First Hamakua Sugar Plantation Day fest in August

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Coming in August, celebrate the first Hamakua Sugar Plantation Day Festival right here in Honokaa Town.

Coming in August, celebrate the first Hamakua Sugar Plantation Day Festival right here in Honokaa Town.

This is an all-day event from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. Join the potluck and talk story with friends from 6-8 p.m. at Honokaa High School’s cafeteria as you wind down from this exhilarating day of seeing old friends, reminiscing and reflecting.

The main dish of kalua and cabbage will be enriched with the many local potluck dishes and desserts brought to share. This entire event is free, and everyone is invited.

September marks the 20th anniversary of the closure of Hamakua Sugar Company. The day will include showings of various Hamakua Sugar Company videos, as well as picture slide shows from well-known local photographers at the Honokaa People’s Theatre.

The food booths are representative of the different ethnic groups that worked on the sugar plantations. Assorted cultural entertainment will spotlight this vivid heritage throughout the day.

The committee is seeking pictures and/or video footage of the operations or final harvest of Hamakua Sugar Co. to be included in a video that will be shown that day.

For information or any questions, contact Darde Gamayo at plantationdays@yahoo.com or call 640-8114.

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The NHERC (North Hawaii Education and Research Center) Heritage Center in Honokaa is looking for photographs of the final harvest of the Hamakua Sugar Company.

The center will scan the original and make a copy for their archives.

Call Momi Naughton at 775-8890 for additional information.

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‘The Ladies Of Aloha” — Ku’uipo, Darlene and Karen — will be in concert from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Kahilu Theatre.

These three superb singer-musician-entertainers — Ku’uipo Kumukahi, Darlene Ahuna and Karen Keawehawaii — share the stage in this benefit concert for the Ahahui Ka’ahumanu Chapter II (Waimea).

It is reserved seating. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 885-6868 or online at www.kahilu.theatre.org.

The Ahahui Ka‘ahumanu Waimea Chapter invites you to enjoy a Sunday afternoon of beautiful Hawaiian music mingled with raucous laughter. The Ladies of Aloha will regale you with nahenahe songs and “good fun” kolohe humor. Enjoy this rare opportunity to see the trio together on stage.

Kumukahi is a true artist of Hawaiian music. From her family comes deeply rooted traditions, knowledge and values, which she presents with the voice that made her known throughout the state of Hawaii, the continental United States and abroad.

Kuuipo is “The Sweetheart of Hawaiian music.”

Ahuna is one of Hawaii’s foremost female vocalists. She is a multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, including “Female Vocalist of the Year,” the highest recognition available from the Hawaiian music industry. She has performed at festivals and concerts in the islands and on the mainland, as well as headlining major performances throughout Japan.

Ahuna truly is the essence of the classic Hawaiian vocalist. Her powerful renditions of traditional, hula and hapa-haole Hawaiian songs soar with grace.

If it’s possible for someone to be humble and proud at the same time, Keawehawai‘i is that person.

Whether seated in the garage that doubles as her rehearsal room, surrrounded by drying laundry, or on a stage at a Waikiki Hotel spilling out homespun humor, the Hawaii-born entertainer boasts a commanding, almost stately presence. But it’s a demeanor that, once understood, is a common paradox as in the watchful serenity of an owl.

She is a mom, a grandma, a proud Hawaiian and a talented entertainer.

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Dan Petrill has been named chief financial officer at Hawaii Preparatory Academy.

Petrill, who currently is the school’s controller, will step into his new role at the school Sept. 1. He replaces Robert McKendry, CPA, who recently was named HPA’s head of school, effective July 1, 2015.

McKendry will transition to his head of school-elect position Sept. 1.

Petrill joined HPA in 2010. He has a wide range of accounting experience on Hawaii Island, including controller positions at Hawaiian Abalone Farms and MacFarms of Hawaii.

He previously was chief financial officer and co-owner of Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company.

Petrill earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University, where he worked for eight years as a senior financial analyst.

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Hawaii Procurement Technical Assistance Center (HIPTAC) will present a free workshop for small businesses from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Hawaii Community College Manono Campus Bldg. 379-1, Kaneikeao Room.

Business owners will learn how the government buys goods and services, how to become certified and registered on the federal, state and local levels and find government contracting opportunities.

HIPTAC is a federally-funded program that provides free services to small businesses interested in government contracts.

There is limited space for the workshop and registration is required by Aug. 8.

For more information, call SBDC at 933-0776.

To register, visit www.hisbdc.org.

To submit items for Kokua Way, email Carol Yurth at waiukahenutz@gmail.com.