About Town 10-20-12

Underwater photogs to meet Wednesday

The Kona Underwater Photographic Society meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Imin Center in Holualoa. Attendees will have the opportunity to view all entries and judge video entries submitted by members who recently participated in a photo shoot in West Hawaii waters.

The center opens at 5:30 p.m. Members and guests are invited to a potluck barbecue; bring a personal entree and a dish to share. The club will provide water and a grill. Time permitting, members will share recent images not entered in the competition.

For more information, visit kups.org.

Kealakekua library offers craft program

The Kealakekua Public Library will present a Thanksgiving craft program for children 5 years or older accompanied by a parent from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Participants will learn how to make a holiday paper pumpkin — samples are on display at the library.

This program is offered free to the public.

For more information, contact the library at 323-7585.

Park commemorates World Heritage Site 25th anniversary

Twenty-five years ago, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was designated a World Heritage Site for having “superlative attributes of universal value important to the common heritage of humanity.” In commemoration of the silver anniversary of this designation, and the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, Hawaii Volcanoes is offering free events both at the park and at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii.

National Geographic Traveler editor Jonathan Tourtellot will present an overview of World Heritage Sites, how World Heritage grows jobs, four common myths about World Heritage and America’s position in the global quest for World Heritage sites. The program begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Kilauea Visitor Center. Registration is not required.

Tourtellot, members of the park’s staff and travel industry leaders will take part in a World Heritage Anniversary Roundtable from 1 to 4 p.m.Thursday in Hawaii’s Plaza Ballroom at The Fairmont Orchid. The panel will discuss why having a World Heritage Site on the island is important, what this means to organizations and how businesses and groups can leverage this status in their outreach efforts. Reservations can bew made at eventbrite.com/event/4450461450/eorg or contact Jessica Ferracane at 985-6018 or jessica_ferracane@nps.gov.

Tobacco-free coalition meets Wednesday

The West Hawaii Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii invites the public to attend its monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Kona International Market food court. The focus will be on the 2013 West Hawaii Coalition’s Work Plan.

For more information, contact Brenda Larson at 939-9696.

Libraries offer free, high-quality Internet access

Thanks to a $582,000 Opportunity Online hardware grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and an additional local match of $388,000, Hawaii’s public libraries are now able to provide free, high-quality access to computer workstations at every library branch in the state. The matching funds were provided by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii; the Omidyar Ohana Fund, through the Hawaii Community Foundation; and Alexander & Baldwin Foundation.

“Funding provided by this grant will dramatically improve computer access at public libraries and provide the technology required to meet the growing needs of our communities,” said Byrde Cestare, Friends of the Library of Hawaii executive director.

The program is focused on helping libraries serving populations most in need and who are vulnerable to having their technology services become obsolete. With almost 40 percent of Americans still lacking Internet access at home, libraries are a critical link to technology for many who cannot afford the service on their own. Millions of Americans use computers and the Internet at public libraries to earn long-distance learning degrees, start and advance small businesses, obtain critical health information, research employment opportunities, learn English, find e-government information and more.