OSHA workshop scheduled
Jeffrey Romeo, area director with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, will speak from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Fairmont Orchid.
The workshop will help general industry employers have an active safety program focused on prevention of accidents. OSHA uses the term “general industry” to refer to all industries not included in agriculture, construction or maritime.
Cost is $20 per attendee. To register, contact Wynn Warner, 847-4017, ext. 1002, or wwarner@ssshinc.com. Call Clifford Higa at 306-9910 to ask questions.
Community forum is Thursday
The next Community Forum sponsored by Community Enterprises will be at 6 p.m. Thursday in the County Council Chambers at West Hawaii Civic Center.
The forum will explore the role of money in politics and how it affects public policy and democracy in America. The program will cover recent trends toward income inequality, the evolution of corporate personhood in the U.S. and actions that can help return political power to the voters.
Guest speakers will include Kauai Councilman and former state Sen. Gary Hooser, who will discuss the power of corporate lobbyists at the county and state levels; Marvin Feldman, Kona resident and economist; Una Greenaway, Hawaii farmer, and Louise Feldman, educator.
The program will also feature an update of County Council business by a West Hawaii County Councilmember.
The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and pupu and beverages will be served. The program is free.
For more information about the meeting, email jbuckstead@hawaii.rr.com. For more information about Community Enterprises, visit konatownmeeting.org.
HPA Community Book Club planned
The Hawaii Preparatory Academy Community Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Dyer Memorial Library, upper campus. The meeting is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served and participants are invited to bring a snack to share.
Lois Inman, Dyer Memorial librarian, and Jaime Johnson, upper school English teacher, will lead the group in discussion of “Boy, Snow, Bird” by Helen Oyeyemi. The book covers the exterior and interior complexities of racial identity.
For more information, contact Jaime Johnson at jjohnson@hpa.edu.
Line dancing classes coming up
An eight-week session of line dancing classes begins Thursday at Kona United Methodist Church on Palani Road.
Beginner classes are from 6 to 7 p.m. and classes for those with more experienced are from 7 to 8 p.m.
The session ends May 7. Cost is $35 for the session, or $7 to drop-in for once class. For both hours, the session fee is $49, or $9 for one night. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and shoes, preferably no brand-new athletic shoes.
All ages are welcome and children younger than 12 may attend free of charge.
Call Jean at 328-9946 for more information.
Hopson named Officer of the Month
The Kona Crime Prevention Committee recognized Officer Marlin Hopson as “Officer of the Month” for March in a luncheon ceremony Wednesday at Huggo’s restaurant in Kailua-Kona.
Hopson was honored for providing assistance beyond the call of duty to two shipwrecked individuals. On May 18, 2014, Officer Hopson responded to a report that a 45-foot sailboat had run aground at Old Kona Airport Park. The couple on the boat had sailed from New Mexico to Hawaii. The owner, who is blind, lost his navigation aids on the way to Honokohau Harbor, causing the boat to run ashore at night. The pair managed to swim to shore but their belongings were left behind.
Hopson invited the couple to spend that night in his home and they accepted.
“Officer Hopson exemplified the Hawaii Police Department’s core values of compassion and community satisfaction, going above and beyond to help these victims,” said Sergeant Akira Edmoundson, who nominated Hopson for the honor.
As “Officer of the Month,” Hopson is eligible to become “Officer of the Year.”
Turtle talk is Thursday at Kahaluu
Kahaluu Bay Education Center turtle biologist Rachel Silverman will discuss the types of turtles found in Hawaii, why they are important to the ecosystem, what threats they face, and how to help to protect them.
The talk will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the park’s small pavilion. A $10 donation is requested to support education and conservation programs at Kahaluu Bay. Attendees will receive a free informational turtle card.
Call 887-6411 or email kahaluubay@kohalacenter.org for more information.
King Kamahemeha III celebrated through song, ceremony
Kamehameha Schools will hold a three-day tribute to honor King Kamehameha III.
Lani Kauikeaouli tribute festivities kick off at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay. Kamana Beamer will present “Kauikeaouli: A man of vision.”
On Saturday, a free concert on the Hawaii lawn at the Sheraton features John Cruz, Brittni Paiva, Natalie Ai Kamau and Meleuhane. The event also includes Hawaiian vendors. Students of Ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino and Kanu o ka Aina New Century Public Charter School will hold a Mele Murals live art exhibition throughout the day.
At 10 a.m. Tuesday, the Daughters of Hawaii, the Royal Order of Kamehameha and Kamehameha Schools will hold a tribute ceremony honoring Kauikeaouli at the place of his birth at Keauhou Bay.