HVNP announces December programs
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will offer several Hawaiian culture and After Dark in the Park programs in December. The programs are free, but park entrance fees apply.
Hawaii Nei Saturday. This juried art show celebrates the native plants and animals of the five national parks on Hawaii Island and the human connection to these places. It is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Wailoa Center, 200 Piopio St., Hilo. Info: www.hawaiineiartcontest.org.
Gorillas, Volcanoes and World Heritage of Virunga National Park. Founded in 1925, Virunga National Park became the first national park on the continent of Africa. Join travel writer and Virunga advocate Kimberly Krusel as she offers a virtual visit to what has been called the most biologically significant park in Africa. It is at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
Kapa Making. Feel the texture and designs of Hawaiian bark cloth created by skilled practitioner Joni Mae Makuakane-Jarrell. Kapa is the traditional cloth used by native Hawaiians for clothing. It is from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday on the Kilauea Visitor Center lanai.
After Dark in the Park: Kilauea Military Camp, Once a Detainment Camp. Most people are unaware that Kilauea Military Camp in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was used as a Japanese detainment camp during World War II. Park Archeologist Dr. Jadelyn Moniz-Nakamura will discuss the experience and subsequent detention of Japanese-Americans here. The talk is at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 in the Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
Centennial Hike: Kilauea Military Camp. Park staff will lead a revealing walk through Kilauea Military Camp. Planned at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 17, the walk will last about an hour. Meet at the flagpole at Kilauea Military Camp.
Kahuku Ohana Day. Keiki age 17 and younger and their families are invited to journey into the past on the new Puu Kahuku Trail in the Kahuku Unit in Ka’u from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 17. They will create their own piece of Hawaiian featherwork. Call 985-6019 by Friday to register. Bring lunch, snacks, a reusable water bottle, water sunscreen, hat, long pants and shoes. Enter on the mauka side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5 and meet near the parking area.
Find Your Park on the Big Screen: Acadia National Park. Learn about Maine’s iconic national park in the new film, “A Second Century of Stewardship: Science Behind the Scenery in Acadia National Park,” by filmmaker David Shaw. It will be shown at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 in the Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
Kenneth Makuakane in concert. Multiple award-winning songwriter Kenneth Makuakane will perform from 6:30-8 p.m. Dec. 21 in the Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
Locally owned bookstore celebrates 10 years in business
While local retailers nationally observed Small Business Saturday last weekend, one of Kona’s own local businesses celebrated its 10-year milestone. Locally owned Kona Stories Bookstore opened at Mango Court in November 2006 and moved to Keauhou Shopping Center in 2010.
To celebrate its anniversary, the bookstore served homemade sangria and carrot cake made by Island Naturals. The Island Naturals cookbook author was present to sign cookbooks for gifts. There were door prizes and in-store specials. Around 500 people came out to celebrate.
It took more guts than experience for two novice business owners to move to Kona and open the independent bookstore 10 years ago. On the eve of celebrating the 10th anniversary, Kona Stories, co-owner Brenda McConnell reminisced about the last 10 years. “And sure enough, we’re here and Borders isn’t!” she said.
The large-box retailer was the only bookstore in the area when she and co-owner Joy Vogelgesang moved to Kona after meeting at a book club in California.
“We weren’t too intimidated and the recession hadn’t happened yet in 2006 when we opened in Mango Court in Kainaliu. We were confident, the economy was booming, and there was a need for a more personal bookstore.”
After Borders went out of business in 2011, data from the American Booksellers Association shows a steady increase in independent bookstores filling the gap, according to a Feb. 25 article in the New York Times.
McConnell and Vogelgesang feel people will never lose their passion for holding a real book in their hands. Realistically, they know the market changes and so has their merchandise. At first, sidelines made up about 10 percent of their business where now they total more like 35-40 percent. This trend is matched nationwide.
One or the other of the two owners is usually in the store, where they have gotten to know their frequent customers personally, often keeping a list of their reading preferences and phoning them when something comes in.
“There are lots of people that come back and visit every year. We get to know the families and watch the keiki grow up,” said McConnell.
Info: konastories.com, 324-0350.