Voyaging canoe presentation is Thursday
Nahaku Kalei of Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail and her fellow waa crew member, Leimana Spencer, will share their experiences aboard the voyaging canoes Hokulea and Hikianalia. They will talk story, share updates of the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage and explain how to malama honua, or take care of everything that makes up our world.
The free program will be held in the park amphitheater.
Info: Ranger Charles T. Hua, 328-2326, extension 1241.
Hakalau open house canceled
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge has canceled its spring open house planned for Saturday to reduce the risk of bringing Rapid Ohia Death into the sanctuary.
Elks Clubs hosts western night
Kona Elk’s ladies auxiliary, Makoa Wahines O Kona, will hold its annual western night Saturday, featuring country ribs with all the fixins’ and dessert. There will be live music from 6 to 9 p.m. provided by Sons of Aloha.
Elks and their guests are urged to sign up, or call 329-2616 for reservations by Friday. Cost is $22 per person.
Info: Joe at 334-0077.
Recycle Hawaii announces school projects
Kahakai Elementary in Kailua-Kona is holding its 10th annual Recyclable Art Contest.
“The goal for this school-wide event is to raise awareness about what we throw away and put into our landfill. It is to remind everyone in the community to aloha aina (love our land) and protect it for generations to come starting with our keiki,” teacher and event coordinator Alisha DeGuair said.
Recycle Hawaii’s ASR Program invites K-12 students to create art or functional forms with reusable and recyclable materials. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math connections are encouraged in collecting, experimenting and working with various paper, plastic and metal materials. Completed projects will be listed for Environmental Education Week April 17-23.
Info: Marsha Hee, hiartrecycle@gmail.com or 985-8725.
Kona Hospital Foundation receives grant
Kona Hospital Foundation recently received a $100,000 grant to help fund a new cardiac telemetry system at Kona Community Hospital. The grant was donated by a family-operated philanthropic organization with ties to South Kona requesting to remain anonymous.
A telemetry system is a continuously electronic patient monitoring system. This tool allows hospital personnel to monitor heart rate, heart rhythm, breathing and other vitals at the patient’s bedside or from a remote location, such as a nursing station.
A Philips IntelliVue Cardiac System will replace the hospital’s current telemetry system, which must be retired by June. The new system will increase the hospital’s cardiac monitoring capabilities from 12 to 15 patients.
iPod donations needed for dementia patients
iPods For The Elderly, a new, no-cost service offered through a partnership with the Christian Women’s Gathering and Teen Tech Tutors, is launching on Hawaii Island.
Music can have a profound effect on Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Many are able to remember who they are, who their family members are, communicate and even sing. This concept was demonstrated in the movie, “Alive Inside.”
The community is being asked to donate their used iPods and headsets to help offset the cost of providing this service. High school teens involved in the Teen Tech Tutors program will empty and clean each iPod, then fill it with music according to the questionnaire provided by the recipient.
Info about iPod For The Elderly: Jen McGeehan, 747-2365, jenmcgeehan1@gmail.com.Info about Teen Tech Tutors: teentechtutors.org, info@teentechtutors.org.