About Town 2-9

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For more information, call Volcano Art Center at 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

Rummage, bake sale benefits preschool

The Punana Leo o Kona preschool will host a rummage and bake sale from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Queen Emma Community Center.

All proceeds will benefit Save Punana Leo o Kona preschool.

For more information or to donate, call Christel at 333-8450.


Prostate cancer group meets Wednesday

The Prostate Cancer Information and Support Group meets at noon Wednesday at the lower level of the pool bar at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Newly diagnosed and prostate cancer survivors are welcome. Members meet to share cancer-related issues and lend support to other meeting attendees.

There is no charge to attend the meeting. Lunch will not be served but may be purchased at the pool bar.

Men 45 or older and their caregivers are encouraged to learn about prostate cancer risks and early detection to help them make informed decisions with their doctors about their prostate health.

Call Alapaki Tampos at 326-1888 for more information.


Korean War Veterans meeting Saturday

The Korean War Veterans Association of West Hawaii Chapter 279 meets at 10 a.m. Saturday at Denny’s Restaurant, 75-1027 Henry St., Kailua-Kona.

Membership is open to any person who has seen honorable service in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard if said service was within Korea, including territorial waters and airspace, at any time from Sept. 3, 1945, to the present, or said service was outside Korea from June 25, 1950, to Jan. 31, 1955. Associate members are also welcome.

For more information, call Joe Nimori at 329-3058 or Bob Welter at 929-7001.


McKinley class plans 35th reunion

The McKinley High School Class of 1977 will celebrate with its 35th reunion from 5 to 11 p.m. July 14 at the Pagoda Hotel International Ballroom in Honolulu. The cost is $65 per person until May 31, $75 on or after June 1.

Classmates may visit mckinley1977.com for details and the registration form. To have a form sent, write McKinley High School Class of 1977, P.O. Box 10025, Honolulu, HI 96816.


Students invited to enter contest

Young people all over Hawaii are being encouraged to get creative for a unique art contest to find solutions to plastic pollution.

Working with the Hawaii Department of Education, Malama Hawaii and other partners, the United Nations Safe Planet Campaign will launch the new statewide art contest today.

Barbara Benish of Safe Planet said: “Our goal is to raise awareness amongst Hawaii’s youth about climate change, toxic pollution and the growing chemical body burden now nearly endemic to our society. By actively engaging with young people we can work toward finding creative solutions to eliminate the many hazards present in our daily environment.

“We are searching for Safe Planet heroes: young artists and imaginative students across Hawaii to create a work of art that demonstrates the possibilities of life in a world without hazardous chemicals and waste.”

Students from kindergarten through 12th grade are encouraged to pick one, single-use plastic item from their home — plastics like shopping bags, disposable water bottles or plastic cutlery, all items that are used once and then thrown away — and redesign it in an ecofriendly material. What does it look like? How is it made? How is it used?

An idea can be submitted as a photograph, painting, drawing, graphic or sculpture.

Five winners will have their designs made into prototypes by local manufacturers and the image printed on new Safe Planet sustainable bags; get to tour the Sea Dragon research vessel when she pulls into port in July in Honolulu; spend a week at Art Mill in the Czech Republic for one winner (does not include airfare) and exhibit with the Safe Planet exhibition during the Rio+20 Global Conference in June.

The contest closes May 18 with final winners announced June 15.

Further information, a downloadable flyer and contest rules can all be found at safepla.net or artmill.eu.

For more information, visit artcontest@artmill.eu.


Writers invited to submit thoughts

A final call has been issued for writers to join in community building by sharing their thoughts, ideas and beliefs with others. Writers should submit up to 600 words (about a page and a half) by Feb. 29. The project is inspired by the 1950s radio series hosted by Edward R. Murrow, and is funded by the Atherton Family Foundation.

Friends of the Library-Waikoloa Region is publishing a book. “This We Believe: Waikoloa Region, Hawaii Island.” and the public can be in it. Individuals ages 11 and older, all ethnic backgrounds and both sexes on Hawaii Island are encouraged to share essays describing a core value that guides their daily lives.

Contact VivianMarita@hotmail.com with a subject line of “This We Believe” for more information.


Mauna Ulu area explored on walk

The public is invited to join the Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes Park for a Sunday Walk in the Park from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. This monthly program on second Sundays is aimed at bringing together members to share in the park’s trails.

Led by Nick Shema, this month’s 3-mile, round-trip walk explores the Mauna Ulu area.

Starting and ending at the Mauna Ulu parking lot, the hike begins on the Napau Trail, then veers off to ascend Mauna Ulu (literally, growing mountain). A recently formed shield volcano, Mauna Ulu erupted from 1969 through 1974 leaving an altered landscape of incredibly fascinating geologic features.

“Along the way, we’ll see hardened lava rivers, forested kipuka, lava trees, cinder cones, lava shields, pioneer plants and panoramic vistas. On a clear day, you can view Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Puu Oo and the Pacific Ocean,” Shema said.

“Due to the cultural sensitivity of Mauna Ulu, group size is limited to 15 people,” he added.

This will be a moderate hike of about 3 miles roundtrip, mostly over uneven pahoehoe lava, with a 400-foot elevation gain. Participants should be prepared for the base 3,200-foot elevation and for variable weather conditions, including sunny, windy, chilly or rainy.

The group’s Sunday Walk in the Park is free for members, and nonmembers are welcome to join the nonprofit organization in order to attend. Annual memberships are $30 for individuals and $45 for families, and come with a variety of benefits.

To register, contact 985-7373 or admin@fhvnp.org. For more information, visit fhvnp.org. Park entrance fees apply.


Friday cultural events slated in Volcano

Volcano Art Center celebrates the arts and cultures of hula and mele every Friday with cultural demonstrations on the porch at Volcano Art Gallery in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Those attending are invited to participate in one of the free hands-on hula, lei-making, lauhala weaving or ukulele lessons with various local demonstrators.

Cultural lessons are presented between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. every Friday. No reservations are required. No experience is needed, and all ages are welcome. Signup is on first-come, first-served basis.

These events are sponsored in cooperation with Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and supported in part by the Hawaii County Department of Research and Development and Hawaii Tourism Authority.

For more information, call Volcano Art Center at 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.