Former Bankoh building now serves seniors

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The County of Hawaii held a blessing and recognition ceremony at the former Bank of Hawaii Kohala branch, which will now be used by the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Office of Aging for expanded senior citizens programs.

The County of Hawaii held a blessing and recognition ceremony at the former Bank of Hawaii Kohala branch, which will now be used by the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Office of Aging for expanded senior citizens programs.

The building, on Akoni Pule Highway in Kapaau near the Kamehameha statue and North Kohala Civic Center, was constructed around 1900. Bank of Hawaii purchased the building in 1922, serving Kohala for 90 years before closing earlier this year. The Bank of Hawaii automated teller machine and depository will remain available at the front of the building.

The building had been severely damaged in the October 2006 earthquake. As part of the complete restoration after the earthquake, a photovoltaic system was installed, making the building energy self-sufficient and Bank of Hawaii’s first green building.

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The Grantsmanship Training will be held from Oct. 1-5 in Kailua-Kona. Co-sponsored by Kealakehe High School and North Hawaii Education and Research Center (NHERC), this course for grantseekers at public and private nonprofit organizations; takes participants through the entire grants process, from identifying the right funders to preparing airtight grant applications. The tuition is $895 ($845 for each additional registration from the same organization).

A limited number of partial scholarships are available for qualified agencies. To register, get more information, or apply for a partial scholarship, contact The Grantsmanship Center at (800) 421-9512 or www.tgci.com.

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The community is invited to the Kanu O Ka Aina Fall Programs. Offered is a wide array of programs at the Halau Ho’olako learning center. For more information call Te Benioni (890-2508) or go by the office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

The classes will include leihulu, Tahitian Dance, Tahitian drumming with terangi, beginning & advanced hula, genealogy class and turbo kick.

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Home School Wednesdays are at the North Kohala Public Library Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. on Oct. 3, 17, Nov. 7 and 21, then will continue twice monthly through the remainder of the public school year. Each one-hour session features hands on activities relating to books and libraries.

Students will also be able to explore their own areas of interest and research with the help of librarian Janet Lam. Program intents to offer activities where home school students can come together to experience terrific books, discover how libraries are organized, and have fun at the library. For more information call Janet Lam (889-6655). Please call three weeks in advance to request a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation.

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Hello ladies out there: The 12th Annual North Hawaii Community Hospital free “Girls Night Out-GNO” will be on Friday, Oct. 5, from 6-9 p.m. at a new location — Kanu o ka ‘Aina Public Charter School on Hi‘iaka Street on the south side of Kuhio Village.

This year’s theme is “Get Your PINK On.” October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and NHCH is doing its part to keep North Hawaii women healthy, happy and informed about breast cancer while also enjoying an evening with friends.

The evening will include dinner, massage, hair styling, manicures, make-up, energy work, acupuncture, breast cancer bingo, silent auction and door prizes!

To help support this community outreach event, the GNO committee is raffling the following three items, which are currently in the hospital display case, near the lobby: 1) Large quilt – “All Pieces Make Me Whole”; koa paddle and a lap quilt – “Wrapped in Pink.”

Tickets are on sale: One ticket for $5 or five tickets for $20, and can be purchased in the hospital’s Accounting Department, from Patient Financial Services or at the event. Winners will be drawn during the event and do not need to be present to win.

For more details or if you have questions, please contact NHCH’s event coordinator, Laurie Edmondson, at Laurie.Edmondson@NHCH.com or by calling 881-4425.

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The Hawaii Fire Department will be hosting its annual Fire Prevention Week community event on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1: p.m. at Hilo Bayfront. Fire Prevention Week will be nationally celebrated Oct. 7-13.

This year’s theme — “be rabbit ready, have two ways out!” underscores a simple fact: it’s not enough to have a single exit. The event will also focus on public awareness for fire safety education and fire prevention programs for both children and adults in our community.

Cooperating agencies such as State Airport Crash Crew, State DLNR Forestry and Wildlife, Pohakuloa Training Area and various volunteer fire companies have also been invited to participate.

Live demonstrations, interactive educational activities, various fire apparatus displays, food concession and the ever-popular “Bucket Brigade” competition are included in the festivities. Please contact Fire Inspector Kazuo Todd at 932-2914 to sign up.

Carol Yurth’s column is published every Sunday and spotlights activities on the Hilo-Hamakua coast. She welcomes items for her column. Reach her by mail (46-1240 Kalehua Road, Honokaa HI 96727) at least 10 days before the requested publication date, call her at 775-7101, or e-mail waiukahenutz@gmail.com.