Honoka‘a Rodeo Arena to reopen
Honoka‘a Rodeo Arena will reopen at 1 p.m. today, following a blessing ceremony. The public is invited to attend the reopening and blessing ceremony.
In an effort to alleviate the ponding of water inside the arena, Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation staff removed all of the compacted dirt and material which was not draining properly, and replaced it with drain rock and red cinder. During recent heavy rains in the area, no standing water was present in the arena. The red cinder base will assist in the mitigation of dust being released beyond the property lines of the facility.
Along with the enhancements inside of the arena, staff also made drainage improvements to the parking and staging areas.
For more information, please call Parks and Recreation at (808) 961-8311.
Maunakea Speaker Series continues
The Maunakea Speaker Series continues its monthly scholar-focused series on Thursday, March 21, starting at 7 p.m. at the UH-Hilo Science and Technology Building room No. 108. The nights’ presentation by James Juvik, Professor Emeritus of Geography and Environmental Studies at UH-Hilo, will focus on changing patterns of alpine native and alien plants on Maunaloa and Maunakea.
In 1958, the noted Pacific Island botanist Raymond Fosberg recorded the upper altitudinal limits of various native plants growing along the access road to the Mauna Loa observatory at 11,000 feet. Juvik and his team resurveyed the plants again after 50 years (2008) and 60 years (2018).
Juvik specializes in tropical forest climate, hydrology, ecology, paleo-ecology and international wildlife conservation and ecological studies. He was the first to core a number of Hawaiian swamps and bogs to secure peat/pollen records of past vegetation and climate change. He is an internationally recognized expert on conservation management of endangered land tortoises around the world. He was internationally recognized in the climatological field for the development of the “Juvik Fog Gauge,” now used worldwide to provide standardized fog measurements for research and monitoring. He also has done extensive research into cloud mist in the mountains of Hawaii.
Waimea Toastmasters contest
The Waimea Toastmasters Club Contest is 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, in Waimea.
All welcome, no charge. Watch the fun as contestants from the Waimea Toastmasters Club test their skills in impromptu speaking. Light refreshments will be served. Event is at Jerry Nelson Conference Room at W.M. Keck Observatory, 65-1120 Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea.
Toastmasters provides a supportive and fun learning environment where members develop strong communication and leadership skills.
For information, email admin@waimeatoastmasters.org, contact Gail Lewis, 937-9768, or visit www.waimeatoastmasters.org
Internet workshop March 30
The Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library of the Hawaii State Public Library System will host Using the Internet, a workshop designed for beginners, from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 30, in the library meeting room.
All participants must bring their own device. The event is free and open to the public.
Arthur Goshtasby, an emeritus professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Wright University in Ohio, will lead the course.
The workshop will describe internet basics and introduce various information and services available online. Topics covered include using online dictionaries, finding articles and books, searching for jobs; creating, sending, and receiving email, internet security and safety tips, and much more.
For more information, call 887-6067. The Thelma Parker Memorial Public Library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
WMS announces transition night
The transition from fifth to sixth grade and middle school is one of the most exciting experiences in a child’s life. The school environment changes from one or two classrooms to five to seven classrooms with many more teachers and staff to interact with on a daily basis. Academic and behavior expectations are ratcheted up. The need to become better organized is critical.
To help Waimea families prepare for this and know the choices they have, Waimea Middle School will host a student-led transition night for all Waimea families with current fifth graders on Wednesday, March 13, from 5-6:15 p.m. It’s free and families are encouraged to bring their fifth-grader along.
The evening will begin in K-Courtyard immediately behind the middle school office with sign in, pickup of a family passport and visits to sixth grade classrooms for a student-led glimpse of class work and enrichment opportunities. Families will meet the sixth-grade teacher team, school leadership and staff, and have time to ask questions.
Then, at 5:30, 5:45 and 6 p.m., current seventh- and eighth-grade leadership students will take families on a campus tour that will include a visit to the Mala’ai School Garden and the school’s new nine-classroom STEAM Learning Center. The tour will conclude with paniolo themed light refreshments.
Door prizes will include student-safe clear water bottles and clear backpacks. Families become eligible for door prizes by calling in an RSVP to 887-7646 or stopping by the school office. All guests also will receive a spork, a fork-spoon combo made of bamboo to use for dinner and then take home and reuse to reduce waste and carbon footprint.
For more information about WMS, call the school (887-6090 ext. 222), go to www.WaimeaMiddleSchool.org or www.Facebook.com/WaimeaMiddleSchool.