About Town | 10-9-15

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Students offered eLibrary cards

Students offered eLibrary cards

The Read2gether Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing eLibrary cards for every K-12 student in the United States, at no cost for the next three years.

The Read2gether Literacy Campaign has been created to raise awareness about recreational reading for 10 minutes a day, and the importance of reading on human development, especially in the kindergarten through 12th grade years.

Through partnerships with School eBook Library and the World Heritage Encyclopedia, as well as funding from local corporations, the Read2gether Foundation has underwritten eLibrary cards for every K-12 student in Hawaii and the U.S. so they can access eBooks at no cost with unfettered, user-friendly access to the most important classic literature in history at no cost until 2017.

Accessing eBooks on devices make it possible for students to access learning materials beyond library walls, 24 hours a day, seven days a week; no matter where they are.

Additionally, School eBook Library also offers educational resources for educators such as lesson plans. Further, the organization has a Get Published feature so students can self-publish their own eBooks.

With their new eLibrary Card, students will have access to World Heritage Encyclopedia — the largest encyclopedia in world history.

To get started, students should check with their school libraries, or get permission from their parents to visit https://www.read2gether.org/getstarted.

HPA hosting open houses

Hawaii Preparatory Academy has schedule a number of admissions open houses.

A kindergarten open house will be held for prospective parents from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 23 at the HPA’s village campus. Parents will meet with faculty and administrators, observe the kindergarten class and learn about the school’s philosophy on academic and social development during the kindergarten year.

Families with students entering grades 1 through 5 may contact the Admission Office to arrange a campus visit.

An open house for prospective students entering grades 6 through 8 and their families will be held from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 3 at the village campus. School administrators, current students and parents will provide information about the academic program and the benefits of an HPA education. Students and their families also will have an opportunity to visit classrooms, meet teachers and learn more about HPA’s middle school curriculum and activities.

Prospective day students entering grades 9 through 12 and their parents can register for one of four open house events that will be held on Monday, Nov. 6, Dec. 3 and Jan. 19. All high school events begin at 8:45 a.m. and end at 11, followed by an optional 30-minute question-and-answer session. Each high school event is limited to 20 guests.

Registration is required for the kindergarten, middle and upper school events. To register, visit hpa.edu/openhouse. For more information, contact the HPA Admission Office at 881-4321 or admissions@hpa.edu.

Interfaith meditation group to meet

Kona Interfaith Meditation Society meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Hawaiian Queen Coffee Garden, 75-1048 Henry St.

The program will include the first part of a multi-part video titled “Jesus and Buddha: Paths to Awakening.” There will also be discussion, a period of silence and refreshments.

For those wanting an introduction to meditation, a class is offered at 5 p.m. For reservations or more information, email Farley Jones at wfjj5@yaho.com.

Book clubs meeting in Keauhou

Kona Stories book clubs meet monthly to discuss books of fiction, travel and nonfiction.

The fiction group meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the store to discuss “To Rise Again at a Decent Hour” by Joshua Ferris.

The Oct. 20 travel group is discussing “Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before” by Toni Horwitz. This group meets at 6:30 p.m. at the store.

The Oct. 27 nonfiction group will discuss “The Reef: A Passionate History: The Great Barrier Reef from Captain Cook to Climate Change” by Iain McCalman. This group meets at 6 p.m. at the store.

Kona Stories in located in Keauhou Shopping Center.

Park announces October programs

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park continues its tradition of sharing Hawaiian culture and After Dark in the Park programs with the community and visitors in October. All programs are free, but park entrance fees apply. Programs are co-sponsored by the Hawaii Pacific Parks Association, and a $2 donation helps support park programs.

“Fossil History of Hawaii” is scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium. Although Hawaii didn’t have dinosaurs, the fossils of Hawaii are protected in its national parks and include human footprints in volcanic ash, extinct birds and trees entombed by lava flows. Fossil expert Joe Iacuzzo of the Ka‘u Learning Academy and anthropologist Mark Sledziewski will share their expertise on the fossils of Hawaii and other fossil discoveries from around the world.

Park rangers will demonstrate how to create a ti leaf lei during a free hands-on demonstration from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the Kilauea Visitor Center lanai.

Sean “Olanui” Robbins performs in a free concert from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium.

John Dvorak will sign his book, “The Last Volcano,” the story of the science and romance of volcanoes and why some people choose to dedicate their lives to confronting nature in its most magnificent form, from 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium.

Park rangers and cultural practitioners will share the art of ulana lauhala (pandanus weaving) from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 28 on the Kilauea Visitor Center lanai.