Marshallese celebrate constitution day
On Friday May 4, the Marshallese community, service providers and guests came together at the Old Airport pavilion to celebrate the anniversary of the official signing of their constitution.
The independence of the Marshall Islands is a fairly recent one. It wasn’t until May 1, 1979 that it brought about an internal self-government and became officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Before that, it was part of the U.S. Trust Territories with other neighboring islands in the Pacific. Today, the RMI government is headed by a president elected by a unicameral 33-member Parliament, or in Marshallese, “the Nitijela.”
Friday’s ceremony was attended by several official state and county representatives of Hawaii. Susan Kim, representative from Governor David Ige’s office, read his proclamation honoring the contributions of the Marshallese community in Hawaii. Dona Urban, representative from Mayor Harry Kim’s office, read a proclamation emphasizing the richness of Hawaii’s diversity with the contributions of Marshallese customs and beliefs.
Organized by BIMCA (Big Island Marshallese Community Association), local Marshallese high school girls dressed in the national colors of orange, blue and white, sang the national anthems of both the Marshall Islands and the U.S. Following that, the girls did several traditional dances and then ceded the stage to the band, which sang traditional and modern songs to entertain the audience. The ceremony concluded with a potluck for speakers, performers and guests alike.
School supplies and your assistance needed
For the past five years the Friends of the Children of West Hawaii have held the annual “Supply Our Students” school supply drive in West Hawaii in order to provide school supplies to the children of West Hawaii it serves. Friends of the Children of West Hawaii invites any organizations interested in working with it to join and make S.O.S. not just a Friends of the Children of West Hawaii project, but a WEST HAWAII project.
The current outline for S.O.S. 2018 includes a kick-off event in June, followed by several weeks of school supply collection through various community partners. S.O.S. plans to hold a major collection day at Kona Walmart on July 14.
For info or to join in this effort, email jeff@fcwh.org.
Auntie’s Angels seeks community help
Auntie’s Angels – Big Island will hold its monthly Soup Kitchen and Pantry on May 26 for the tenants of low-income Hualalai Elderly Housing. The charity seeks the community’s help with donations of fresh fruit and vegetables, along with canned goods.
To donate: 329-7897.