s new online, accelerated programs designed to increase students’ skills while accommodating their schedules and locations. The classes are conducted using an online format or a mix of online classes with hands-on fieldwork.

The new certificate programs being offered include business certificates in Business Foundations, Business Essentials, Retail Foundations, Entrepreneurship and Virtual Office Assistant.

Sustainable construction certificates are being offered in Sustainable Construction Technologies as well as Sustainable Lot Design, Preparation &Development.

Students will also receive support services that include tutoring, academic counseling, internships and job development, and transcript evaluation/Prior Learning Assessment (which allows adults to earn credit for work knowledge and experience).

Hawaii CC will host open house events around the island to present the new certificate programs, answer questions and help with enrollment. Events are scheduled for the following dates and locations: W.M. Keck Observatory, Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 5-6:45 p.m.; Kohala High School cafeteria, Thursday, Oct. 16 from 5:30-7 p.m.; North Hawaii Education and Research Center (NHERC), Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 5-7 p.m.

Hawaii CC was one of four University of Hawaii campuses to receive a Department of Labor grant to develop the classes. The grant aims to align academic programs with industry needs and increase the number of adults who attain certificates, degrees and other industry-recognized certificates; and to expand and improve education and training programs that can be completed in two years or less and that lead to high wage and high skill employment. For more info, visit www.hawaii.hawaii.edu/rh or contact the school at (808) 934-2800 or by email: myfuture@hawaii.edu. Or for additional venues contact Lezlie Pakaken at (808) 934-2689.

l l l

A series of workshops aimed at helping farmers and value-added food producers launch or expand their businesses will be held on Hawaii Island in October.

The Kohala Center and Hawaii Community College will offer in-person workshops on “Food Industry Fundamentals,” designed by the Maui Food Innovation Center and EdVenture at the University of Hawaii Maui College. This series of four non-credit classes will help participants develop differentiated, value-added and safe specialty-food products.

Food expert Lou Cooperhouse will lead two in-person workshops, Food Product Development and Quality Assurance, on Oct. 16 in Waimea and Oct. 17 in Kailua-Kona. In addition, special guest Luisa Castro will participate in Waimea and Ken Love at Kailua-Kona. Workshops are all-day events from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, comments, or concerns regarding their businesses and gain insights from an expert in the field.

Courses are designed for farmers interested in developing food products to increase profitability, businesses that want to expand their food offerings, new food businesses, and employees wanting to increase their knowledge of the food industry.

Farmers, processors, retailers and food service operators must have an understanding of the principles of food safety in order to minimize risk to the public. In this course, you’ll learn how to create a holistic food safety and quality system — including management commitment, facility infrastructure requirements, sanitation, pest control, personnel practices, training, microbiological testing, traceability and crisis management, food security, and HACCP, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. An overview of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and third-party food safety and quality certification programs will be provided. Register online at www.hawaii.hawaii.edu/ocet or call 934-2700 by Oct. 13.

Email Carol Yurth at waiukahenutz@gmail.com.