Big Island Republicans meet
A Big Island Republicans precinct organizational meeting will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Old Kona Airport Park Pavilion No. 3.
Attendees may meet with other Republicans, organize precincts and mobilize supporters of the GOP Presidential Candidate of their choice.
Voting in the presidential primary caucus will take place March 8. It is the only opportunity to affect what delegates will go to the Republican National Convention in July to choose the GOP nominee.
Woodturners meet Saturday
West Hawaii Woodturners will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pac Rim Glass Building in the Kohanaiki Industrial Area. Attendees should bring a lunch and a chair. Guests are welcome.
Info: Ralf Soderberg 640-0417.
Libraries closed for Presidents Day
In observance of Presidents Day, all public libraries will be closed from Saturday through Monday. Kealakekua Public Library, normally closed on Thursdays, will be open Thursday.
Info: librarieshawaii.org.
Living on Hawaii Island
“Aloha Spirit Day – the inside scoop about living on the Big Island” will offer information to newcomers and visitors from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Sadie Seymour Gardens Outdoor Circle Education Center, 76-6280 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona. Doors open at 2:30.
The day offers music, dinner and a photography exhibit. Speakers include Debbie Hecht and Jamie Pardau on Environmental Concerns, Karen Anderson on Finding a Hale for Happiness, Chris White and Betty and Lee Meyerson on Enjoying the Island through Tours and Activities, Rod and Sandee Crisp on Volunteering and Cindy Whitehawk on Cultural Insights through Lauhala Weaving. Mahina Saunders will explain Hawaiian music and instruments along with hula dancers. Bo Pardau will share his underwater photography after the buffet dinner.
The event is hosted by the Unitarian Universalists of West Hawaii.
Cost is $10 until Sunday or $15 after.
Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.org. Info: uuwesthawaii.org.
Holy Ascension Orthodox Church hosts archbishop
The Most Reverend Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco and the West will visit the Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Honomu. It is one of two Orthodox churches on the island and serves all Orthodox faithful. Visitors are welcome.
He will conduct vespers at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and a full liturgy at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by a potluck.
The church is on the road to Akaka falls in Honomu, 28-678 Old Mamalahoa Highway.
Info: HolyAscensionHilo.org, Irene, 430-0845.
UH-Hilo names interim associate dean of College of Pharmacy
Supakit Wongwiwatthananukit will serve as interim associate dean for the University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy while the university conducts a nationwide search to fill the vacant position. Former Associate Dean Edward Fisher announced his departure in December.
Wongwiwatthananukit, who is known as Dr. Supakit by the students, has been on faculty in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at DKICP since 2008. He is a patient-oriented researcher and licensed pharmacist. He earned his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Prince of Songkhla University, Songkhla, Thailand. He went on to receive his Pharm.D. summa cum laude at the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as his master’s degree in science and his PhD from Purdue University.
Auto Body Hawaii essay contest is on
High school seniors may showcase their writing skills for the chance to win $750 in Auto Body Hawaii’s fifth annual essay contest for high school seniors.
Past winners have been selected from Kealakehe, Parker, Makua Lani and Konawaena Schools. This year’s essay theme is, “What current events are teens in Hawaii most passionate about and why.” The deadline to enter is April 29. For a list of invited participating schools and contest rules, visit www.autobodyhawaii.com/essay-contest.
Info: Tracey Taylor, 329-2544, essay@autobodyhawaii.com.