HFS scholarships
still available
HFS Federal Credit Union is still accepting applications for their 2019 Scholarship Program. HFS FCU will be awarding seven $2,500 scholarships for a total of $17,500 to graduating Big Island High School seniors who meet eligibility requirements.
Student members of HFS pursuing further education at a full-time accredited two- or four-year vocational-technical school, college or university are eligible to apply. Recipients will be selected based on a variety of criteria, including: academic performance, achievements, and community service.
Applications available at any HFS FCU branch location islandwide, or inquire with high school counselors. Completed applications with supporting documents must be turned in to the credit union or postmarked no later than Feb. 28.
Sayre Foundation donates to Waiakea rescue team
On Friday, the Waiakea Fire Station received $42,974 in needed equipment and training support from the Daniel Sayre Memorial Foundation.
Included in the gifting was a custom made Billy Pugh net, a transfer device for lifting victims and rescuers by helicopter to safety. This gift was made available through the Sayre Foundation by Kelly Ann Mrowinski’s family and friends.
Mrowinski, a 28-year-old traveling nurse at Hilo Hospital was swept away by a flash flood in the Wailuku River on Jan. 26, 2018 along with a hiking friend. The friend was able to swim to shore but rescuers were unable to find Mrowinski during an eight-day extensive aerial and land search.
During the search, the Billy Pugh net broke with two rescue workers in the net. The falling rescue worker was saved by his teammate but the Billy Pugh net was then unable to be used. Liz Mrowinski, Kelly’s mother, observed this harrowing scene and made an effort to purchase the new Billy Pugh net valued at $6,000 for the continued safety of the Waiakea rescue team of the Hawaii Fire Department.
Mrowinski was later recovered below Rainbow Falls after an additional flash flood on Feb. 25, 2018. The entire Waiakea rescue team and pilot Paul Darryl were nominated by the Mrowinski’s for the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation Award for Meritorious Service Above and Beyond the Call of Duty and were honored for their outstanding efforts on Sept. 1 at the 21st annual award’s dinner at the Fairmont Orchid. Kelly Ann Mrowinski was Bob and Liz Mrowinski’s only child and they are extremely grateful for all of the love and support that they received from the Hilo community and specifically the Hawaii Fire Department during this tragic event.
Also included in the gifting ceremony was a new fueling trailer that will be towed out to refuel the county helicopters. The current fuel truck has outlived its lifespan and is in danger of breaking down at critical times. Also included were ropes, pulleys and webbing for extraction rescues and handheld GPS units.
Speaking at the ceremony were Fire Chief Darren Rosario, Battalion Chief Garrett Kim, Hawaii County Council member Sue Lee Loy, Robin Nakayama representing the Mrowinski family, Dr. Frank Sayre and Laura Mallery-Sayre representing the Sayre Foundation.
The Daniel Sayre Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation formed over 21 years ago after Danny Sayre fell to his death in the back of Pololu Valley near Kapaloa Falls. Parents Dr. Frank Sayre and Laura Mallery-Sayre discovered that the Hawaii Fire Department faced a critical shortage of equipment and training needed to do their jobs safely and effectively. These were items that the County budget could not supply. In the ensuing 21 plus years, the Foundation has raised over $3.5 million, mostly from donations by Big Island community members.
The Foundation has an annual awards dinner and fundraiser on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend at the Fairmont Orchid Hotel in Waikoloa.
Info: www.danielsayrefoundation.org.
State looking for vols.
The state of Hawaii is looking for people to help serve in a variety of roles.
Anyone interested in serving on state boards and commissions, can go to the governor’s website athttps://governor.hawaii.gov/ to apply.
Info: 323-4542.
