VFW Post lists events this week
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12112 is located behind Kona Locksmith off Kaiwi Street. The following events will be conducted for the week of August 30th:
Free coffee is served starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Veterans are invited to meet for camaraderie with others who have served honorably.
Korean War Veterans Association meets at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Monthly VFW meeting is at 11;30 a.m. Saturday Speaker will be Mike Fraser, past Kona Sunrise Rotary president, who will discuss the club’s community and veterans involvement.
Daily lunch will continue to be served at the post from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. by Privateers Cove Catering at $10 for a multiple choice stir-fry and a soda.
For more information, call Don Zero at 509-879-1040.
Suicide prevention activities planned
The West Hawaii Suicide Prevention Task Force will host two activities during the September National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week:
A Suicide Survivor Candlelight Vigil will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at the beach pavilion at Kailua Park, also know as Old Kona Airport Park. Families and friends of loved ones who have died from suicide are invited to bring their stories and photos to share.
Suicide Awareness Walk begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the West Hawaii Today newspaper parking lot at the corner of Kuakini Highway and Kaiwi Street. T-shirts will be provided for participants of all ages.
For more information on either event, call 333-8988.
Human trafficking meeting slated
The Human Trafficking Task Force meets from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the West Hawaii Community Health Care Center meeting room in Kailua-Kona.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss human trafficking issues specifically on this island and identify ways the public can be proactive. This meeting is open to the public. Pupu will be served. Bring something to share.
Contact Melody Stone for more information at 641-210-9798.
College information available Saturday
Carrie Kuwada Phipps, educational specialist with Hawaii Community College – Palamanui and the University of Hawaii Center, West Hawaii will be at the Kailua-Kona Public Library from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday presenting information on higher education opportunities at the new campus.
She will talk about associate degrees offered by HCC — Palamanui campus and the more than 40 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral degrees and post-graduate certificates offered through the UH Center, West Hawaii at Palamanui.
For more information, contact Carrie at 969-8808 or carriekp@hawaii.edu.
Mauna Kea Quilters meeting set
Mauna Kea Quilters will meet from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 12 in the meeting room of the Thelma Parker Memorial Library in Waimea.
A business meeting, show and tell and sharing of new ideas and techniques will be included.
Mauna Kea Quilters, started in 1997, is a group of patchwork quilters who enjoy sharing their love of quilting. Each year, the group donates quilts to help raise money for worthwhile organizations in the area, provides quilts to the police and fire departments, North Hawaii Community Hospital to those in need.
For more information, call Becky Parkinson at 937-2159
Wiliwili Festival planned Saturday
The Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative will host the fifth annual Wiliwili Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at at the Waikoloa Stables on Waikoloa Road.
There will be free, interactive demonstrations and activities for all ages, informational booths sponsored by environmental, educational and cultural organizations, a silent auction, workshops, native plant sales and plant giveaways. Live music will be performed by slack key guitar artists John Keawe and Sean Robbins, Rebecca Beralas and local Waikoloa reggae band Rootz Publik.
Guided tours of the Waikoloa Dry Forest Preserve will be offered every hour, on the hour, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Those interested in the 8 a.m. tour must sign up by email or phone prior to the event. Participants may sign up at the event or ahead of time for the remaining time slots. Transportation from the Waikoloa Stables to the preserve will be provided and those planning to attend should wear good shoes or hiking boots and plan for a one-hour roundtrip. Tours are offered free of charge as part of the festival but donations are encouraged and benefit the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
For more information or to sign up for a tour, contact wdfi@waikoloadryforest.org or 494-2208. Visit waikoloadryforest.org, and facebook.com/WiliwiliFestival for updates.
Kanikapila event to benefit WHEA
West Hawaii Explorations Academy presents its second annual Kanikapila Jam &Hoolaulea from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. at its campus on Kahilihili Street within the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park across from the Gateway Visitor Center.
The live concert will feature Hoku Award winner Kainani Kahaunaele, E Kolu Mea Nui with Grammy Award winner Sonny Lim, Warren and Tani Kaneau, Paani Pila, Na Kahua, Keola Grace, Kelii Tavares, G2G, and other artists.
Cultural activities will also be on offer, including lauhala weaving, sand petroglyph art and Makahiki games, all included in the ticket price. Tours of the new WHEA campus led by student docents will be offered free of charge.
Hawaiian plate lunches, poke bowls and snacks will be available for purchase.
Admission is $10 for adults and children over 10 years of age, and free for those age 10 and younger. Door prizes and a raffle will be held. Tickets are available for advance purchase at the WHEA main office; call 327-4751. Tickets will also be available at the door.
All proceeds from the event will fund science camps, software purchases, project materials and educational enrichment programs at WHEA.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 327-4751 or visit whea.net/planetwhea.