Free classes improve job skills
Hawaii Community College and the State of Hawaii Workforce Development Division are offering free Individualized Career Achievement Network workshops in Waimea, Pahala, and Hilo. The classes are designed for anyone interested in improving their reading, writing, math and workplace skills. Open to anyone over 18, these self-paced workshops prepare students for the workforce as they pursue a National Career Readiness Certificate.
Classes are continuously being held in Hilo, Pahala, and Waimea with ongoing enrollment in each program. Interested particpants may join anytime by calling program coordinator Carolina Sborja at 934-2700 or emailing csborja@hawaii.edu.
Clean Energy Fair held in Hilo
Hawaii Electric Light’s Clean Energy Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo. The fair kicks off Energy Action Month in October.
The Clean Energy Fair brings together organizations and businesses involved in resource conservation, energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives. This free event features educational exhibits on electric vehicles, energy programs and electrical safety.
For more information, call 969-0137or visit hawaiielectriclight.com.
Prescription drug collection event is Saturday
Hawaii Police Department is encouraging the public to participate in a nationwide prescription drug take-back initiative.
On Saturday, members of the public may turn in unused, unneeded or expired prescription medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Kona police station parking lot.
Tablets, capsules and all other solid dosage forms will be accepted. Intravenous solutions, injectables and syringes will not be accepted. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.
Having unused and expired medicine in your home increases the risk of prescription drug abuse and accidental poisoning. Proper disposal also helps reduce the risk of prescription drugs entering the water supply or potentially harming aquatic life.
For more information, visit dea.gov.
Community invited to Japanese cultural program
A free Japanese cultural program will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Daifukuji Soto Mission Social Hall at 79-7241 Mamalahoa Hwy. next to Teshima’s restaurant in Honalo.
Master rakugo storyteller Utasuke Katsura and master freehand paper-cutting artist Hana Hayashi will be featured. The performance is open to the public and is a centennial gift to the temple from the Saifukuji Soto Zen Temple of Yokohama, Japan. Call 322-3524 for information.
Lauhala bracelet weaving class offered in Captain Cook
A lauhala bracelet weaving class will teach participants about traditional uses of hala and how to prepare leaves for weaving.
The class is offered from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook. Cost is $10 for Bishop Museum members, or $15 for nonmembers. Class size limited to 15. Register by calling Cindy Whitehawk at 987-2662 or blossoming_whitehawk@yahoo.com.
Creekmur performs Saturday at library
Kenny C. Creekmur will perform at Kailua-Kona Public Library at 3 p.m. Saturday. The musical performance on guitar with vocals will feature music from the 40s through the 80s as well as Hawaiian music.
Sponsored by Friends of the Libraries, Kona, this program is free.
Federal employees meet
All active and retired federal employees are invited to attend a National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Waikoloa Kings Grille. The group will elect a new chapter treasurer. Members are asked to consider volunteering for the position. Lunch from the menu will follow the meeting.
RSVP by calling Mary at 883-9363 or Marcia at 882-7959.
National park offers volunteer opportunities Saturday
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park invites everyone to volunteer and help protect the park’s native ecology on National Public Lands Day Saturday. Park entrance is free.
Join park ecologist David Benitez and volunteers Paul and Jane Field to remove Himalayan, or kahiki ginger from the summit of Kilauea from 9 a.m. to noon. Loppers and gloves will be provided. No advance registration required. Meet at Kilauea Visitor Center.
Volunteers may also join ranger Nainoa Keanaaina from 9 to 11 a.m. to pick up trash along Highway 11 in the park. Meet Keanaaina at mile marker 40, approximately 12 miles from the entrance on the Ka‘u side of the park. Rubbish bags and safety vests will be provided. No advance registration is required.
Finally, ranger Dean Gallagher will guide a four-mile, three-hour moderately difficult hike through rainforest into Kilauea Iki crater, and explain why protecting this diverse ecosystem thriving at the summit of erupting Kilauea Volcano is important. The hike will be from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Particpants should meet at Kilauea Overlook.
Participants should wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and long pants and bring a hat, sunscreen, raingear, snacks, and water to these activities.
Volcano Art Center plans sale
Volcano Art Center will hold an arts and crafts sale from noon to 5 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday on its Niaulani Campus at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd. in Volcano Village.
The event is a benefit for Volcano Art Center.
Volcano fern hike planned
Naturalist Tim Tunison will lead a three-mile hike through seldom-visited and pristine Hawaiian forest during Volcano Art Center’s “Fern Lover’s Hike” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m on Saturday.
This section of the Natural Area Reserve System known as Puu Makaala is just outside of Volcano Village. The day includes field lessons in native plant identification and native rain forest ecology. Participants should be in average physical condition and bring rain gear, closed-toe shoes, a lunch, and at least one quart of water.
Attendees meet at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Cost is $50 and pre-registration is required. All funds benefit Hawaiian rain forests. Call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org to reserve a space.
Fundraiser supports Christmas party for homeless keiki
A fundraiser to benefit Project Hawaii will include a Texas Hold’em tournament and a silent auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at Waikoloa Association Community Center.
Project Hawaii is a nonprofit organization run solely by volunteers that is raising money to hold a Christmas party for homeless children. The event will also feature Coach handbags for sale at 50 percent off retail prices, food and games. The organization is seeking local celebrity volunteers.
For more information, visit helpthehomelesskeiki.org/allinforhomelesskeiki.
Wiliwili Festival honors dryland forest Saturday
The Wiliwili Festival will celebrate the native dryland forest and the wiliwili flowering season from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Waikoloa Stables in Waikoloa Village.
The festival will offer native plant sales, a silent auction and keiki activities. Arrive early for a chance to take home a free native plant. Attendees are asked to carpool. Those who arrive on a bicycle will receive a free shirt.
Forest preserve tours will be offered every hour, on the hour, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. A cultural perspectives workshop with Hualalai Keahuloa will be held at 10:30 a.m. John Keawe will perform at 11 a.m. The natural history of Waikoloa will be discussed with Jonathan Price of UH Hilo at 11:30 a.m. Kahulanui will perform at noon. A talk on composting and bokashi with Sam Robinson and Noah Dodd of Hawaii Recycles is planned at noon. Native plant propagation will be demonstrated by Jen Lawson and Jessica Middleton of Waikoloa Dryland Forest Initiative at 12:30 p.m. Fire preparedness will be discussed by Pablo Beimler of Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization at 1:30 p.m.
To sign up for a tour or a workshop, email jen@waikoloadryforest.org or call 494-2208.