VFW hosts activities, golf tournament
VFW Post 12122, behind Kona Locksmith off Kaiwi Street, will host several events this week.
The golf tournament committee meets at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Pizza will be served with salad and dessert from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday for $5.
The Play with a Vet Golf Tournament is Saturday. To sign up, sponsor a hole or donate, contact Pat Pastor, 990-3841. Registration starts at 7 a.m. at the Kona Country Club. Fees are $125 per individual or $240 for a two-person team. Cost for those in the military is $100.
Info: Don Zero, PIO, (509) 879-1040.
Free vessel checks offered during Safe Boating Week
The Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer free vessel safety checks and boating safety information at Honokohau Harbor from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The event will kick off the annual National Safe Boating Week.
Each May, the Coast Guard Auxiliary partners with the National Safe Boating Council and other boating organizations to promote responsible and safe boating. Coastie the Safety Boat will be present as well as flotilla members available to carry out safety checks, answer questions and hand out brochures, coloring books, and safety themed giveaways.
Vessel Safety checks are offered free of charge to ensure that a recreational vessel’s safety equipment and registration information is in compliance with federal and state requirements.
If the vessel does not meet the requirements, an examiner will make arrangements to re-examine the vessel after the deficiencies are corrected. The safety checks are solely for the benefit of the boater and the Coast Guard Auxiliary is not a law enforcement agency.
Gardner graduates medical school with honors
Rachel Gardner, a 2007 Kealakehe High School graduate, will graduate with honors from Texas A&M medical school on Saturday in College Station, Texas. Gardner attended Konawaena Elementary and Kealakehe Intermediate schools before receiving the top GPA during her years at Kealakehe High School.
She completed her pre-med degree summa cum laude at Northern Arizona University in 2010. She begins her residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas in June. Her specialty will be ob-gyn.
She said she is grateful for the support she received from her Kona schools, Mokuaikaua Church and Rotary Club of Kona. Her parents are Sharon Carter of Wimberley Texas and Mike Gardner of Keauhou.
Kahaluu closed Wednesday, Thursday
The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation will close Kahaluu Beach Park Wednesday and Thursday for tree-trimming.
The temporary closure is necessary so crews may trim trees and remove the debris without creating safety hazards.
Kahaluu Beach Park will reopen at 6 a.m. on Friday.
Info: Jason Armstrong, Public Information Officer, 961-8311, jarmstrong@hawaiicounty.gov.