All public libraries will be closed from Saturday through Monday, in observance of Labor Day.
Libraries closed
this weekend
All public libraries will be closed from Saturday through Monday, in observance of Labor Day.
Cleanups planned
for Puako area
Keep Puako Beautiful cleanups are planned in September. Volunteers will survey and clean the area from Hapuna Point to Holoholokai Park. Sign up via email to kpb@hawaii.rr.com. The organization will provide work gloves, some pickers and water. Volunteers should bring a snack and personal water gear.
Volunteer divers, with a valid dive card, may reserve, request or find more information about donated water equipment and dive supplies by contacting Hulakai at sarahhulakai@gmail.com or 896-3141 or 887-1091; Blue Wilderness Dive Adventures at bwilderness@gmail.com or 886-0980; or Kohala Divers at godiving@kohaladivers.com or 882-7774.
Volunteers will meet at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 14 at Puako boat ramp to clean land and water around the boat ramp, Puako Road to Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Ohai Point and bluffs and the Ala Kahakai Trail to Beach 69. The event is sponsored by Team Hulakai and Team Blue Wilderness Dive Adventures.
A cleanup is planned at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 21 at Paniau — meet at the last shoreline access parking area near the end of Puako Beach Drive. Participants will clean three miles of shoreline and waters. The event is sponsored by Team Hawaii Life Real Estate; email annie@hawaiilife.com.
A third event is planned at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 28 at Beach 67, north of Beach 69, at the top of the hill. Volunteers will clean from Old Puako Road to Kanekanaka Point, the shoreline and Ala Kahakai Trail to Beach 69. It is sponsored by Team 2 Papayas LLC; contact mary@2papayas.com.
UpCountry Faire
is Monday
Christ Church Episcopal is holding its annual UpCountry Faire from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. Located on the church grounds and at the Queen Emma Community Center, at the intersection of Konawaena School Road and Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua. The event is free and open to the public.
The festival features games, keiki activities, food, rummage sale and live music by Keoki Kahumoku and DJ Flicka. More than 40 vendors offer goods and services, ranging from massages to Hawaiian artwork.
For more information, call the church at 323-3429.
Blood drives
begin Monday
Big Island residents can donate blood and enter to win “A Hero’s Reward” through Oct. 5, doubling their chance of winning with an appointment. Big Island blood drives in September include: 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday at Solid Rock Ministries’ worship area, 75-5660 Kopiko St., Kailua-Kona; 7 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday at The Church of Latter-day Saints, Kona Hawaii Stake cultural hall, 75-230 Kalani St. Drives are subject to change. Call (800) 372-9966 or visit bbh.org to schedule an appointment or check on drive information.
Blood donors must be in good health, atg least 18 years old or 17 with signed parent/legal guardian consent form and weigh at least 110 pounds or more. Donors should bring a valid photo ID that includes date of birth.
Look Good, Feel Better class slated Tuesday
An American Cancer Society Look Good, Feel Better class is slated from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday in the radiation oncology conference room at Kona Community Hospital. The class is a free program taught by licensed cosmetologists who share techniques for female cancer patients facing the side effects of treatment.
Registration is required; call the American Cancer Society office at 935-0025.
Orientation for Kamakoa Nui homes set
An orientation for Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii’s homes at Kamakoa Nui in Waikoloa begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the organization’s office, which is located in the Kaloko Light Industrial Park in Kailua-Kona. Those interested must attend in order to get an application.
To qualify, individuals must work within 45 miles of Kamakoa Nui in Waikoloa Village, and meet Habitat requirements, which will be shared at the orientation.
To register, contact the Habitat office at info@habitatwesthawaii.org or at 331-8010.
Jewish New Year observed on island
The Jewish High Holidays begin with the observance of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, 5774. Congregation Kona Beth Shalom will conduct holiday services at 7 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. Thursday at its facility at The Shops at Mauna Lani, Suite 109. Following the service, congregants will gather at Holoholokai Beach Park at the Fairmont Orchid to observe Tashlich, when bread crumbs are cast into the water to symbolize casting away sins.
At 10 a.m. Sept. 7, Shabbat Tshuva will be observed at the home of Aviva and Yehuda Plaut in Kealakekua. At 6 p.m. Sept. 13 and from 10 a.m. Sept. 14, Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur will be observed at the Shops at Mauna Lani.
Rabbi Stephen S. Pearce will lead services, assisted by Shari Berman as cantor. Pearce served Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco from 1993 to 2013 and has been recognized by Newsweek as one of the 50 most influential rabbis in the U.S.
For more information, visit konabethshalom.org or contact Una Greenaway at joinkbs@gmail.com.