About Town 2-20

Dances of peace slated for Friday

“Opening the Heart” will be the theme of Dances of Universal Peace, which is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at New Thought Center of Hawaii, located in Pualani Terrace in Kealakekua. The dances come from many traditions all over the world. No prior dance knowledge is necessary.

A donation will be accepted.

For more information, email cheryl@forevervisions.com or call Jamilla Nur at 323-3945.

Class on growing, using lavender slated

The new Tropical Edibles Nursery in Captain Cook is offering an opportunity to learn about growing and using lavender from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The class will be taught by Diana Duff and local chef Martha Brahm. It will include information about the different varieties of lavender that can be grown here and how to best grow them and use their flowers.

Following the information part of the class, Brahm will share some of her recipes and include participants in the process of preparing brunch items for tasting.

The fee for the workshop is $30 and includes all handouts, instructions, recipes and tastings.

The nursery is located on the mauka side of Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook, just south of mile marker 108. A white mailbox at the bottom of the drive to the nursery is numbered 83-5696.

Participation is limited and participants must register in advance to attend. Call the nursery at 328-0420 or write tropicaledibles@gmail.com to register. Messages will be answered and a payment guarantee will assure a space in the class.

Hula kaekeeke slated at Puuhonua o Honaunau

Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park on Friday hosts two kumu hula (hula teachers) who will inspire visitors with the art of ancient hula with the kaekeeke (ka, strike; eke, container) or bamboo drums as the featured musical implement. In ancient times, hula was danced for social enjoyment but its chants preserved epic tales, myths, history and philosophy of the native people.

Hula kaekeeke is a dance with bamboo tubes and is performed either sitting or standing. The kaekeeke are made in varying lengths of ohe (bamboo) with the inside nodes removed except the bottom one. The bottom is covered with the woven cushion from the coconut tree and fabric, tied with coconut sennit. The kaekeeke is played by holding a different length tube in each hand vertically and stamping or tapping on a mat or on the ground to produce two unique tones. Sound resonates from the bottom of the bamboo tube, through the pipe and out the open top. Pitch varies with the diameter and length (ranging from 20 to 60 inches) of the bamboo tubes, a longer length and wider diameter produces a deeper tone. Typically, each drum is tuned to the voice of the chanter.

This cultural event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday is sponsored by Hawaii County, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Na Hoa Aloha o ka Puuhonua o Honaunau and Hawaii Pacific Parks Association.

Entrance fees are $5 per vehicle or $3 per person for walk-ins.

For more information, call 328-2326, ext. 1702.

Rodeo queen, princess competition begins

The Hawaii Saddle Club Rodeo Queen and Junior Princess competition is looking for young horsewomen interested in selling tickets for the rodeo. The contestant that sells the most tickets wins.

Contestants must be able to provide a horse for the grand entry and be present for the duration of the rodeo and the parade. The Hawaii Saddle Club Rodeo is scheduled for May 26 through 28 at Honokaa Arena. The deadline to enter is March 30.

Contact Marian Maxwell at 756-3293 for applications and more information.

Hawaii Business honors Kohala Center

The Kohala Center has been selected as the 2012 winner of the Small Business Success Award in the Nonprofit Category by Hawaii Business magazine. The Kohala Center was one of six winners and 12 finalists for the magazine’s SmallBiz Success awards. Other categories receiving awards were community service, family business, innovation, long-term achievement and new business.

“Our independent judges picked The Kohala Center because they felt it is a well-run and effective nonprofit,” said Steve Petranik, editor of Hawaii Business magazine. “We agree. Matt Hamabata and the center are doing great work for the people of Hawaii Island, and some of those ideas have been adopted statewide. That’s an excellent record for such a young organization.”

Headquartered in Waimea, The Kohala Center is an independent, not-for-profit center for research and education about and for the environment. Founded in 2001, the center builds teaching and research programs for energy and food self-reliance as well as ecosystem health, bringing more than $3.65 million from its operations alone into the Hawaii Island economy last year.

“When the economic multiplier is considered, this work becomes even more significant,” said Hamabata, executive director of The Kohala Center. “For example, a 2011 University of Hawaii study showed that for every dollar invested in research and education in The Kohala Center’s ecosystem health work at Kahaluu Bay, two dollars of local business activity is generated.

To learn more about The Kohala Center’s programs, visit kohalacenter.org. Visit hawaiibusiness.com/SmallBiz/February-2012 or the magazine’s February issue for details on the winners and finalists.