About Town 5-12

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Chamber seeks Pualu Award nominations

Chamber seeks Pualu Award nominations

The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its annual Pualu Awards recognizing individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations that exemplify a commitment to the improvement and advancement of the West Hawaii community.

Nominations are being accepted in community education, environmental awareness, business innovation, lifetime service, culture and heritage, chamber member of the year and visitor industry and marketing.

The nomination form and detailed category descriptions are available at kona-kohala.com. For more information, contact the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce office at 329-1758. Self-nominations are welcome and names of nominators will not be revealed. Nomination forms must be received in the chamber office by 4 p.m. May 25.

Award winners in each of the seven categories are honored at the chamber’s annual installation and awards luncheon. The event is slated for June 29 at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

Library offers summer reading programs

Registration for free, five-week Hawaii State Public Library System Summer Reading Programs begins May 29. Participants reading at least one book each week between June 4 and July 7 are eligible to receive a free weekly reading incentive, while supplies last.

The three age-specific programs and themes are “Dream Big READ!” for infants to children entering sixth grade; “Own the Night” aimed at teenagers; and “Between the Covers,” a program for adults.

For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org or call a local library branch.

Venus transit show scheduled at Imiloa

Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii will premiere the planetarium show, “When Venus Transits the Sun,” May 19, which will run daily at 3 p.m. through June 3. The full-dome presentation looks into the celestial apparition called a Venus transit. The show covers what a transit is, a famous transit viewing from the 18th century led by Capt. James Cook, information about the sun and Venus and how to safely view the phenomenon.

A transit of Venus occurs when Venus passes directly between the sun and Earth. This alignment is rare, coming in pairs that are eight years apart but separated by over a century. The next transit of Venus will be December 2117 and December 2125.

The center is planning talks, activities and safe viewing of the June 5 transit event. Visit imiloahawaii.org for information on related events and pricing.

The center is located on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus. It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Grilling class
slated for May 22

Abbey Golden presents a cooking demonstration class from 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 22 at Hale Halawai in Kailua-Kona. Students will learn how to make a smoky rub for meat and scallion sweet potatoes. They will also learn how to create a kale salad with lemon dressing. This menu is perfect for backyard grilling and can be adapted for the kitchen.

The $15 class fee includes recipes and food tasting.

Contact the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation Culture and Arts to register at 961-8706.