About Town 9-1-12

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Up Country Faire scheduled for Monday

Up Country Faire scheduled for Monday

The 10th annual Up Country Faire opens at 9 a.m. and runs through 2 p.m. Monday at Christ Church Episcopal in Kealakekua.

The family-friendly event will feature games of skill, pony rides, a bouncy castle and other amusements for children of all ages.

Five-time Grammy Award winner Keoki Kahumoku will headline the entertainment, which also includes an appearance by magician The Great Baruski.

Food, including a pulled pork plate lunch, will be available for purchase. The event will also feature craft sales and informational displays by area nonprofits.

Admission to the event is free.

For more information, call 323-3429.

School’s buildings dedicated Tuesday

Kanu o ka Aina New Century Public Charter School, with its nonprofit partner, Kanu o ka Aina Learning Ohana, in Waimea, will celebrate the completion of two new buildings, Halau Pokii and Halau Puke, on Tuesday. U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka will be among the dignitaries attending the celebration.

The two buildings, completed in time for the new school year, allow all KANU’s students to be accommodated together. The buildings occupy a site on Department of Hawaiian Homes Land and are part of KALO’s womb-to-tomb community-based initiatives to support culture-based education and the community.

Within Halau Puke is a native library for school and community use. The library is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Classrooms for students in sixth through 12th grades are also in a portion of the library building.

Halau Pokii is home to preschool classrooms through fifth grade. The private preschool, Malamapokii, is operated by KALO and supported by Kamehameha Schools. Having the private preschool alongside KANU’s K-12 school helps create a seamless early education transition as part of the public private partnership between KALO and KANU.

Two off-site outdoor learning labs at Puupulehu and Waipio expand the learning opportunities further.

Halau Hoolako has been occupied at the site on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands since 2009. Halau Hoolako also serves as a community resource and technology center.

Although KANU is not an immersion school, Hawaiian culture and language are integrated into the curriculum from preschool on. KANU integrates Hawaiian culture, language, traditions, community and the natural environment in a curriculum that is project-based and place-based.

As a free public K-12 school, KANU is held to the same performance expectations and same assessment testing that all schools throughout the state must follow. The school achieved Annual Yearly Progress Safe Harbor status for the 2012-13 school year and has received six full years of accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Kupuna singles
gather Wednesday

The Kona Kupuna Singles Club will meet at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Huggo’s on the Rocks. Call 329-6101 for more information.

ALPHA Course
coming to Waimea

The public can find the answers to basic life questions, and more, at the ALPHA Course, a 10-week series beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. New Hope Waimea Christian Fellowship is sponsoring the nondenominational course.

The series opens with a meet-and-greet dinner, a short film presentation and a question and answer period. John Stark facilitates the course.

The course is free. Preregistration is appreciated for seating, materials and meal considerations. Registration forms are available at the church office located at 65-1078 Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea, at Sunday morning services, or by contacting Stark at 885-4317.

Further information about the course can be found at alphausa.org.

Conversation skills workshop planned

Bridging Our Differences: Skills and Practices that Turn Conflict into Connection will be taught by Andrea Pro. The workshop will teach practical tools to accessing a calm center, gaining inner peace and confidence in speaking up, building listening skills and navigating challenging conversations in which everyone gets heard.

The workshop is scheduled from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 14 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 in Keauhou. Tuition is $95 if registered before Wednesday; $110 after that day.

To register or for more information, contact Pro at 345-0907, andrea@konacoast.com or pathwaystocompassion.com.