About Town | 6-17-15

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VFW announces weekly schedule

VFW announces weekly schedule

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12112 is located behind Kona Locksmith off Kaiwi Street and is West Hawaii’s VSO welcoming all veterans and veteran service organizations.

Veterans are invited to meet for camaraderie with others who have served honorably and drink free coffee at 9:30 a.m. today.

On Friday starting at 4 p.m. is a pulled pork and cole slaw dinner for $5.

For more or information, call Don Zero at 509-879-1040.

Kiwanis meets Wednesday

Kiwanis West Hawaii meets at 5 p.m. today at Quinn’s Almost By the Sea on Palani Road. All visiting Kiwanis and prospective members are invited.

This is a new satellite organization of Kiwanis East Hawaii. Kiwanis looks to serve the community by conducting service projects that respond to identified needs, especially related to children.

For more information, contact Marge Anderson at kiwaniswesthawaii15@gmail.com or 327-0090.

Macy’s shopping event to raise funds for VASH Hawaii Island

Macy’s will partner with VASH Hawaii Island in its 10th annual national “Shop For A Cause” charity shopping event Aug. 29.

VASH Hawaii Island is selling shopping passes for $5 each, which offer discounts on most regular, sale and clearance purchases all day, but some exclusions apply. VASH Hawaii Island will keep 100 percent of the proceeds from every shopping pass it sells.

By purchasing a shopping pass from VASH Hawaii Island, customers support services for visitors affected by crimes, have medical emergencies, experience the death of a loved one or suffer other adversities during their stay on Hawaii Island.

Since 2006, the program has helped raise tens of millions of dollars for charities across the country.

To purchase a shopping pass from VASH Hawaii Island, contact Karen Rose at 756-0392

Billie Brooks Kohala High School band reunion planned

Those who attended Kohala High and Elementary school between 1966 and 1982 are familiar with its popular band program, led by the late Billie D. Brooks.

In conjunction with this year’s Kohala community reunion, former band members are planning a band program reunion from noon to 4 p.m. July 4 at Hawi Jodo Mission Hall.

The reunion is meant to include band members, majorettes, chaperones, managers, those who performed in school plays and all Billie D. Brooks fans. The reunion will include a potluck and time to talk story and reminisce over old photos and news clippings.

Attendees are asked to bring a potluck finger food item. Water, ice, plates, cups and utensils will be provided.

Band members will also have a table at the Kamehameha Park gymnasium in Kapaau during the community reunion, July 3, 4 and 5.

Interested attendees or volunteers, or those who have photos or memories to share may contact Sharon Sakai, ssakai002@hawaii.rr.com or Buni (Brooks) Nakamura at bbrooks2200@yahoo.com.

Civil Air Patrol holds successful simulated tsunami warning mission

Civil Air Patrol’s Hawaii Wing showcased its capabilities during a graded exercise observed by the U.S. Air Force. The exercise on Saturday and Sunday involved a simulated tsunami warning mission as well as a simulated request from the Air Force to find two downed aircraft.

“Mission management staff positions were assessed to determine their ability to perform their jobs,” said Lt. Col. Carswell J. Ross Jr., the wing’s vice commander. “This review also included a critical evaluation of overall operations, the equipment used, the pilot and air crew certification. Based on this comprehensive exercise, CAP’s Hawaii Wing received a ‘successful’ grade from the Air Force, and congratulations for re-establishing Hawaii’s search and rescue capabilities for the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force.”

As part of the simulated tsunami warning mission, the Hawaii Wing launched seven aircraft at 9 a.m. Saturday. Two aircraft conducted the simulated warnings from Lihue, Kauai, and flew the routes for Kauai and Niihau. One aircraft flew the route for Oahu. Two aircraft flew the routes for Maui, Molokai and Lanai, and the sixth aircraft flew Hawaii Island. The wing’s seventh aircraft flew as a mobile repeater at 10,000 feet off the island of Lanai to ensure proper control and communications for the exercise.

“The simulated mission required CAP aircraft to obtain head counts and photos. This request was made as our damage assessment phase of the exercise began,” said Ross. “CAP aircraft were instructed to fly over key beaches and campsites on all eight islands. The data, containing the number of individuals, vehicles and boats seen were photographed, then uploaded to a CAP server for review by various agencies. This information would be used to determine the status of various areas and the number of individuals affected by the incident.”

After the simulated tsunami struck the southern shores of Hawaii, additional damage assessment photographs were obtained by the CAP aircrews. Also, the Air Force evaluators simulated two downed aircraft and asked CAP to search for and locate them using an emergency locator transmission. Aircrews were able to successfully find the downed aircraft and directed ground teams to their locations. When the ground teams arrived they found one survivor at each location. Members then proceeded to simulate 911 calls and treatments.