Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announces March program schedule
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will host several Hawaiian cultural and After Dark in the Park programs in March. All programs are free, but park entrance fees apply, and a $2 donation helps support such programs.
Participants will learn how to transform coconut fronds into items they can take home during an ulana niu, or coconut weaving, class from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday on the Kilauea Visitor Center lanai.
Falsetto singer Stan Kaina and Leo Nahenahe o Pahai Kealoha will play Hawaiian music while dancers of kumu hula Ab Valencia’s Halau Hula Kalehuakiekieikaiu perform from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 18 in the Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium.
Beekeepers James Severtson and Carol Conner from the Paradise Bee Ranch in Hawaiian Paradise Park will present “Bees in Hawaii – Trouble in Paradise?” from 7 to 8 p.m. March 24 in the Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium. The program will cover a brief history of the introduction of bees to the Hawaiian Islands, honeybee biology, bee parasites, and Langstroth vs. top bar beehives.
Park rangers and cultural practitioners will share the art of ulana lauhala, or pandanus weaving, from 10 a.m. to noon March 25 on the Kilauea Visitor Center lanai.
Also, children of all ages are invited to learn Hawaiian lei making with practitioner Maile Napoleon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 28 at the Kahuku Unit of the park between mile markers 70 and 71 off Highway 11 in Ka‘u.
Call 985-6019 by Thursday to sign up for the program and a free lunch for keiki. Bring water, sunscreen, hat and long pants.
Speech therapist addresses brain injury support group
Speech therapist Teresa Cruzan will talk about how different types of brain injuries can affect speech during a Kona Brain Injury Support Group meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hawaiian Rehab Services.
Cruzan will also provide strategies for caregivers when a communication breakdown is happening.
Invited are all brain injury, stroke or other neuro-trauma survivors, their families and caregivers, interested professionals and the public. For more information, contact Hawaiian Rehab at 329-0591 or Karen Klemme at 328-9498.
Bead shop owner to address seniors
Kahea Weza from the Bead Bar of Hawaii will lead the Kailua-Kona Seniors in an activity at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hale Halawai.
For more information, call Dave at 345-1388 or Pat at 329-2424.
Free seminar on entrepreneurship held in Waimea
A free seminar for those interested in starting their own business or giving their business a boost will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Kanu o Ka Aina New Century Public Charter School, 64-1043 Hiiaka St. in Waimea. Registration is at 5 p.m
Register by Wednesday at hisbdc.org. For more information, call Jackie at 327-3680.
Mauna Kea Soil and Water meeting planned
The Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District will meet from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation District Waimea service center, 67-1185 Mamalahoa Highway, Suite 148.
If attendees need accommodation or auxiliary aid, they should call 885-6602, ext. 100.
Open house planned at Hawaii Montessori School in Waimea
Families of current and prospective students between the ages of 16 weeks old through 6 years old are invited to an open house at Hawaii Montessori School’s Waimea campus from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The campus is at 64-1058 Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea. Visitors will have an opportunity to visit classrooms, learn about the school and its programs, including financial aid opportunities, and meet staff members. Also on hand will be a representative from People Attentive to Children to provide information on the Preschool Open Doors program for children born between Aug. 1, 2010 through July 31, 2011.
For more information, contact Angeline Geldhof, executive director, at 885-7683 or angeline@hawaiimontessori.org.
Hawaii Island author releases romance novel
Big Island author Amara Cudney recently released her new novel, “Merili’s Wine.” The story is a contemporary romance set in Half Moon Bay, Calif. and Kailua-Kona.
Cudney moved to Waikoloa three years ago from New Mexico to continue her career as a writer. She is the author of several published short stories and poems.
She is working on a second novel, to be released this summer.
Kona Traffic Safety Committee meets
Kona Traffic Safety Committee will meet at 5 p.m Thursday to discuss traffic issues with public officials who can make a difference. Everyone is welcome.
The committee meets the second Thursday of each month in the Mayor’s Conference Room of West Hawaii Community Center.