The event is sponsored by Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Smart Business Hawaii and the Kona Tea Party.
Preservation group honoring paniolo
Hawaii’s native language was and continues to be the “working language” of paniolo on Hawaii ranches, but not all paniolo are Native Hawaiian. In fact, paniolo come from every ethnic group and every possible combination thereof.
Among those who have distinguished themselves are cowboys of Japanese ancestry, and surnames such as Kimura, Horie, Yamaguchi, Kawamoto, Onaka, Kato, Fujii, Yamasaki, Fujitani, Hokama, Nakata, Goto, Hamada, Morifuji and Yoshimatsu are legendary for their achievements and contributions.
To honor paniolo kepani — Hawaii’s Japanese cowboys — the Paniolo Preservation Society will for the first time join the annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival Saturday with an all-day open house at its Paniolo Heritage Center at Pukalani Stables. The community is invited free of charge to view a new exhibit created for the festival and enjoy demonstrations, talk story and more from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The celebration will begin with an 8 to 10 a.m. cowboy breakfast, prepared by the Beamer-Solomon Halau o Poohala. Breakfast will include paniolo loco moco made with smoked meat and traditional cowboy pancakes with guava jelly. Breakfast also will include coffee, tea or cocoa. A $12 donation is suggested for breakfast ($5 for keiki 5 to 10 years old) and may be purchased ahead of time from Kamuela Liquor Store. Guests may purchase tickets at the door on a first-come basis.
Other activities at Pukalani Stables throughout the day will include:
c Informal talk story spotlighting Japanese and Hawaiian cultural practices that helped Japanese men become revered paniolo.
— A sharing of Pukalani’s history and the role it played in providing mounts for Parker Ranch and customers from around the world.
— Visiting the Paniolo Heritage Center’s fledgling museum exhibit that features near century-old saddles, tack, rawhide lariats and photographs dating back to the mid 1800s.
— A Hawaiian tree saddle exhibit and talk story by master saddlemaker Alvin Kawamoto and Sonny Keakealani.
— Learning to play the Japanese card game hanafuda with Milton Yamasaki and friends, including hanafuda players from Tutu’s House.
Pukalani Stables will be on the Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival’s free shuttle bus route around town, or guests may walk or drive to the stables. All activities are free, except breakfast and lunch offerings, beverages and memorabilia.
For more information or breakfast reservations, call 854-1541, visit paniolopreservation.org or email paniolo@paniolopreservation.org.
Library offering ikebana, concert
In honor of the Japanese cherry blossom season and Girls Day celebration, North Kohala Public Library will hold an evening of Japanese music and flower arranging Feb. 13.
The program will begin at 6 p.m. with a demonstration of Japanese flower arranging by ikebana master Chikako Powers. Powers is a member of the Ikenobo School of Ikebana, and will use seasonal flowers in her arrangements.
Following the flower presentation, The Sakura Ensemble will perform music celebrating spring and the cherry blossom festival. The concert will feature Japanese-influenced music played on piano, flute and saxophone. The performers are Annu Shionoya and Jean Pierre Thoma.
Admission is free and the family is invited to enjoy this presentation of Japanese arts.
Call the library at 889-6655 for more information or to request special accomomdation.
Kona Orchid Society meeting Friday
The Kona Orchid Society meets at 6 p.m. Friday at the Hualalai Bridge House building, 74-4966 Kealakaa St. in Kailua-Kona.
The speaker will be Mike Harburg. He will demonstrate the various ways gourds can be used and decorated. He has a shop in Holualoa. He will bring gourds for sale as well as give out seeds to the members, so they can grow their own.
A potluck will be served, and there will be a display of members’ orchids.
For more information, call Jan Rae at 325-4991.
Park program focuses on vog
The public is invited to learn about Kilauea’s volcanic gases and vog (volcanic air pollution) in an After Dark in the Park program beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists Jeff Sutton and Tamar Elias will update information on Kilauea Volcano’s gas emissions and associated environmental impacts. Their presentation will be at the park’s Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium. Park entrance fees apply.
Sutton and Elias will discuss how vog forms from sulfur dioxide gas emitted from Kilauea’s east rift and summit vents. They will also provide an overview of existing resources residents can consult to better deal with this notable aspect of the volcano’s ongoing eruptions. After their talk, an optional “gas-tasting session” will be offered, during which attendees can safely learn to recognize individual volcanic gases by smell.
Friends of Future annual report available
The Friends of the Future Annual Report, Kapaipai (to flourish), is now available online at fofhawaii.org.
Kapaipai summarizes more than 20 years of work on Hawaii Island that began with a series of conversations celebrating pluralism, duality and cultural diversity.
The nonprofit organization has provided a home to more than 40 community programs and initiatives. Some have become independent organizations, transitioned to another like-minded organization, completed their work or are waiting for the right time, place and resource to be realized.
Currently 10 programs actively continue their work as part of Friends of the Future: Waipio Valley Community Circle, Tutu’s House, Na Kahumoku, Hui Kuapa, Hawaii Island Leadership Series — Ulumau, Hawaii Island Health Care Alliance, Earl’s Garage, Collaborative Health Initiative and Baby STEPS to Stronger Big Island Families.
Friends of the Future staff is collecting reflections and stories from people who are, or have been, involved with its programs. The public is urged to let Friends of the Future know: “Why does Friends of the Future matter?” Reflections may be sent to info@fofhawaii.org or call 885-8336.
To become involved in Friends of the Future or to request a printed copy of its annual report, call 885-8336 or email info@fofhawaii.org.
School choice topic for luncheon speaker
School choice in education will be the topic as Jennifer Marshall, Heritage Foundation director of domestic policy studies, speaks at a noon Thursday luncheon in Kona. The luncheon will be held at Boston Basil’s restaurant on Alii Drive. The cost is $20, which includes lunch.
Marshall oversees Heritage Foundation research in areas that determine the character of our culture: education, marriage, family, religion and civil society. In 2010, National Journal named Marshall one of 12 “power players” in Washington for her work on school choice and other education reforms. She holds a master’s degree in statecraft and world politics from the Washington-based Institute of World Politics and a bachelor’s degree in French from Wheaton College.
Reservations and payment can be made by visiting konateaparty.com or at the door.
The event is sponsored by Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Smart Business Hawaii and the Kona Tea Party.