The Hawaii Plantation Museum will be remembering sugar plantation history and culture by celebrating “Plantation Days” on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum in Papaikou.
We welcome all visitors and especially former sugar plantation workers and their families to visit our Museum at a reduced admission charge (special admission of $5 per person for kamaaina, with accompanying children 17 and under free). All other admission fees will apply. There will be special entertainment by Aunty Noe throughout the day, and snacks and cold drinks will be available for purchase.
We’ll provide plenty of opportunity to talk story and reconnect with old friends. Come share your most memorable plantation days’ stories about work, people, plantation camp life, food, recreation, etc. We have also planned some small-kine games and prizes for adults &keiki. Please join us for a leisurely day of revisiting the past and reconnecting with family, friends, and co-workers at the Hawaii Plantation Museum where the “art of conversation, plantation-style, still exists.” For more information, call the museum, Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 964-5151.
The closing of Hilo Coast Processing Co. on Sept. 2, 1994 — which included Hilo Sugar Co., Onomea Sugar Co., Pepeekeo Sugar Co., Honomu Sugar Co. and Hakalau Sugar Co., and the closing of Hamakua Sugar Co. in October 1994 — which included Laupahoehoe Sugar Co., Kaiwiki Sugar Co., Kukaiau Plantation Co., Hamakua Mill Co., Paauhau Sugar Plantation Co., Honokaa Sugar Co. and Pacific Sugar Mill Co., marked the end of an industry that prospered along the Hilo and Hamakua coasts, a narrow 50-mile stretch of coastline extending from Hilo to Waipio Valley, also known as the “Scottish Coast.”
Other sugar companies were the Kohala Sugar Co., which closed in 1975, