About Town 3-9

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Mother’s Day celebration features music, food

Mother’s Day celebration features music, food

Halau Kalaakea-kauikawekiu presents the seventh annual Mama, My Mama … I Love You. This Mother’s Day celebration will feature Hawaiian chant, dance, food and music May 12 at the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel Luau Grounds. Also featured are Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning entertainers Kekuhi Kanahele, Anelaikalani, Darren Benitez and Sean Naauao.

Tickets are $100 for a private Hawaiian buffet and reserved concert seating, or $40 for general concert seating only.

This is the halau’s official Queen Liliuokalani Keiki Hula Competition Fundraiser. Please support our keiki from Kona and Waimea.

For more information, call Kumu Aloha at 989-4616.

Energy conservation, efficiency workshop slated for April 1

In partnership with the Kawaihae Local Resource Council, Financial Literacy Instructor Helen Wai will host a free workshop sponsored by the Hawaii State Energy Conservation and Efficiency Program from 2 to 4 p.m. April 1 at the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Factory.

Hawaii Energy is a ratepayer-funded state program that helps individuals, families and businesses reduce electricity and water expenses.

The Hamakua Maca-damia Nut Factory is located on Maluokalani Street mauka of Akoni Pule Highway, above Kawaihae Harbor. Follow the yellow signs to the visitor’s center. KLRC meetings are administered by Kailapa Community Association, a Hawaiian Homestead group representing more than 120 families residing on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Kawaihae Mauka.

A free Advance electric power strip will be provided to those who register by March 15 for this presentation. Contact Diane Kanealii: dkanealii02@gmail.com. Or call 880-9798.

For more program content information, contact Wai at itsyourmoney@hawaii.rr.com or phone 479-2330.

Zero waste focus of community meeting

The Kona Outdoor Circle invites the public to attend a community meeting featuring presentations on: the West Hawaii Civic Center initiative on zero waste; Island Naturals — Kona and how to reduce packaging waste; cans for KOC recycling program and personal paths to zero waste. The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 22, at the West Hawaii Civic Center.

For more information, visit konaoutdoorcircle.org.

Child advocates need

Friends of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) — Hawaii is seeking volunteers to be trained as advocates for abused and neglected children in the Hawaii Family Court system. A training program is scheduled to start on Hawaii in June.

As a Court Appointed Special Advocate, you will receive training and then be appointed by the state judiciary to speak up for a child’s safety and well-being. You will become a powerful voice in a child’s life. You will represent and advocate for the child’s best interests by submitting written recommendations and attending court hearings.

CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. Over half of our volunteers work full time. Upon successful completion of the training, volunteers will be certified by the Hawaii State Judiciary to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused and neglected children.

In an overburdened social welfare system, these children often slip through the cracks among hundreds of current cases. CASA volunteers change that. They typically handle one case at a time — and commit to staying on that case until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. While others may come and go, CASA volunteers provide the one constant that a child needs in order to thrive.

If you are interested in taking the training in June on Hawaii, call 961-7677, or visit CASAHawaii.org for details about the CASA program and for contact information for all islands.

Dance party slated for March 25 in Kona

Kona Ballroom Dance Club will sponsor a dance party at 6:30 p.m. March 25 at the Kona Elks Lodge in downtown Kailua-Kona across from the King Kamehameha Hotel.

Participants will learn new moves in varied dance styles, including cha cha, swing, waltz, hustle, salsa, bolero and fox trot. A dance partner is not necessary. A $5 donation is requested at the door. Door prizes will be awarded.

For more information, contact Franz or Joanna at 326-9190 or Trisha Hansen 325-2245.

Rumba lessons begin March 12 in Waimea

Join the fun learning Rumba, a slow, sensual Latin dance. Lessons are open to all ages and no partner is necessary. Registration will take place at 6:30 p.m. March 12 and 19.

Lessons are from 7 to 8 p.m. March 12 through April 16 at Waimea Elementary School Cafeteria. A half-hour practice mixer will follow the lesson. Lance Oliver is the instructor. The cost is $10 for set of six weeks; $15 annual membership.

