Family fun day planned at Lanihau
Lanihau Center will host a Springtime Hop fun family day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.
Bring a camera and take a picture with the Easter Bunny from 10 a.m. to noon. Spring arts and crafts for the keiki with Ace Hardware and musical entertainment by Iliahi Elementary Ukulele Group from Oahu are also planned. The Kendama Challenge by Oshima Surf &Skate will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register at Oshima Surf &Skate at 10 a.m. Breakers Bench by Stylin’ will be from 1 to 5 p.m.
Volunteers sought to remove invasive plants
Volunteers are sought to protect the ecosystem from invasive, nonnative plant species at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The “Stewardship at the Summit” program will be held from 9 a.m. to noon today, April 12, 18, 23, 30, May 9, 17, 23, 30, and June 6, 13, 20, and 27.
Volunteers should meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at 9 a.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. No advance registration is required, and there is no cost to participate, but park entrance fees apply.
Volunteers have restored more than 15 acres of native rainforest in the park in the past year.
Swim Festival benefit planned for today
Liquid Aloha Aquatics, North Kohala’s USA Swimming-sanctioned competitive swim team, will host a family-oriented Swim Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.
Activities will include pool games, food booths, prize drawings and live entertainment. Team swimmers are also accepting pledges and will swim laps to earn donations.
Funds raised will benefit the swim team, and will be used to make repairs to leaking pool roofs, provide scholarships for children to attend summer swim classes, and purchase lifeguard rescue tubes for the Kohala coastline.
The team is seeking donations for a silent auction. To make a donation, call team treasurer Vicky Kometani at 640-3364.
Buddha Day observed Sunday
A Buddha Day Celebration, sponsored by the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists, will be held from 6 to 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple social hall.
A service honoring the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha will be followed by taiko performances and zumba. This event is free and open to the public. Kona Hongwanji is located in Kealakekua between Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank.
For more information, call 322-3524 or 323-2993.
Dances of Universal Peace held Sunday
Dragonfly Ranch will host Dances of Universal Peace led by Alicia “Merlady” Bonnet from 4:30 p.m. to sundown Sunday. Donations of $10 to $20 will be accepted.
Bonnet has been a guide of the dances for more than 35 years. Her life-affirming chants and songs are available at aliciabonnet.com.
Directions to the Dragonfly Ranch can be found at dragonflyranch.com. Call 238-1906 for more information.
Hawaiian Electric president gives energy talk
Hawaiian Electric Co. president and CEO Dick Rosenblum will be the featured speaker during a Friends of NELHA energy lecture at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Gateway Visitor Center.
He will present “Energy Resource Optimization: What’s Best for Hawaii?” at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Admission is free.
Call 329-8073 for more information on the series.
VFW swap meet scheduled today
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12122 will hold its monthly community swap meet from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Food and drinks will be available.
For more information, call 326-5675.