About Town 9-7-12

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Low-vision specialist speaks at NFB meeting

Low-vision specialist speaks at NFB meeting

Kellen Kashiwa, a low-vision specialist, is the featured speaker for the 10 a.m. Monday meeting of the National Federation of the Blind West Hawaii chapter at Hale Halawai in Kailua-Kona.

Kashiwa, on staff at the Retina Institute of Hawaii in Honolulu, will discuss treatments and technologies available for dealing with low vision.

The meeting, which is free and open to the public, provides an opportunity to learn how to optimize diminished vision and how to prevent further vision loss.

For more information, call Sally at 345-7065 or visit nfb-westhi.org.

‘Stepping Through History’ slated at
N. Kohala library

At 6:30 p.m. Monday, trail expert and conservationist Richard Stevens will visit North Kohala Public Library to share about the history of the island’s ancient trail systems and ways residents can help protect these historic sites.

Ages 5 and older are welcome to attend the event, the second in a series of monthly talk story presentations about Kohala’s natural and human history, co-sponsored by Friends of the North Kohala Library and Iole. For more information, call the library at 889-6655.

Stevens will lead a hike at Iole at 10 a.m. Sept. 14. Participants should meet at the Bond Homestead, 53-496 Iole Road, Kapaau. Visit iolehawaii.com or call Iole at 889-5151 to learn more.

Hospice training offered Oct. 6, 13

North Hawaii Hospice will offer a two-day volunteer training course from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 6 and 13 at its Waimea office.

The training will include an overview of North Hawaii Hospice services, including patient care, grief and bereavement support and the valuable role hospice volunteers play.

Contact the volunteer coordinator at 930-6625 for an application and to register for the training.

Keiki to explore the skies at Imiloa’s intersession camp

Imiloa Astronomy Center is offering a weeklong camp of discovery and exploration for inquisitive children in kindergarten through third grade.

“Camp Imi-possible: Fun-novations of the sky,” Imiloa’s fall intersession program, runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 1 to 5. Children may be dropped off at 8 a.m. and picked up by 4 p.m. Students are responsible for packing their own lunch and snacks.

The camp will incorporate hands-on activities to propel students into the many wonders of the sky. Students will explore nature, its adaptations and human innovations. The final day, parents are invited to a hoike where each keiki will share his experiences.

Tuition for the program is $180 for members and $200 for nonmembers. Enrollment for the intersession program is open, but space is limited. Reservations and advance payment are required. Register and prepay at the Imiloa front desk or by phone at 969-9703.

For more information, visit imiloahawaii.org.

Davenport featured at Words and Wine event

Native Hawaiian author Kiana Davenport is the featured author for the Words and Wine event set for Tuesday at Kona Stories Bookstore in Keauhou Shopping Center.

Davenport is the author of the best-selling novels “House of Many Gods,” “Song of the Exile” and “Shark Dialogues,” and two story collections, “House of Skin” and “Cannibal Nights.” Her novels and stories have won numerous awards and have been translated into 20 languages.

Davenport’s latest novel is about the American Civil War. Based on her family history, it is at once a historical novel, a love story and an expose on the treatment of minorities during the war. Meticulously researched, it is finally a story of human sacrifice and personal redemption. “The Spy Lover,” published by Thomas & Mercer, is a $14.95 original trade paperback.

The event begins at 6 p.m. with a 30-minute free presentation in the Keauhou Shopping Center’s courtyard followed by a signing in Kona Stories Bookstore of books recently purchased at Kona Stories. Wine and light pupu will be served. For more information, contact Kona Stories at 324-0350 or visit konastories.com.

Chronic disease management program offered in Waimea

Those living with an ongoing health problem or chronic disease are invited to participate in a self-management workshop at Tutu’s House in Waimea.

The Chronic Disease Self Management Program, developed and tested by Stanford University, is designed to complement and enhance medical treatment and disease management. The workshop teaches practical skills for living a healthy life with an ongoing health condition and introduces topics and tools to encourage and assist in health management, staying active and enjoying life.

The workshop series is scheduled from 9 to 11:30 a.m. six consecutive Wednesdays, Sept. 12 through Oct. 17.

There are no fees for Tutu’s House programs, but tax-deductible donations are welcome. Registration is required; call 885-6777.

For more information, call the above number or visit tutushouse.org.