National park programs scheduled
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will host several cultural programs in December. All programs are free, but park entrance fees apply.
Oral Abihai will share his passion for making ukulele from discarded or naturally fallen pieces of wood from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 10 on the Kilauea Visitor Center lanai.
John Keawe will perform a holiday concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 on the Kilauea Visitor Center lanai. Doors open at 6:30. This program also features hula performed by Keawe’s wife, Hope. The concert is free, but a $2 donation helps support After Dark programs.
Kenneth Makuakane will perform from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Kilauea Visit Center auditorium.
Find posters of these events on the park website at nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/events.htm.
Lower Puna residents asked to complete survey
Residents of Lower Puna who may be affected by the lava flow are being asked to complete a survey that will help agencies and organizations better direct their resources.
Lower Puna residents can access the survey by visiting kokuapuna.org and clicking on the blue “Surveys” button. A paper version is also available and can be dropped off at a box at the Civil Defense Command Center at the Community Center in Pahoa.
Blood donors can inspire others to give
Blood Bank of Hawaii is looking for blood recipients to share their stories and inspire others to donate blood. Stories may be shared at stories@bbh.org.
December siren testing rescheduled
Monthly testing of the statewide outdoor siren warning system, coordinated with the Emergency Alert System’s live audio broadcast test, is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Tuesday. Officials rescheduled December’s test to avoid conflicts with statewide inauguration activities.
When the siren signal is sounded, tune to any local radio or television station for information and instructions. Participating stations will carry a detailed explanation of what the sirens mean and other related information.
The siren test is a steady one-minute tone that alerts the public to any emergency that may pose a threat to life and property, including natural hazards, terrorist incidents or acts of war.
County disaster preparedness information is located in the front section of telephone directories. To report siren operations issues, call 935-0031.
Senior ID cards issued
The Hawaii County Coordinated Services for the Elderly Program of the Elderly Activities Division will issue senior ID cards for seniors 60 years and older from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Kailua-Kona Kmart.
Staff will also issue cards from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 9 at the L. Yoshimatsu Senior Center in Waimea; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 17 at the West Hawaii Civic Center, Building B; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 19 at Yano Hall in Captain Cook.
For more information, call 961-8777.
Senior Roundtable Hui discusses making resolutions, smoking
The Senior Rountable Hui will discuss aging and New Year’s resolutions with input from the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Hawaii from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Pink Mocha Cafe just above Home Depot.
The Hui is a gathering of people interested in aging issues. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month. There is no charge for the meeting other than for coffee or tea.
For more information, call Laura Guluzzy at 326-2100.
Hokulia owners form community and scholarship fund
The owners of Hokulia have formed and funded the Hokulia Community Fund and the Hokulia Scholarship Fund both at Hawaii Community Foundation with an initial donation of $100,000.
Grants to qualified community nonprofit organizations and college scholarship awards from these funds will be administered by Hawaii Community Foundation. Guidance on Hokulia Community Fund awards will be provided by leaders from West Hawaii working with staff of the Hawaii Community Foundation.
First-year Hokulia Community Fund grants range from $3,000 to $15,000 and include Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, Kailua Village Business Improvement District, Hawaii Island Hoops, Inc., Kona Pacific Public Charter School, Hawaii Forest Institute, The Kohala Center, Inc., West Hawaii Community Health Center, Big Island (West Hawaii) Mediation, Inc., PATCH (People Attentive to Children) and Kupu.
College-bound undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to complete the Hawaii Community Foundation online application beginning Dec. 1. Preference will be given to residents of North and South Kona and first-generation college students. Recipients will be required to demonstrate financial need and have a high school GPA above 2.7. Awards will be in the $3,000 to $5,000 range and will support undergraduate and graduate students. Deadline to apply is Feb. 19, 2015.