Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. Just keep it going, please. Aloha and mahalo for everything you contribute to this column and our community. We are blessed.
—————
Hawaii Island residents are invited to a re-enactment of “Ka Lei Maile Alii — The Queen’s Women” at 1 p.m. today at Kuhio Hale, Waimea’s Hawaiian Homes Hall. This celebrated one-act play recounts a now-famous meeting held in Hilo in 1897 regarding the historically significant Ku‘e Petition.
This extraordinary petition — discovered in the National Archives of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., in 1997 and returned to Hawaii by Noenoe Silva — revealed what had been forgotten: That more than 90 percent of the Native Hawaiians living at the time signed the petition to protest annexation of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
The play is based on a newspaper article written at that time by Miriam Michelson from San Francisco, who attended that historic 1897 meeting in Hilo. The play, written by Didi Lee Kawai and performed by members of the Ka Lei Maile Alii Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, recreates what it was like to participate in the signing of the Ku‘e Petition.
Also on view today will be the original Ku‘e Petition sign display that toured the U.S. and was exhibited on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Large poster prints also will be exhibited highlighting names of kupuna of North and South Kohala and Hamakua who bravely signed the petition.
This program is free, and all are welcome. For more information, call Pua Case (938-5550) or email puacase@hawaiiantel.net.
—————
The Honokaa Elementary Association, HEA, will sponsor the Scholastic “All Star Book Fair Family Event” this Friday, Nov. 30, from 5-8 p.m. at the school cafeteria. Friday night’s events include guest readers, crafts, games, and lots of great books!
The All Star Breakfast is “Read More — Shine Brighter!” on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. (Please, it’s a must RSVP, so call Hilda Yagong at 775-8820, ext. 225. Saturday’s Book Fair hours are 9 a.m. to noon, also at the Honokaa cafeteria. On Saturday morning, invite the “All Stars” in your life to join you for breakfast and some special shopping time at the Book Fair.
Fill in and return the breakfast flyer available at the school office with the All Stars RSVP. For questions or information call Hilda. The school is looking for volunteers for these Friday events: setup after 1 p.m.; craft and game assistants and Book Fair security/helpers. Volunteers are needed on Saturday also as breakfast helpers, Book Fair security/helpers, and finishing with the breakdown after noon for approximately one hour.
Come and help make it an “Award Winning Event.” Join the school in helping to make our “Readers Shine.” And, encourage your child to read every day; fill in the reading log for awards and prizes.
—————
Hawaii Preparatory Academy is proud to present the award-winning Honokaa High School Jazz Band in concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2, at HPA’s Gates Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and can be purchased from all band members, at the HPA Bookstore, Waimea Music Exchange, and Café Il Mondo in Honokaa.
Come and enjoy featured student vocalists Camelia Witt, Kayla Maikui and Emma Reddekop and talented instrumental soloists, who include Elizabeth Sekona (violin), Cortney Oshiro (alto sax), CJ Carvalho (tenor sax), and Emma Reddekop (piano).
Since 1978, when Gary Washburn joined the Honokaa High School faculty as band director, the school’s jazz band has grown to be one of the state’s top high school bands. The group has won numerous awards and recognition locally and nationally, including the Alliance for the Arts Award (2007), National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Award for “Best Community for Music Education” (2010), and the prestigious Grammy Signature School award (2011), which was awarded to just 36 schools nationwide.
The band has been recognized by the Hawaii State Senate and House of Representatives, and in 2012, Gov. Neil Abercrombie proclaimed April 20 as “Honokaa Jazz Band Day” in the state of Hawaii.
—————
Aloha Hawaii Yarn Spinners & Fiber Friends! The second November meeting has been rescheduled to Friday, Nov. 30. It is at the same place and time — the NHERC, North Hawaii Education and Research Center, building in Honokaa from 1 to 4 p.m. Yarn Spinners meetings are fun. Several meetings ago, a report about the Taos Wool Festival was shared along with the showing of some lovely fiber: lots of “oohs” and “aahs” over that stash of “souvenirs.”
The “Hawaii Yarn Spinners” group has expanded to “Hawaii Yarn Spinners & Fiber Friends,” since there are now folks who come to the meetings to knit, crochet and felt various yarns and fibers. Hawaii Yarn Spinners welcomes just about any handcrafter; spinning isn’t all they do, although most of the handcrafts do seem to have some sort of fiber in them.
Or, if you just want to come chat at the meetings and eat cookies, that’s good too.
—————
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.
