Celebrate Ohana event Saturday
The fourth annual Celebrating Ohana event is Saturday at Keauhou Shopping Center.
The Neighborhood Place of Kona is hosting the free 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. event in observance of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The event brings together community partners and agencies to provide resources, games and activities for keiki. Kona youth and kupuna will also offer performances throughout the day. A light lunch is also planned.
Tour showcases wiliwili blossoms
The Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative is hosting two guided walking tours of the Waikoloa Dry Forest Preserve to showcase the flowers of the wiliwili trees.
Forest preserve tours are planned from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday and Saturday. Participants will meet at the junction of Waikoloa Road and Quarry Road in Waikoloa Village. Transportation into the preserve will be provided. A $20 donation is suggested for the tour.
Reservations: 494-2208, emailing wdfi@waikoloadryforest.org.
Scientific use of drones in National Park discussed
A meeting is planned to discuss the process for the scientific use of drones in National Park units. Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park’s plans of using drones to gather information about coconut palms on its grounds will also be discussed.
The meeting is from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the park amphitheater.
Over the past several years the park has noticed an increasing loss of coconut trees. An assessment of vegetation health using photogrammetry and multi-spectral analysis will provide information about these plants.
Press club hosts investigative reporter, author
The Big Island Press Club will host Jim Dooley, author of “Sunny Skies, Shady Characters: Cops, Killers and Corruption in the Aloha State,” as a featured lunch speaker Friday.
A longtime investigative reporter whose work led to the indictment of former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi on bribery charges, Dooley has focused his career on digging deep into Hawaii organized crime and yakuza, government contracting fraud, Teamsters Union movie driver violence, Bishop Estate/Kamehameha Schools, police corruption and secret land ownership huis in Hawaii whose members included political, judicial and criminal syndicate figures.
The event is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Kenichi restaurant, 684 Kilauea Ave. in Hilo. Cost is $20 for Big Island Press Club members, $25 for nonmembers. Buffet lunch includes chicken katsu, furikake panko salmon, yakisoba, salad, vegetable, beverage.
Register: http://jimdooley.eventbrite.com or send a check by Wednesday to Big Island Press Club, P.O. Box 1920, Hilo, HI 96721.
Zen meditation class at Daifukuji
Daifukuji Soto Mission will offer a free zen meditation class from 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23. Topics will include correct posture on a cushion, bench or chair and etiquette in a meditation hall. There will be emphasis on what to do with your mind during meditation. There will also be a review of the meditation resources in the temple library.
The class will be taught by Clear Englebert. The class will end with a meditation session and there will be time for questions.
Daifukuji Temple is in Honalo next to Teshima’s restaurant. Pre-registration is required. Call 322-3524 or visit daifukuji.org.