For details, call Peter In at 885-4776.

Weekend includes tribute, Hawaiian music and poke contest

Five monarchs ruled the Kingdom of Hawaii under the Kamehameha name. The first three had close ties to the lands of Keauhou: Kamehameha I and his two sons who succeeded him as Kamehameha II and Kamehameha III.

Hawaii’s longest-reigning monarch, Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli) was born near near Keauhou Bay and was proclaimed king in 1825 when his older brother, Kamehameha II, died of measles while in London. Since he was so young, he shared the early years of his reign under a regency with Kaahumanu, his father’s favorite queen, and later after her death with Kinau, the dowager queen and his half-sister.

Kamehameha III ruled during a time of great transition in Hawaii with ever-increasing pressure from foreign conflicts and the arrival of diseases that decimated Native Hawaiians. He believed education was the key to the survival of his people. By the end of his 30-year reign, Hawaii was one of the most literate nations in the world.

In honor of this great alii, Kamehameha Investment Corp. presents a weekend tribute to his legacy. The celebration begins March 16 with the annual commemoration of his birth presented by the Daughters of Hawaii, Royal Order of Kamehameha and Kamehameha Investment Corp. The tribute begins at 10 a.m. at Keauhou Bay, close to where Kauikeaouli was stillborn and revived. This site is marked with new interpretive signage developed by Kamehameha Investment Corp., with the support of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Later that day, noted lecturer Dr. Keanu Sai will deliver a presentation, “1893 Executive Agreements and their Profound Impacts Today,” as part of the continuing Puana Ka Ike lecture series. The public is welcome to the 5:30 p.m. presentation at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa. Admission is free.

On March 17, outrigger canoe races start the day as the Keauhou Canoe Club’s Kuuipo Race gets under way at Keauhou Bay. Named for the late Eda “Kuuipo” Hinchcliff, a longtime paddler for Keauhou and other West Hawaii canoe clubs, this race series has something for every level of paddler.

The Keauhou Canoe Club’s Race series includes a short course, long course and, new this year is the Kauikeaouli six-man canoe race. Named after Hawaii’s longest-reigning monarch, Kauikeaouli, the recreational race starts at 7 am at Keauhou Bay. Paddlers will race from Keauhou to Kahaluu and back. All canoe races cross the finish line inside Keauhou Bay.

Continuing the March 17 celebration, from 4:30 to 10 p.m., Kamehameha Investment Corpo. hosts the 12th annual Kamehameha III Birthday Concert at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa.

The evening concert begins with hula performances featuring Halau Hula Ka Noeau with Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang, Aoia and Royal Order of Kamehameha I with 2011 Hula Palua winners. Then starting at 7 p.m., the concert under the stars continues with traditional Hawaiian musical performances by Marlene Sai; Michael Kaawa; Nani Lim and the Ladies of Na Lei O Kaholoku; Lorna Lim; Hiram and Casey Olson; Mahela Ichinose; Gary AIko; Ed Yap; Nina Kealiiwahamana; Natalie Deisroth; Iaukea Bright; Nephi Brown and other surprise performances. Admission is free.

A concert trolley is available from Keauhou Beach Resort and the Keauhou Shopping Center starting at 4 p.m. Last trolley leaves the concert at 10:30 p.m.

The first Sam Choy’s Keauhou Poke Contest kicks off at 10 a.m. March 18 at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa when poke recipes take center stage in the professional and nonprofessional division finals. Poke fans will bring in their best recipes as they compete for more than $10,000 in cash and prizes. All poke recipes must include Hawaiian fish or seafood and the creative use of ogo or other seaweeds will be encouraged.

Public tastings will be offered at 12:30 p.m. as the winners are announced. An island marketplace, guest cooking demonstrations and a presentation on sustainable aquaculture by Guy Toyama of Friends of NELHA will also be a part of the event. Admission is $3 at the door, and keiki 12 and under are free.

A poke contest trolley shuttle runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from Keauhou Shopping Center near Long’s Drugs to the Sheraton Keauhou Convention Center. Proceeds from the poke contest will benefit Hawaii Community College Palamanui Culinary Arts program.