About Town | 3-6-14

Funds available for projects

The Aloha Grown Malama Honua Fund is once again giving away five $500 awards to area nonprofits, schools, organizations or initiatives on the Big Island that embody Aloha Grown’s philosophy to “Support local. Sustain the aina. Share the aloha.”

Interested groups must complete an application form and write a one-page essay explaining how their organization follows Aloha Grown’s philosophy. Essays must include the organization’s mission and vision, along with the specific project, program and effort that the $500 award would be used to fund.

All submissions are due by March 31. The five selected recipients of the 2014 awards will be contacted by April 30.

For more information, an application or instructions, email malamahonuafund@gmail.com. For more information on the program, visit alohagrown.com.

Horse cutting event planned Saturday

The Hawaii Island Cutting Horse Association will have its first Jackpot show of 2014 beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at Parker Ranch Arena in Waimea.

The event will begin with cutting classes for all levels, including youth. After the cutting, cowhorse classes will be held in which a horse/rider combination completes a reining pattern, followed by working a single cow at the end of the arena to show control.

In the afternoon will be reining, a recently recognized Olympic sport, in which a horse/rider team follows a specific pattern of circles, spins and sliding stops. A concession will be available for lunch with the proceeds going to the Hawaii High School Rodeo Association.

Entry is free for spectators. For more information, call 960-0099.

‘Laugh for Relief’ coming to Kona

A comedy show featuring Filipino comics Augie T and Rex Navarrete will benefit the hundreds of thousands of people affected by Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in November.

The “Laugh for Relief” tour will stop on Saturday at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Tickets are $20 presale, $25 at the door. Tickets are available at KTA Super Stores and Waikoloa Village Market, and online at AugieT.com.

Typhoon Haiyan devastated the central Philippines, causing widespread destruction and killing thousands. The storm — one of the most powerful ever recorded — slammed into the island of Leyte on Nov. 8 with sustained winds reported as high as 195 mph and gusts up to 230 mph, flooding coastal communities. It triggered landslides, uprooted trees and destroyed homes and entire communities as it quickly moved across the archipelago.

Proceeds will be used for a reconstruction project in Ormoc City, a sister city of the County of Hawaii. In 2012, a delegation from Hawaii Island led by Mayor Billy Kenoi visited Ormoc and neighboring towns in the region, all devastated by Typhoon Haiyan.

Augie T was voted Comedian of the Year as the funniest comic in Hawaii by the Honolulu Star Bulletin and Midweek and has been the core artist in the revival of the Hawaii comedy scene. Augie T is the only local comedian to sell out the Blaisdell Arena, have five No. 1 selling comedy DVDs, and be voted best comedy show by Honolulu Magazine. He also has his own show “AugieTV” on K5.

Navarrete is one of the most popular Filipino comedians today and tours all over the United States. He is currently working on his own television series, “Rex In The City” for MTV Philippines.

“Laugh for Relief” is presented on Hawaii Island by the Hawaii Construction Alliance with the support of Hawaii County, KTA Super Stores, Heineken, T&T Electric, Kaiser Permanente, HGEA, Hawaiian Airlines, Extreme Sound &Lighting Hawaii, GW Construction, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 50 and the COVO Foundation.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit augiet.com or call 364-7765.

Overeaters group meets Saturday

An Overeaters Anonymous meeting will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Unity Church sanctuary, 75-5722 Hanama Place.

The 12-step program views compulsive overeating as a physical, emotional and spiritual disease that can be arrested but not cured.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively. The nonprofit organization is supported by the voluntary contributions of attending members.

Plant sale proceeds will beautify path

A plant sale sponsored by Friends for Fitness will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the entrance of the Makaeo Walking/Jogging path at Old Kona Airport Park.

Friends for Fitness will use the proceeds to beautify the park.

Mauna Kea Quilters meets Saturday

Mauna Kea Quilters will gather from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday in the meeting room of the Thelma Parker Memorial Library in Waimea.

The group holds monthly meetings on the second Saturday of each month, which include a business meeting, and show-and-tell. This month’s meeting will include a paper-piecing class.

The group of patchwork quilters donates many quilts to raise money for charitable organizations.

For more information, call Becky Parkinson at 937-2159.

More than 120 students to perform at ukulele festival

“One World, One Love, One Uke” is the theme of this year’s 21st annual Ukulele Festival at Hawaii Preparatory Academy.

The event begins at 7 p.m. Saturday. The performance, which is free and open to the public, will be held at Gates Performing Arts Center, located at HPA’s upper campus.

More than 120 students from HPA, Kealakehe Intermediate and Waikoloa schools will perform. To represent the universality of music, the ukulele, and the people of the world, this year’s festival will feature music, songs and dances from many cultures.

For more information, call 885-2501 or 885-2500.

Korean War veterans meeting Saturday

Korean War Veterans Association of West Hawaii Chapter 279 meets at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars meeting hall at the corner of Kuakini Highway and Makala Boulevard in Kailua-Kona.

Membership is open to any person who has seen honorable service in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard if said service was within Korea including territorial waters and airspace from Sept. 3, 1945, to the present, or said service was outside of Korea from June 25, 1950, to Jan. 31, 1955. Associate members are also welcome.

For more information, call Joe Nimori at 329-3058 or Bob Welter at 929-7001.