Hirako earns master’s degree
Justin Kiyoshi Hirako of Waimea graduated Dec. 15 from Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu with a master’s degree of business administration. He is the son of Jeffrey and Elaine Hirako of Waimea.
FOLK Book Club meets Tuesday
Note: West Hawaii Today is republishing this brief because it incorrectly ran in the Feb. 10 edition of the Big Island Entertainment Scene. The FOLK Book Club meets this Tuesday.
Friends of the Libraries, Kona Book Club meets at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, on the Kailua-Kona Public Library lanai.
This month’s selection is “The Sympathizer” by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
The winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, “The Sympathizer” is a gripping espionage novel and a powerful story of love and friendship narrated by a communist double agent, a half-French, half-Vietnamese, army captain who arranges to come to America after the Fall of Saigon, and while building a new life with other Vietnamese refugees in Los Angeles is secretly reporting back to his Communist superiors in Vietnam.
The club next meets in March to discuss “Euphoria” by Lily King.
South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee meets
The South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee meets at 4 p.m. today in the Waimea Civic Center meeting room.
Residents of North and South Kohala who have traffic safety issues with either the county or the state are asked to attend this monthly meeting and present their issues. The Waiaka Bridge, the intersection of Kawaihae Road and Queen Kaahumanu Highway and the need for a Kawaihae Road -Waimea bypass road will be discussed.
Info: Leslie Hall, SKTSCsecretary@gmail.com.
Healing traditions of indigenous people discussed
Hank Wesselman, PhD, will lead a workshop titled “Spirit Medicine” from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 at New Thought Center of Hawaii in Kealakekua.
Trained in anthropology, Wesselman has done extensive archaeological work in Africa. Author of “Spirit Walker” and seven other books, he studies and teaches the shamanic and healing traditions of indigenous people.
Info: 325-7441. Register: newthoughtcenterofhawaii.com.
Kupuna Singles meet for dinner
Kupuna Singles will meet for dinner at 5 p.m. Monday at Big Island Grill.
Info: 329-5163
Aloha Grown grants available
The Aloha Grown Malama Honua Fund is giving away five $500 awards to local nonprofits, schools, organizations or initiatives on the Big Island that embody Aloha Grown’s philosophy to support local, sustain the aina and share the aloha.
Interested groups must complete an application form and write a one-page essay explaining how their organization follows Aloha Grown’s philosophy. Essays must include the organization’s mission and vision, along with the specific project, program and/or effort that the $500 award would be used to fund.
Previous award winners have included Kohala Elementary School, Punana Leo o Waimea, Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture and Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. Their sustainability programs and efforts have included community gardens, aquaponics systems, keiki farm stands, culinary programs, and outdoor educational classrooms.
Submissions are due by March 31. The selected recipients will be contacted by April 28.
Info: alohagrown.com.