* TODAY
• Blood Bank of West Hawaii Blood Drive, 7 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the LDS Kona Stake. Appointments and info: 848-4770 or visit Bloodbanktough.org.
• Parker School Kindergarten and First Grade Preview Admission Event, 8:15-10 a.m. at Parker’s Lower School, 65-1167 Kapiolani Road, Waimea. Come see why Parker School is a great place to learn and grow. Tour the lower school campus, observe a class in session, and hear presentations from grade level faculty and specialists. Free; adults only. Register/RSVP: https://www.parkerschoolhawaii.org/admissions.
• “Coffee with a Cop” at the Kailua-Kona Public Library, 9-11 a.m.
• Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise meeting, 7 a.m. at VFW Post 12122, 74-5543 Kaiwi St., Kailua-Kona. Guest speaker Mayor Harry Kim, County of Hawaii, on “A Way Forward” with TMT. Info: Barbara Kossow, 323-4444.
* THURSDAY
• Bread baking at the Portuguese stone oven, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Kona Historical Society. Info: konahistorical.org, 323-3222.
• Free Thursday night movies at Privateer’s Cove, 75-170 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona. Family movie at 6 p.m.; cult classic at 9 p.m.
* FRIDAY
• Mauna Kea Quilters meeting, 9:30 a.m. to noon in the meeting room of the Thelma Parker Memorial Library. Business meeting, show and tell and sharing new ideas and techniques. Info: Becky Parkinson, 937-2159.
• Fifth annual La Ohana event, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Milolii Park, South Kona. Featuring health screening, insurance enrollment, cultural demonstrations, Hawaiian medicine, arts and crafts, food and drink, and live entertainment by local artists.
• Conservative activist and Baltimore Clean-up organizer Scott Presler speaks on local community activism, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mana Christian Ohana in Waimea; and 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Kona Educational Center, Seymour Botanical Gardens. Tickets $10, both venues will feature a spaghetti/beef stew meal. Info: Jeffrey Coakley, 443-8687.
• Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden annual Membership Meeting, 1 p.m. at the garden in Captain Cook. Regular Saturday morning weeding will take place from 9 a.m. until noon; garden tours will be offered starting at 11 a.m. Anyone can bring his or her own picnic lunch and eat it beneath the shade of our kukui trees. Info: Maile Melrose, 323-3378.
• Marine Corps Birthday Dinner hosted by Camp Tarawa Marine Corps League, 2:30-5 p.m. family style at Mai Grill by chef Allen Hess, 69-622 Waikoloa Beach Drive. Aloha attire recommended. Come celebrate the 244th birthday of the Corps. RSVP by Nov. 4 at 769-4870.
* Nov 10.
• Dances of Universal Peace, 5-6:30 p.m. at the New Thought Center in Kealakekua. The Dances are participatory simple circle dances and songs drawn from the earth’s sacred traditions, and other songs of peace. Newcomers welcomed, Dress casual, no previous experience or dance partner needed. $3-10 Donation appreciated, info: Swami 323-3344.
• Kona coffee cultural festival benefit, 5 p.m. at the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa. Culinary delights by local chefs, silent auction, music and dancing, and meet-and-greet with the winners from the Kona Coffee cupping contest and the Kona Coffee recipe contest and the newly crowned Miss Kona Coffee and Miss Aloha Hawaii. Tickets $50 general admission, $80 for VIP, online at www.eventbrite.com. Info: 930-4900.
• Fall Luncheon to benefit the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative, 11:30 a.m. at the Dusty Donkey Emporium, Waikoloa Stables. Lunch, bar, auction, entertainment, and an exclusive and eccentric silent auction and fashion show. Tickets online at https://waikoloadryforest.salsalabs.org/fall-luncheon.
