Heritage tourism, bridge fixes, paddling on tap

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Ross Stephenson, historian and former keeper of the Hawaii Register of Historic Places, has been invited to make a presentation on the “Historic Maps of Honokaa.”

Ross Stephenson, historian and former keeper of the Hawaii Register of Historic Places, has been invited to make a presentation on the “Historic Maps of Honokaa.”

This event takes place this Friday, Feb. 28, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and again from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hotel Honokaa Club. He will present maps and photographs of Honokaa from 1889 to the present day. Special map drawings of Honokaa and Haina discovered in Japan identify 900 Japanese who resided there while employed at the sugar plantation. The Honokaa Historic Focus Group, Stephenson and others are updating, rewriting, photographing, and planning to resubmit the application, first applied for in 1976, for nomination to the Hawaii State Historic Register of Historic Places.

There are county, state, and federal financial aid programs designed to facilitate the repair of historic buildings, which can attract “Heritage Tourism.” Light refreshment will be served courtesy of Hotel Honokaa Club and Hamakua Family and Community Education.

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Sen. Malama Solomon is holding legislative community meetings at these locations and days, all from 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Monday, Feb. 24, at the Kohala Senior Center; Tuesday, Feb. 25, at NHERC, North Hawaii Education and Research Center in Honokaa; and Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Waikoloa Elementary School Cafeteria. The meetings will be held during the legislative session’s mandatory recess.

“The original legislative intent of the annual mandatory recess was primarily to enable Neighbor Island legislators to meet on-island with constituents to discuss priorities and concerns,” said Solomon. For more information, please call toll-free 974-4000, ext. 67335, or email sensolomon@capitol.hawaii.gov.

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Hawaii High School Rodeo is at Paniolo Park on these times and days: 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, and continues the first weekend of every month through May. Saturday is keiki and junior divisions; Sunday is the high school division. All lead up to the state finals, which also will be here at Paniolo Park. This rodeo is free, but donations are welcome and there is a food concession to benefit the program, which requires students to maintain GPA as required for other athletics.

The Junior Division State Finals are on May 9-11 and the High School Division State Finals are June 12-15. For more information, please call DeeDee Bertelmann at 325-5937, or email paniolomau@aol.com.

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Kukuiaonanipahu Stream Bridge, the wooden bridge on Ohia Street in Honokaa, will close on Monday, Feb. 24, to replace the wooden decking, stringers and sill plates and railings. The Building Division of the Department of Public Works will do the repairs. The bridge will remain closed to pedestrians and motorists until repairs are done, which is expected on or before Friday, Feb. 28. Bridgework is based on weather. Kukuiaonanipahu Stream Bridge serves the residents living on Ohia, Lokelani and Pikake Streets.

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The Kawaihae Canoe Club Keiki/Youth Program starts March 3. It is open to ages 11-18. Practices are Monday through Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Kawaihae Harbor. A shuttle van picks up participants at 3 p.m. at Waimea Community Center, and returns them to the center at 5:30 p.m. For more information, please call 937-4700 or 987-2819 and ask for canoe club info.

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The public is invited to “Parenting For Prevention,” a presentation at the North Kohala Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24. Chris Kelly, founder of Prevention PLUS, will offer important educational information about parenting drug-free kids in a drug-filled world. This event is for parents, foster parents, guardians, family members, teachers, administrators, coaches and counselors of children from elementary school to college age — and not just those who are using drugs.

The presentation will provide practical information about trends in teenage substance use and abuse. Attendees will learn how to deter experimentation and how to detect and react if use does occur. Kelly will present the most up-to-date science-based information to encourage healthy, sensible choices. The presentation will include a Q&A period. For info about presenter and program, go to www.preventionplus.info. To request special accommodations, call 889-6655.

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The annual Open House ‘Ohana Night at Punana Leo O Waimea is at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at the preschool adjacent to Kuhio Hale, Waimea’s Hawaiian Homes Hall. Come see what Hawaiian Medium Education is about – the teaching philosophy and program — and meet staff and families and learn about this expanding preschool-through-elementary program focused on teaching our keiki through the Hawaiian language and world view. Info: Maluhia O’Donnell (885-7166) or email maluhia@ahapunanaleo.org.

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“One World, One Love, One ‘Uke” is the theme of this year’s 21st annual Ukulele Festival at Hawaii Preparatory Academy. The event begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 8. The performance, which is free and open to the public, will be held at Gates Performing Arts Center on HPA’s Upper Campus. More than 120 students from Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Kealakehe Intermediate School and Waikoloa School will perform under the direction of Kuwalu Anakalea, Dagan Bernstein, Barbara Kopra and Georgia Polakova of HPA; Gloria Juan of Kealakehe, and Lani ’Opunui of Waikoloa.

Like King Kalakaua’s global trip in the 1890s and the Makali‘i’s upcoming international voyage, the ukulele also has traveled around the world. To represent the universality of music, the ukulele and the people of the world, this year’s festival will feature music, songs and dances from many cultures.

Beginning in Hawaii, students will take the audience on a journey into the Pacific through the Philippines, New Zealand, Japan, then moving on to Africa, Israel, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and North America. Highlights include Kawika, E Papa Waiari, Sakura, Greensleeves, Hava Nagila, and Tico Tico. Past themes have included The Magic of Motown, The Wonderful World of Disney, The Beatles, Lights! Camera! Action!, and Iz: The Man and His Music, among others. For more information, please call 885-2501 or 885-2500.

To reach the Kokua Way, email waiukahenutz@gmail.com or call Carol on her cellphone at 936-0067.