The program is free to the public and intended for children ages 5 to 10. For more information, call Denise at the library at 327-4327.
Arc of Kona benefit concert slated for Saturday
Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, bluegrass duo, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu in a benefit concert for the Arc of Kona.
Lewis received the female bluegrass vocalist of the year. She and Rozum have been guests on “Prairie Home Companion” and they were nominated for an Emmy award. To learn more, visit laurielewis.com.
Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 cash at the door. Tickets are available at Arc of Kona, 323-2626; Kona Wine Market, 329-9400; Kiernan Music, 322-4939; or in Honokaa at the North Hawaii Education and Resource Center, 775-8890. Tickets can also be purchased from the Aloha Performing Arts Company website at apachawaii.org (this costs the group processing fees).
For more information, call Xandria Tobara at the Arc of Kona, 323-2626.
AARP driver safety class scheduled in January
Kona Community School for Adults is sponsoring AARP driver safety classes at the Kona Palisades Recreation Center on Kaiminani Drive. The one-day, four-hour course will be at 1 p.m. Monday and at a time to be announced later on Tuesday.
The course will cover defensive driving tactics, dealing with road rage, cellphones, general safety, rules of the road and how to adjust to age-related changes, such as decrease in vision and hearing ability, as well as slower reaction time. These are classroom refresher courses. There are no driving or written tests.
Those participants having Hartford Insurance may receive as much as a 10 percent discount on automobile insurance upon completion of the course. Those who do not carry Hartford Insurance may want to check with their insurance company prior to taking one of the classes to determine if they will recognize it for a discount.
Total course cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. Class size is limited so early registration is recommended.
To register, call Reni and Roy Damron at 325-5422.
PEOs luncheon slated for Thursday
The local chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization will hold a no-host luncheon for members who are visiting Kona or have moved to the area. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Vista Restaurant, located at the Kona Country Club on Alii Drive. The theme for the luncheon will be “The Year of the Dragon.”
PEO is an international organization that supports women’s education through scholarships, loans and grants.
To register attendance or for more information, call Sharon at 324-7603 no later than Tuesday.
Geocachers meeting Jan. 29 in Kailua-Kona
The West Hawaiian Geocachers will hold its fourth annual meet and greet 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 29 at the Kona Coast Shopping Center food court in Kailua-Kona.
Anyone who is interested in geocaching or who owns a GPS is encouraged to attend the event. No experience is necessary. Volunteers will show participants how and where to find a geocache.
There are more than 180 caches hidden on the Big Island alone. Find out if one is hidden near or the 12 caches within walking distance for cruise ship visitors.
The event is free to the public. There will be free Wi-Fi, drawings and prizes.
For more information, visit geocaching.com and add Zip Code 96740 or contact Jake39geocacher@gmail.com.
Scenic Byway group meets Tuesday
The Mamalahoa Kona Heritage Scenic Byway Committee meets at 8 a.m. every Tuesday at the Holuakoa Cafe at to develop the Corridor Management Plan for the 10-mile Mamalahoa Kona Heritage Corridor Byway from Palani Junction to Honalo Junction. The state has funded this plan to help assess, enhance and maintain intrinsic qualities and hire consultants to report on traffic safety measures, geography, cartography and the historic buildings and sites which Pulama ia Kona, the sponsor of the byway wants to protect.
On Hawaii’s first Scenic Byway, property owners will not be affected directly but will be encouraged to voluntarily maintain the historic character of their buildings and appreciate the historic aspects of the corridor.
Websites will provide residents and visitors with information about where to find amenities along this roadway. These websites will also have a calendar of important and interesting events along the byways. Both hawaiiscenicbyways.org and pulamaiakona.org have information on the scenic byway.
The public is welcome at all Pulama and corridor meetings. Holuakoa Cafe is on the Mamalahoa Kona Corridor Byway.
For more information or meeting changes, visit the above websites or call Tomoe Nimori at 329-3058 or Marni Herkes at 987-2171.
College Goal Sunday scheduled for Jan. 29
College Goal Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Kealakehe High School library. No registration is necessary.
The event offers free assistance to students and their families in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is the federal application required by most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools in the nation.
Participants should bring their 2011 IRS tax return (and parents’ return if younger than 24) plus W-2 Forms or other 2011 income and benefits information. A tax form does not have to be complete.
College Goal Sunday is designed to help students and their families navigate the student financial aid process.
The event is sponsored in Hawaii by the Pacific Financial Aid Association and the Hawaii Association for College Admission Counseling, with funding from the Lumina Foundation for Education, USA Funds, GEAR UP Hawaii, Hawaii College Access Challenge Grant and the Hawaii Community Foundation.
For more information, visit cgshawaii.org or call the University of Hawaii at Hilo Financial Aid office at 974-7323.
Ronald McDonald visiting library
McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii presents “It’s Book Time with Ronald McDonald!” at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Kailua-Kona Public Library. This educational program is designed to motivate students to read more often by making reading fun.
Through the use of music, magic, puppets, storytelling and, of course, lots of reading and fun with their favorite clown, Ronald McDonald, students will discover a new outlook on book time.
The program is free to the public and intended for children ages 5 to 10. For more information, call Denise at the library at 327-4327.