Meeting discusses internships, college credits
The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce will host a Brown Bag Briefing, “Understanding Internships, Credit for Work Experience and Online Certification Programs,” from noon to 1 p.m. Friday at the West Hawaii Civic Center, Community Hale, Building G.
Presented by Hawaii Community College, Carrie Kuwada Phipps, West Hawaii coordinator for the Office of Continuing Education and Training, will share how to set up internships in a business, how to gain college credits for work knowledge and experience, accelerated and online college certificate programs available and additional information on work force development.
Attendees may bring their lunch. The event is free. Register at kona-kohala.com. For more information, call 329-1758 or email info@kona-kohala.com.
Hawaiian music, crafts and dance planned at Lanihau
“Hawaii Island Festival 30 Days of Aloha” concludes with music and dance at Lanihau Center’s Aloha Friday celebration Friday.
The arts and crafts fair opens at 5 p.m., followed by the arrival of the Hawaii Island Festival Royal Court at 5:45. Entertainment begins at 6 p.m. with performances by children from Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino, music by Meleuhane, and hula by Na Wai Iwi Ola.
Taste of the Hawaiian Range is Friday
Mealani’s Taste of the Hawaiian Range promotes agricultural sustainability from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.
The event includes culinary stations, food booths and agricultural-themed displays. Each chef will prepare 100 pounds of a specific cut of pasture-raised beef or locally sourced pork, lamb, mutton, goat or wild boar. New this year, seven of the 30 culinary stations will showcase a chef using local products from a specific rancher and farmer. These stations will identify those who contributed to the dish for attendees, as well as the meat cut used. In addition, participating ranchers and farmers are also invited to talk story with attendees at each station.
Pre-sale tickets are available through Thursday at a dozen islandwide locations and online for $45. They are $60 on event day. For more information, visit tasteofthehawaiianrange.com.
In addition to the main event, a pasture-raised beef cooking culinary demonstration will be given by Peter Abarcar Jr., executive chef of the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel at 3 p.m. Tickets for the class are $10. Also open to the public is a free 1:30 p.m. seminar, “A Primer on Local Beef” by local livestock extension agent and longtime researcher Glen Fukumoto.
Operation Christmas Child representative from Rwanda speaks Friday
The area team for Operation Christmas Child will host guest speaker Alex Nsengimana from Rwanda Friday.
He will speak at 8:30 a.m. at Living Stones Church, 76-6224 Alii Dr. in Kailua-Kona and at 11:30 a.m. at Ocean View Evangelical Community Church, 92-8977 Leilani Circle. Lunch is provided at the Ocean View talk. RSVP to Cindy at 301-707-2328.
After his mother died from HIV/AIDS while he was young, Nsengimana went to live with his grandmother and uncle. At the height of tribal unrest in 1994, the genocide claimed the lives of his caregivers. Nsengimana ended up in an orphanage where he once received a shoebox from Operation Christmas Child. Now a college graduate, he lives in North Carolina and serves with Operation Christmas Child.
Attendees will learn how to help needy children in other countries with the gift of a simple shoebox filled with gifts, hygiene items, and school supplies. For more information, visit samaritanspurse.org/Alex.
UnitedHealth Group helps members cope with approaching lava
UnitedHealth Group is offering a free emotional support line for those in the path of the current lava flow.
Members of Optum may call 866-342-6892. Optum mental health specialists will help people manage their stress and anxiety so they can continue to address their everyday needs. Callers may also receive referrals to community resources to help them with specific concerns, including financial and legal matters.
Along with the toll-free help line, emotional-support resources are available at liveandworkwell.com.
Plan participants who need help finding a care provider in the UnitedHealthcare network or obtaining early prescription refills can call the customer care at the number on the back of their medical ID card. Plan participants who have lost their card may call 866-633-2446 or download the free Health4Me app, which provides instant access to their ID card.