About Town | 3-18-14

Disabilities panel meeting Friday

The Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities meets at 10 a.m. Friday at the ADRC training room, 1055 Kinoole St., Hilo. The meetings are open to the public. The agenda will be posted on the county’s website.

For more information, call Sandy Arriola at 961-8005.

Hoku Concert features Austin

The 13th annual Hoku Concert starring American tenor Cody Austin is scheduled for April 12 at a private venue in Kona. Austin will entertain guests with his performance of Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban’s greatest hits, sung in Italian and English. He will be accompanied by concert pianist Elisabeth Ellis. A wine and pupu reception will commence the event at 6:30 p.m.

Seating is limited. Call the Kona Hospital Foundation office for reservations at 322-4587.

Health connector offers assistance

The Hawaii Health Connector and Planned Parenthood of Hawaii have teamed up to provide individuals with insurance enrollment assistance before the Affordable Care Act’s March 31 deadline. Connector Kokua will be present at all Planned Parenthood of Hawaii Health Centers across the state on select days and times in a stepped up effort to ensure that all Hawaii people, especially those in areas with the greatest health care need, have the information and resources they need to enroll in new, more affordable health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act.

Connector Kokua will be available to assist individuals from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday and again March 26 at Planned Parenthood of Hawaii located at 75-184 Hualalai Road, Suite 205, Kailua-Kona.

County clerk speaking to League of Women Voters

Current, former and prospective members as well as the public are invited to join the League of Women Voters of Hawaii County to hear Stewart Maeda, Hawaii County clerk, speak at the league’s annual meeting April 5 at Saffron Grill, 65-1259 Kawaihae Road, Waimea.

The annual business meeting starts at 10 a.m. with greetings and the annual report by co-presidents Margaret Drake and Donna Oba, election of incoming directors and officers, adoption of the budget and program for fiscal year 2014-15, and recognition of outgoing officers and directors.

Maeda’s talk will start at 11 a.m. Maeda, born in Hilo and a Waiakea High School graduate, was appointed county clerk in 2012. Pat Nakamoto, Elections Office administrator, will be accompanying him and will also be available to answer questions from the audience.

A no-host buffet luncheon will follow Maeda’s talk. Reservations for the luncheon should be made with Donna Oba by March 25 by emailing donnaoba@gmail.com or calling 884-5299. The cost is $20 for the luncheon.

Membership in the organization is open to all citizens of voting age; noncitizens and citizens not yet of voting age can be associate members. Annual dues for members are $45 per individual; dues for students and the second member in a household are $22.50. Dues may be mailed to The League of Women Voters of Hawaii County, P. O. Box 665, Hilo, HI 96721.

For more information about the organization, visit lwv.org or lwv-hawaii.com.

Magic Spectacular scheduled Saturday

The 28th annual Magic Spectacular is Saturday at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu. Show times are at 2:30 and 7 p.m. The longest running magic show in the state of Hawaii, this event brings the world’s top magicians to Kona, as well as resident magic talent. Proceeds benefit children’s art programs at the Society for Kona’s Education and Arts. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children younger than 12 and seniors.

For more information or ticket sales and outlets, call SKEA at 328-9392.

Tree planting slated at veterans cemetery

Halaulani Transfer and Success Center along with Richard Stevens of Hawaii Community College have put together an event to plant 1,000 native trees in one day. This will be done with the help of college students, teachers, staff and community members. They will be planting the trees at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery beginning at 9 a.m.