“Over the years, because of the commitment to invest trust fund resources in tobacco cessation programs, countless lives have been saved and youth and adult smoking rates in Hawaii have decreased,” said Jennifer Schember-Lang, Hawaii Community Foundation senior program officer. “However, despite these successes tobacco still causes more preventable disease, death and disability in Hawaii than any other health issue — especially among residents who are unemployed, or come from backgrounds of low-income or low-education. Now more than ever, there is great need to continue funding programs to help our residents quit tobacco.”
AVID program seeking tutors
Tutors are needed for Kealakehe High School Advancement Via Individual Determination program. The program’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. Tutors are needed to work with small groups of students in AVID classes.
A two-day training is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 at Kealakehe High School.
For more information or to express interest in volunteering, call Connie Simon at 327-4300, ext. 2436, or email connie_simon@notes.k12.hi.us.
Macdonald teaching crocheting, knitting
Stephanie Macdonald will be teaching two new classes in January at Island Yarn and Art Supplies. The first class teaches beginners how to crochet and customize the granny square. The second class teaches intermediate knitters how to knit a custom beanie.
Classes are scheduled for Jan. 21 and 28. Both are two-session classes — the crochet class is from 10 a.m. to noon and the knitting class from 1 to 3 p.m. The cost is $25 per session plus materials.
To register for a class or for more information, call 326-2820. Island Yarn and Art Supplies is located at 73-5568 Olowalu St., Kailua-Kona, in the Kaloko industrial area.
Event is benefit for Kona Pacific school
The public is invited to attend an evening of music and inspiration with Nahkohe and Hope of Medicine for the People and the sounds of Dustin Thomas at 7 p.m. Friday at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu. The musicians will be joined by students from Kona Pacific Public Charter School.
The collaboration began in November when Medicine for the People offered a workshop and led the children in a performance at the Thanksgiving assembly at Kona Pacific. Nahkohe, Hope and Thomas will return to offer a weeklong workshop with the students Tuesday through Friday, culminating in the benefit show at the Aloha Theatre.
A portion of event proceeds will support the development of a performing arts amphitheater at Kona Pacific Public Charter School in Kealakekua. Performing arts, assemblies, community gatherings and festivals are an integral part of the mission of Kona Pacific.
Kona Pacific Public Charter School is a kindergarten through eighth grade public charter school in Kealakekua offering a program inspired by Waldorf education and rooted in the land and culture of Hawaii.
Tickets available at apachawaii.org. Reserved seating is $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
For more information, call 322-4900 or email info@kppcs.org.
Guided hike offered at Puuhonua o Honaunau
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park presents “Become Inspired by the Authentic” with 93 park events slated for 2012, including monthly guided archaeological hikes to historic Kiilae Village.
The park is hosting a guided archaeological hike from 9:30 a.m. to noon Thursday. The hike will cross three ahupuaa (land divisions) — Honaunau, Keokea and Kiilae to the south park boundary. Over one mile of the 1871 trail is present within the boundaries of the park, forming the primary coastal route for north-south travel in the area. Historically the trail was the main coastal artery connecting several villages along its length.
The hike will be limited to 15 people; reservations must be made by phone in advance. The three-mile, round-trip walk requires hiking shoes, hat, sunscreen, a snack and lots of drinking water to be comfortable. Hikers will meet at the visitor center. The cultural event is sponsored by Hawaii County and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Park entrance fees are $5 per vehicle or $3 per person for walk-ins.
For more information or reservations, call the visitor center at 328-2326, ext. 1702.
Book club meets Tuesday in Keauhou
The Lesbian Book Club meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Kona Stories Book Shop. The woman-identified group meets every month to discuss books and independent films.
This month, the group will be discussing the book, “Gender Outlaws.” This collection of short stories is edited by the original gender outlaw, Kate Bornstein. Attendees are asked to read the book in advance of the meeting and come prepared for a discussion.
Kona Stories is located in Keauhou Shopping Center. For more information, call Brenda or Joy at 324-0350.
Students invited to enter art contest
Hawaii student artists 15 years and younger are encouraged to compete in Toyota’s sixth annual Dream Car Art Contest by submitting hand-drawn entries based on the theme “Your Dream Car” by Jan. 31.
Entry forms can be found at all Toyota Hawaii dealers statewide or online at toyotahawaii.com. Entries can be dropped off at the Kailua-Kona Toyota dealer located at 74-5504 Kaiwi St. or mailed to P.O. Box 2788, Honolulu, HI 96803-2788.
In February, the judging panel will choose 15 finalists to submit to the international competition. These 15 finalists will each receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond. If any of the Hawaii entries are chosen as finalists in the world competition, those students will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan for the final awards judging in August and a chance to meet Toyota Motor Corp. President Toyoda and Executive Vice President Funo of Toyota in Toyoda City, Aichi prefecture.
“This is a chance for Hawaii students to be as imaginative as they can be in coming up with a Dream Car idea,” said Glenn Inouye, senior vice president for Toyota Hawaii. “Last year’s international winners were incredibly creative, and I know Hawaii students can definitely compete on this level.”
Last year’s Annual Dream Car Contest winners included a car that would turn into a hand bag via remote control, submitted by 7-year-old Kata Szonja Szollosi from Hungary; an automatic noodle truck car, submitted by 11-year-old Porndanai Wattanapraditchai from Thailand; and the world saver car that transforms pollution into clean air, by 13-year-old Pipat Tunkrathok from Thailand.
The first contest was held in 2004 with dual goals of creating an opportunity for children to have fun and understand the importance of having a dream and at the same time encourage them to become interested in cars through drawing “Dream Cars” using their creative imaginations.
Student artists will compete in three age categories: Under 10-years old, 10- to 12-years old and 13- to 15-years old.
Foundation awards tobacco trust funds
The Hawaii Community Foundation has awarded $976,300 in tobacco cessation community grants from the Hawaii Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund. In Hawaii, tobacco use claims the lives of 1,100 residents each year and costs the state $336 million annually in direct medical expenses, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Key State-Specific Tobacco Related Data & Rankings Fact Sheet at tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0176.pdf.
The Hawaii Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund was created by Act 304, SLH 1999, devoting a significant portion of Hawaii’s tobacco master settlement agreement payment to create and maintain a Hawaii free from tobacco use, addiction and exposure to second-hand smoke.
“Over the years, because of the commitment to invest trust fund resources in tobacco cessation programs, countless lives have been saved and youth and adult smoking rates in Hawaii have decreased,” said Jennifer Schember-Lang, Hawaii Community Foundation senior program officer. “However, despite these successes tobacco still causes more preventable disease, death and disability in Hawaii than any other health issue — especially among residents who are unemployed, or come from backgrounds of low-income or low-education. Now more than ever, there is great need to continue funding programs to help our residents quit tobacco.”