The Big Island Press Club is holding a special Torch of Light holiday luncheon at 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Pueo’s Osteria in Waikoloa Village.
The event will honor three outstanding professionals and also features a silent auction showcasing thousands of dollars in items including stay-cations at some of West Hawaii’s top resorts, dinners, excursions and more — all to benefit BIPC’s scholarship fund.
Retired Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge Daniel Foley is the recipient of BIPC’s annual meritorious Torch of Light Award.
In addition, the club is presenting a special ‘O‘o Award to Civil Beat’s Kevin Dayton, a BIPC member, for digging deep and creating groundbreaking news in his coverage of the state’s prison system.
The Member of the Year Award is going to Hawaii Association of Broadcasters President Chris Leonard for his advocacy of legislation allowing the transmission of electronic communications during declared emergencies.
After a series of federal indictments of public officials at all levels of Hawaii government, House Speaker Scott Saiki convened a special commission chaired by Foley that produced a collection of bills aimed at increasing transparency and stemming corruption.
Foley, in addition to guiding the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct — often dubbed the “Foley Commission” in the media — also attended hearings on and/or submitted testimony and met with officials about all 31 of the measures in the commission package, shepherding them through the process. While not all of the measures passed, a significant majority of them made their way through the legislative process to be signed by Gov. Josh Green.
Because of that, citizens have more assurance that it will no longer be business as usual in Hawaii government.
The event at the award-winning Pueo’s Osteria in Waikoloa Village includes a buffet luncheon featuring vegan, chicken and shrimp entrees, as well as soup, salad and dessert.
While some of the top items in the silent auction will be available for bidding only at the luncheon — including stays at the Aston Waikiki Banyan, Auberge Mauna Lani Resort and the new Rosewood Kona Village Resort — others can be bid online now at https://givebutter.com/c/1kOvRB/auction.
Tickets are $42 for BIPC members and $50 for nonmembers. Seating is limited. Ticket deadline is today, and the link to purchase tickets is at www.bigislandpressclub.org.