Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival returns
Feb. 4
This year’s Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival has a full lineup of free, multi-cultural performing arts and hands-on demonstrations, plus a multitude of crafters and food booths 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4., Look for the new pink banners in town identifying festival venues.
The 2023 event artwork is “Mejiro and Cherry Blossoms” by Kona artist Laurel Oglesby. The pastel was the winning art among a field of 13 chosen by the festival committee. Depicting a bird locally seen flitting among cherry blossoms, the painting has been reproduced on a limited number of collector posters available for $10 at Waimea Arts Council’s Firehouse Gallery.
Festival activities are at various venues stretching through the town’s center with free shuttle service between Parker Ranch Center, Church Row Park and Pukalani Stables. Parking is available at Parker Ranch Center, the soccer field across Church Row Park and along Pukalani Street.
The free handout, “2023 Festival Activity Lineup,” will be available at all venues to guide festival goers among activities. In addition, a free 2023 Souvenir Program will also be distributed to showcase the many organizations that put on the festival.
Presented by the county’s department of parks and recreation and community members, the festival marks the blooming of the historic cherry trees at Church Row Park and celebrates the age-old Japanese tradition of hanami, which translates to “cherry blossom viewing party.” After a seasonal winter chill, the trees typically are blooming in early February.
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Knights of Columbus Council announces gatherings
The Knights of Columbus Council 13227 will meet at 5:45 p.m. Feb. 13 at the St. Michael the Archangel Church lanai in Kailua Village. Also, from 7 to 9 a.m. Feb. 12, Knights of Columbus Council 13227 will be serving “coffee and donuts” at the church.
All visiting Knights are welcome to join. New prospective members can contact David Aragon at (808) 896-8455 at hauoli 718@gmail.com.
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Residents’ academic
achievements highlighted
Waikoloa resident Violet Freeney, who is studying neuroscience, was recently named to Bucknell University dean’s list for outstanding academic achievement during the fall semester of the 2022-23 academic year. A student must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a scale of 4.0 to receive dean’s list recognition.
Meanwhile, Naalehu’s Daniel Neal was among nearly 2,000 students to graduate last fall from the University of Iowa. Neal was a student in the graduate management programs whose program of study was leadership. The degree awarded was a certificate.
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