Hawaiian Cultural Center participates in Honokaa event
Volunteers of the Hawaiian Cultural Center of Hamakua will hold a Midway Kickstarter Party during Honokaa’s monthly First Friday event from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Ujiki building, on Mamane Street.
Attendees may view a simulation of the planned center with historical displays and watch artisans at work. Hawaiian music, hula, chanting and kupuna talk story sessions are also planned.
For more information, visit hccoh.org or kck.st/1vdR73g.
Vegetarian chef speaks Monday
Vegetarian chef Stephen Roullet, who owns Under the Bodhi Tree Restaurant, will speak about his journey from a traditional chef with a typical America diet to a vegetarian during a meeting of the Kona Vegetarian Society Monday.
A potluck begins at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6:30 on the second floor of Professional Plaza on the corner of Kuakini Highway and Hualalai Road. Nonvegetarians are welcome.
For more information, call Doc Martin at 327-0354.
Rotary Clubs announce upcoming speakers
West Hawaii Rotary Clubs will hear from several speakers this week.
Jen McGeehan from The Pregnancy Center will address the Rotary Club of Kona Mauka from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Teshima’s restaurant. For more information, contact Larry Kniffin at 557-1178 or maukarotary2014@gmail.com.
On Wednesday, the Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise will host Tracey Fosso, publisher of West Hawaii Today. The meeting will be from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. on the second floor of Humpy’s at Coconut Grove Marketplace. For more information, contact Bev Fraser at 936-9965 or rotarybev@gmail.com.
The Rotary Club of North Hawaii will hold its weekly meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Anna Ranch in Waimea. For more information, contact Joyce Riggen at 640-1930 or jmriggen@gmail.com.
David Hurd will share updates from the Rotary Youth Exchange program at the Rotary Club of Kona meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. For more information, contact James Resor at jcresor@yahoo.com.
Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Visitors are welcome.
Kona Stories March book clubs planned
The Kona Stories fiction book club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen.
A lesbian book club will meet at 6:30 p.m. March 17 to discuss “The Paying Guests.”
A nonfiction club will gather at 6 p.m. March 24 to review “The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History.”
The fiction book club meets the second Tuesday of each month, and the nonfiction group meets the fourth Tuesday at Kona Stories in Keauhou Shopping Center. No membership or fees are associated with these groups and monthly attendance is not required. Bring a pupu or beverage to share. A travel book club will start meeting in June.
For more information call Brenda or Joy at 324-0350 or visit konastories.com.
Project Grad planning meeting is Tuesday
A meeting to plan Project Grad 2015 for Kealakehe High School and West Hawaii Explorations Academy graduates will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Kealakehe High School library side room.
New volunteers are welcome to join the committee. A video of last year’s event is available at khsprojectgrad.com. For more information, call 896-1866.
Gentle yoga classes for seniors offered
Hawaii County Elderly Recreation Services is offering gentle yoga for seniors ages 55 and older.
The ongoing classes are designed to keep the body and mind active in a supportive setting. No experience is needed. Participants are asked to bring a yoga mat, a beach towel and water. Cost is $5 and due to the instructor at the beginning of each class.
Classes are held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Mondays and Fridays at Hale Halawai, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays in the gazebo at West Hawaii Civic Center and from 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays at Hale Halawai. Chair yoga is offered from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Mondays at Hale Halawai.
For more information, call Kelly at 323-4340.
Hawaii Community Caregiver Network receives grant
Young Brothers Ltd. recently awarded a $1,000 grant to Hawaii Community Caregiver Network in support of its upcoming conference for caregivers, scheduled for June 12.
For more information, contact Phyllis Hanson at 324-6645.
Applications sought for preschool tuition assistance
The Preschool Open Doors program is accepting applications until April 30 from families in need of preschool tuition assistance.
The program is operated by People Attentive To Children on behalf of the state Department of Human Services. Preschool Open Doors helps qualifying low- and moderate-income families send their children to preschool. Families with children born between Aug. 1, 2010, and July 31, 2011, may apply for the 2015-16 year, which runs July 1 through June 30, 2016.
For an application in English or Chinese, visit patchhawaii.org or call 800-746-5620.
Applications sought for Legacy Land Conservation Commission
The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife seeks applications for two vacancies on the Legacy Land Conservation Commission, a nine-member commission appointed by the governor to advise the department on grants from the Legacy Land Conservation Program.
The Legacy Land program provides state grant funding to state agencies, counties and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire and protect land. The commission consists of nine members and it meets about six times per year. The positions are unpaid, except for reimbursement of travel expenses. There are vacancies for a member of a statewide agricultural association and a member who is knowledgeable about Hawaiian culture. At least one of the two new members must be from Hawaii Island.
Applications may be submitted to the governor’s office of Boards and Commissions at boards.hawaii.gov.
Interested applicants may find more information at dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/llcp and can contact the program coordinator with questions at 586-0921.