About Town | 3-18-15

Sale benefits N. Kohala library

The Friends of North Kohala Public Library will hold its annual spring book and bake sale from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kohala High School cafeteria.

All books will be sold for $1 or less. Buyers also have the option of filling a reusable grocery bag with books for $7. Those interested should bring their own bags. Bargain hunters will want to be on hand from noon until 2 p.m. when the remaining books will be given to good homes for free.

The Friends are asking for volunteers to help with the sale and also for donations of books, media and baked goods.

Volunteers are needed to help with setting up the sale beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, as well as to help clear the remaining books following the sale on Saturday afternoon.

Books, CDs and DVDs in good condition may be dropped off at the library until Friday. Baked goods can be delivered directly to the Kohala School cafeteria on the day of the sale.

Donations are tax deductible. Library staff can provide receipts for tax purposes when the materials are delivered to the library.

The proceeds from the annual sale provide funding for library programs and materials at the library.

Call the library at 889-6655 for more information or to sign on as a volunteer.

Cream of the Crop event planned

The Kona Coffee Council will hold its annual Cream of the Crop event at the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay on Saturday.

There is no charge for entrance to the event, which runs form 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be coffee and dessert samples, live music and art displays. Free parking is available. Visitors will be able to purchase coffee and art and enjoy sampling some of the finest pure Kona coffees available.

Red Cross offers free disaster training for volunteers

The American Red Cross is recruiting disaster service volunteers in the Kona area. All training is free.

To become a volunteer, register at redcross.org/hawaii by clicking on volunteer, becoming a volunteer and apply now. Those who apply will be contacted about attending training.

Several disaster training classes will be offered at the West Hawaii Civic Center. “Disaster Services: An Overview” will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. “Shelter Fundamentals” will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. “Disaster Assessment Fundamentals” is planned from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.

Big Island’s Got Talent fundraiser is Saturday

One Holistic Place presents its fourth annual Big Island’s Got Talent Show fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Kawaihae Canoe Club site.

Tickets include entertainment, a silent auction and a healthy Hawaiian dinner provided by area restaurants. Amateur and professional performing artists will share a variety talent and celebrity judges will give feedback and talk story.

Adult tickets including dinner are $30 for general seating, $40 for reserved and $15 for the show only. Ticket prices increase at the door. The event is free for children younger than 6 and half price for children ages 6 to 10. Tickets are available at Gill’s Lanai in North Kohala, Kamuela Liquor Store in Waimea, Westside Wines in Kailua-Kona, Kiernan Music in Kainaliu and online at bigt.eventbrite.com.

Proceeds help One Holistic Place fund outreach programs for teens, young adults and families.

Lauhala bracelet class offered

A lauhala bracelet making class will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook.

Participants will learn traditional uses of hala and how to prepare leaves for weaving. Cost is $10 for Bishop Museum members or $15 for nonmembers. Class size limited to 15.

To register, contact Cindy Whitehawk at 987-2662 or blossoming_whitehawk@yahoo.com.

Makahiki season program at library

Friends of the Libraries, Kona is sponsoring a program on the Makahiki season in old Hawaii at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Kailua-Kona Public Library. The Makahiki celebration is a combination of New Year’s and Thanksgiving, dedicated to the god Lono, when competitions in hula, athletics and oratory were held.

Boyd Bond, local historian and master storyteller, will recount the history of this celebration.

Aloha Quilters of Kona meets Saturday

The monthly meeting of Aloha Quilters of Kona begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Living Stones Church, 76-6224 Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona.

The group is composed of quilters working in both traditional and Hawaiian styles. The group meets informally on the third Saturday of each month to share old and new ideas and techniques and to promote the art of quilting in the community. All are welcome.

For more information, call Eileen 328-8027.

Free smartphone classes offered

Verizon Wireless will offer free workshops at the Go Wireless store in Kona Commons.

“Android: Getting Started” will review hardware functions, demonstrate how to set up email, add social network accounts, master device features and how to customize a device. The class is offered from 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday and 9 to 10 a.m. Sunday.

“Apple iPhone: Getting Started” will review the features of an iPhone including maps, Siri, FaceTime and the app store. This class will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. March 28 and 9 to 10 a.m March 29.

Participants must register at vzwworkshops.verizonwireless.com/vzwworkshops. Workshops can be found by searching by location and topic. Participants may call the store at 326-9540 with any questions.

Amateur radio enthusiasts meet

The Kona Amateur Radio Society meets from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the south end of Wawaloli Beach Park at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. All members, friends and those interested in amateur (HAM) radio are invited. A potluck picnic will take place during the meeting and attendees are encouraged to bring an Irish/green dish to share.

For more information, contact Van NH7IT at 345-5008 or nh7it@arrl.net.