About Town 2-21-13

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Police meeting slated today in Kapaau

Police meeting slated today in Kapaau

The Hawaii Police Department will hold a community meeting from noon to 2 p.m. today at the Kohala Intergenerational Center in Kapaau.

The purpose of the meeting is to allow the public to meet the Police Department’s command staff and to discuss police-related concerns with the police chief and commanders who oversee operations in the North Kohala District.

To aid police commanders in focusing on specific community concerns, they ask that participation in this meeting be limited to individuals who live or work in the North Kohala District.

Those interested in participating but unable to attend may email their concerns or comments to copsysop@hawaiipolice.com.

For more information, call Capt. Albert Jason Cortez at 889-6540.

Hanohano lecture explores Chinese
New Year traditions

Kona Historical Society’s Hanohano o Kona Lecture Series will feature “Chinese New Year Celebrations and Traditions” presented by Ed Yap and Big Island Shaolin Arts from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center gazebo. The free program is funded by a grant from the Gee Hing Foundation.

In addition to discussion of what happens during the Chinese New Year, the talk will include background information on who the Chinese people are, when they arrived in Hawaii and what brought them here. A Chinese lion dance demonstration will follow.

John R.K. Clark, author of “Hawaiian Surfing: Traditions from the Past,” will speak on Native Hawaiian surf spots March 27.

For more information, call 323-3222.

Health programs offered in March

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is offering the following free classes during March:

c “Osteoporosis: Prevention and Treatment” is free and offered from 10 to 11:30 a.m. March 4 at the Hilo clinic, 1292 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo, discusses the signs of osteoporosis, risk factors, prevention and treatment strategies, and how nutrition and exercise can help strengthen bones. Preregistration is required to attend. Call 934-4000.

c Child passenger safety technicians certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be checking all child car and booster seats from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 5 at Kona Women Infants and Children, Kealakekua Business Plaza, 81-980 Halekii St., Kealakekua. Also, Kaiser Permanente will be giving away free bike helmets to children getting their car and booster seats checked. Sizes and quantities are limited. Appointments, which must be booked in advance by calling 933-4587, are available for both members and nonmembers.

c The Senior Summit Lecture Series continues with “Nutrition — Just the Facts Please,” a live video conference, from 10 to 11 a.m. March 11 at the Hilo clinic, 1292 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo. Registered dieticians Jennifer Davis and Letty Nagata will discuss how seniors can be their own detectives and solve the mysteries of the food label. The Senior Summit program provides ongoing educational opportunities on a wide variety of topics specific to seniors. The emphasis is on prevention, personal growth and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Topics include exercise, coping with stress, balance and falls and much more. Preregistration is required to attend. Call 933-4510.

c The Diabetes Support Group meets at 2:30 p.m. March 26 at the Kona clinic at 75-184 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona. Vivienne Aronowitz, MPH, RD, CDE, will discuss mind and body, fitness and nutrition. Preregistration is required to attend. Call 334-4400.

Mental illness
support group
meets Wednesday

The National Alliance of the Mentally Ill Hawaii support group for friends and loved ones of those dealing with mental illness meets from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Kona Paradise Clubhouse, 77-6435 Kuakini Highway.

For more information, call Dana at 896-7203.

Piligrass workshops coming to island

The Aloha Bluegrass Band, professional bluegrass musicians from Alaska, Colorado and California, will be joined by five-time Grammy Award-winner and Big Island native Keoki Kahumoku to bring bluegrass music to the Big Island in March. They will share their blend of bluegrass and Hawaiian music — called piligrass — though several concerts and workshops around the island.

From March 18 to 22, the Aloha Bluegrass Band will hold bluegrass and Hawaiian music workshops at Queen Emma Community Center in Kealakekua where keiki ages 6 to 17 will be able to receive instruction on bluegrass and slack-key guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, upright bass, singing and songwriting. Adult workshops will be available in the evenings of March 18 and 20.

On March 2, Kahumoku and the Aloha Bluegrass Band will be joined by ulele player Brittni Paiva at the Palace Theater in Hilo for a concert at 7 p.m. The musicians will hold manini instrument workshops in the lobby from 2 to 4 p.m.

For more information on performances and workshops, visit alohabluegrassband.com, email alohamusicacademy@gmail.com or call Katy Rexford at (415) 305-3608.