The non-profit corporation was established to manage the public, education and government cable access channels in Hawaii County and to promote the creation of TV programs by and for the people of the Big Island.
Onizuka center plans commemoration
The Onizuka Space Center invites the community to the 26th Challenger Commemorative event from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The free event features a presentation by NASA astronaut Michael Fincke, who will share his experiences on the space shuttle, Russian Soyuz spacecraft and the international space station.
Also featured will be Norman Sakata, who will offer a presentation in memory of Ellison Onizuka. Onizuka was born and raised in Kona and lost his life when the Challenger space shuttle explored after take-off in 1986.
The Onizuka Space Center is a not-for-profit educational facility dedicated to the memory of Kona’s first astronaut. It is located at Kona International Airport.
Call 329-3441 for more information.
Preschool hosting community night
The Punana Leo o Kona preschool invites the public to a community meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center. All are invited and encouraged to attend and learn about Kailua-Kona’s only Hawaiian immersion preschool, its Save our School Campaign, events and fundraisers, enrollment drive and goals for 2012.
For more information call, Christel at 333-8450.
School for adults offering classes
The Kona Community School for Adults is offering computer, line dancing and ukulele-making classes starting Monday. Call 327-4692 to inquire about registration.
Coffee Expo slated for Friday at Makaeo
The public is invited to attend the fifth annual Coffee Expo from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday at Old Kona Airport Park’s Makaeo Events Pavilion.
Suzanne Shriner, Andrea Kawabata, and Bob Smith will provide current information on coffee berry borer management and will be available to answer questions. Attendees will also get a sneak preview of the video “Controlling the Kona Coffee Berry Borer.”
World-renown coffee consultant Sherri Johns will speak on cupping for quality and the world marketplace.
Almost 30 vendors and service agencies will be set up to provide information on farm equipment, supplies, financial aid and other services.
The Coffee Expo is sponsored by the Kona Coffee Farmers Association. The association supports 100 percent Kona coffee.
For more information, contact Mary Lou at 329-4035 or Marylou@cuppakona.com.
National park is site for whale count
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park encourages volunteers to help count humpback whales during the annual Sanctuary Ocean Count held from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Saturday and again on Feb. 25 and March 31.
Hawaii Volcanoes’ Kaena Point, at the end of Chain of Craters Road, is one of 22 Sanctuary Ocean Count sites islandwide where volunteers onshore monitor humpbacks in nearshore waters for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The yearly event provides population and distribution information about humpback whales around the Hawaiian Islands.
“This is an ideal opportunity for the community and for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to work together as stewards of our ocean,” said Park Ranger Adrian Boone, site leader for the Sanctuary Ocean Count. “These magnificent creatures swim more than 2,000 miles to Hawaii from Arctic waters every winter, and the annual count is one way we can help observe and record their behavior, and ensure their future,” he said.
Volunteers can sign up on the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary website, hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/involved/ocvolunteer.html, or call (888) 55-WHALE, ext. 253.
Free tax preparation help is available
Free tax preparation will be available to Big Island residents throughout the tax season, which runs from Feb. 1 to April 16.
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program in conjunction with the IRS, is the largest volunteer-run program in the nation. The program provides free tax assistance to low- and middle-income taxpayers who have simple tax requirements. The primary target population is the elderly, but Tax-Aide serves people of all ages.
In Waimea, tax assistance will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays and Mondays beginning Feb. 3 at Tutu’s House in the Kamuela Business Center, 64-1032 Mamalahoa Highway. Tax preparation is by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 388-6645.
In Kona, there will be three tax preparation sites: Catholic Charities, 73-5618 Maiau St.. No. B201, Kailua (above Costco) is open noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays; Yano Hall in Captain Cook, open 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays; and Hale Halawai in Kailua-Kona, open 8 a.m. to noon Thursdays. The Kona sites are all walk-in sites.
In order to prepare an accurate tax return, clients should bring the following to the tax site: identification (such as drivers license, passport, ITIN); Social Security cards for self, spouse and all dependents; copy of last year’s income tax return; W-2 forms from each employer; unemployment compensation statements; SSA-1099 if a person was paid Social Security benefits; all 1099 forms; dependent care provider information and amounts paid; and any other forms applicable to the tax situation.
The AARP Tax-Aide program began in Hawaii in 1979 with three volunteers. Last year 247 Tax-Aide volunteers served at 45 tax sites statewide and more than 11,000 returns were prepared.
Video production class scheduled for Feb. 1
A free video production orientation is held from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Na Leo O Hawaii Inc. offices, 74-5565 Luhia St., No. C1-A, Kaiwi Square in Kailua-Kona. Call 329-9617 for reservations and additional information.
The non-profit corporation was established to manage the public, education and government cable access channels in Hawaii County and to promote the creation of TV programs by and for the people of the Big Island.