• Meditation, Qigong, and a talk on “Happiness and Well Being from the Perspectives of Buddhism and Science,” 9-10:30 a.m. at the Daifukuji Zen Temple. The talk will be given by Harold Hall, Ph.D. Daifukuji is located in Honalo next to Teshima’s Restaurant, 79-7241 Mamalahoa Hwy. Info: 322-3524, www.daifukuji.org.
• E Mau Na Ala Hele presents an educational walk and talk, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. about coastal place names, land divisions and cultural landscape discussions in the ʻAnaehoʻomalu area. Dress for hot weather, and bring ample water and sun protection, plus lunch. Free, RSVP at marciedd@yahoo.com.
* NOV. 12
• “Coffee with a Cop” 7-9 a.m. at the Kona Commons McDonalds.
• National Active and Retired Federal Employee (NARFE) Kona Chapter 1802 meeting, 11 a.m. at Mai Grille, Waikoloa Beach Resort. Lunch will be ordered off the menu. Contact Mike Campbell at (208) 870-5126 by Nov. 7 to RSVP or for info.
* NOV. 13
• American Legion Kona Post 20 and Auxiliary monthly meeting, 3:30 p.m. in the Legion Bunker located at Privateer’s Cove. Post Officers meeting is at 3:30 p.m. and general membership meeting follows at 4. All veterans are invited. Info: Post Commander Rico Pacatang (808) 339-1828 or ricopacatang@gmail.com.
* NOV. 14
• Kupuna Singles lunch, noon at Chubby’s in KBXtreme bowling alley. Info: 326-1288.
* NOV. 15
• The Big Island Ukulele Guild showcase, featuring handmade stringed instruments built with a wide range of materials and styles, shown Nov. 15-27 at the Isaacs Art Center in Waimea. Info and hours: Luana Lincoln, llincoln@hpa.edu or 885-5884; www.BigIslandUkuleleGuild.org.
* NOV. 16
• Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Fundraising Gala, 5 p.m. at Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona. Tickets $125.
• Kauaha’ao Church Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the church campus on the corner of Mamalahoa Highway, Kamaoa Road and Pinao Street just above the Wong Yuen Store. The Church will be selling Kalua Pig Bowls, Smoked Meat bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, crafts, and more, and live entertainment will be provided by Hannaha’s Makana ‘Ohana Halau, Thy Word Ministry Praise Team, and Gene Akamu. Interested vendors can submit a Vendor Application by Nov. 10; email the church at: dwongyuen.kauahaaochurch@gmail.com, or call Debbie Wong Yuen at 928-8039.
* NOV. 23
• Kawaihae Canoe Club 25th annual luau at the Kawaihae Canoe Club site. Enjoy an outdoor luau with authentic food and great Hawaiian entertainment under the stars with Kumu Pele Kaio Halau Unulau, Tihati Productions and Lorenzo’s Army. Pre-sale adult tickets are $40 ($45 at the door) and children’s tickets are $15 for ages 5-10. Gate opens at 5 p.m. and dinner starts at 6 p.m. Coolers are welcome &please bring a designated driver. Malama i ka aina – KCC is plastic free. Info: kccluau@yahoo.com.
• Thanksgiving Dinners for Hualalai Elderly Housing, 5 p.m. The 20th-anniversary dinner serves turkey, homemade stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes, a side, and dessert to all three phases of the housing community. Info: Norma Matsumoto, norma@hawaii.rr.com.
* NOV. 26
• Bamboo Ridge Press presents its annual Wine and Words fundraiser, 6-9 p.m. at Manoa Valley Theatre. Featuring Filipino poet Elmer Omar Bascos Pizo, Sue Cowing, S. Lucas, and Mahealani Wendt and Scott Kikkawa. Heavy pupu and beverages will be served. $35, reserve your seat online at www.bambooridge.com.
* DEC. 4
• “Coffee with a Cop” 7-9 a.m. at the Kailua-Kona Public Library.
* DEC. 10
• “Coffee with a Cop” 7-9 a.m. at the Kona Commons McDonalds.