At 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Heritage Center of the North Hawaii Education and Research Center (NHERC) will open its newest exhibit in the Changing Gallery.
At 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Heritage Center of the North Hawaii Education and Research Center (NHERC) will open its newest exhibit in the Changing Gallery.
The exhibit is called “Na Paniolo o Hamakua.” The public is welcome to join in this festive event, which will include pupus and music.
This exhibit showcases the rich legacy of ranching along the Hamakua Coast. While most people think of the post-Western contact history of the coast as one tied to sugar plantations, there is an enduring legacy of ranching in the area.
The start of ranching in Hamakua is largely a Portuguese story.
When the first Portuguese laborers came to Hawaii in 1878, they brought their families and were given an acre of land and a house as a part of their contract. When their contracts were finished, many Portuguese bought land and started dairies and small ranches. Most Portuguese had come from Madeira and the Azores, where dairies were prevalent, so they brought this knowledge with them.
Along with artifacts and vintage photographs from the “good old days of ranching,” the exhibit also will feature colorful photographs of the new generation of paniolo, the great-great-grandchildren of those who founded the early ranches that have been passed down from generation to generation. (New generation photos are courtesy of Nancy Erger.)
“Exhibits such as ‘Na Paniolo o Hamakua’ bring community pride and focus on elements of our community that many may not be aware of,” said Dr. Momi Naughton, Heritage Center coordinator and exhibit curator. “It has been a pleasure and privilege hearing the stories and getting to know the paniolo.”
After the opening reception, the exhibit will be available for the public to view from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. For more information or driving directions, visit http://hilo.hawaii.edu/academics/nherc/HeritageCenter.php.
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Honokaa Elementary School is having a “Books &Spring Surprises” Bingo Night from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday.
First, everyone will get creative with spring crafts and fun activities, then win lots of great books and other fun surprises by playing Bingo.
Do you want to be a Bingo checker, set up prizes, help with crafts or volunteer to make this a fun evening? To find out more, call Hilda Yagong with the Parent-Community Network Center at 775-8820 8820, extension 225.
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The Honokaa Teen Tech Tutors are back from spring break and resume their normal schedule Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church at 45-3525 Mamane St.
Teens are available to answer questions about how to operate your cellphone, iPad, laptop or any electronic communication device. Just drop in with your fully charged device. A donation of $5 is requested to cover expenses.
For more information, email Diane Scheurell at Scheurell@hawaii.rr.com.
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Everyone is invited to join Hilo Coast United Church of Christ (UCC) in the observance Holy Week and Easter. The church is located in Honomu at 28-1630 Old Mamalahoa Highway.
Holy Week events begin at 10 a.m. today with the Palm Sunday service. Then, at 6 p.m. Friday, the Good Friday Tenebrae service is planned. At 2 p.m. Saturday, all keiki are invited to decorate Easter eggs to be used in the Easter egg hunt on Sunday.
Easter is Sunday, April 5, and the church’s events begin at 6 a.m. for the early risers with an Easter sunrise service at the World Botanical Gardens at Umauma (Highway 19, mile marker 16). Follow the signs to the parking area; transportation to the service site will be provided. The second Easter service is slated for 10 a.m. at the Hilo Coast UCC. A lunch and the Easter egg hunt will follow.
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“Traditions &Family Values: A Blueprint For Our Community, Paauilo Mauka Kalopa” is a documentary film premiering at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12, in the conference room of the North Hawaii Education Research Center (NHERC) in Honokaa.
The documentary highlights the memories, oral histories and insights of some 15 long-time residents of the Paauilo Mauka/Kalopa community. The film project, in the making by the Paauilo/Mauka Community Association (PMKCA) since early 2009, captures the heart and soul of the area and provides a roadmap for that community’s future, highlighting the strong family values and traditions endemic to the area.
The premier is free and everyone is invited to attend. For more information, call Dunc Dempster at 776-1828 or email duncand@aloha.net.
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Coming up is an evening with Willie K at the historic Honokaa People’s Theatre.
Lazar Bear presents the Maui music superstar and his band playing one show at 7:30 p.m. April 18 in Honokaa. Willie K played Pahoa’s Akebono Theater in July and brought the house down with his eclectic mix of Hawaiian, rock, blues and reggae. Some of Willie’s hits include “You Ku‘uipo,” “Katchi Katchi Music Makawao,” “Good Morning,” “North Shore Reggae Blues” and “Ho‘okipa Surf Song.”
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The Mala‘ai School Garden’s eighth annual “Art &Sol” Benefit Auction is set for 12:30-3 p.m. Sunday, April 12. This year, a new location was selected — Kahilu Theatre Galleries.
This year’s auction will be an especially gala celebration, marking the 10th anniversary of this exceptional school-community partnership that has changed the lives of more than 1,800 middle school students and their teachers, families and friends. All these and many more volunteers have worked and learned in this 1-acre garden, sharing countless lessons of team work, communication and compromise, self-reliance, science and systems in nature, and making good choices for healthy, meaningful lives.
Tickets are $50 for delicious pupus paired with wines.
The auction always features some of the most coveted art pieces, including paintings, hand-made jewelry, beautiful baskets of the best-of-Waimea fresh produce, plus one-of-a-kind experiences including celebrity chef dinners.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.malaai.org, call Alethea Lai at 989-7861 or email alethea@malaai.org.
To reach the Kokua Way, call 936-0067 or email waiukahenutz@gmail.com.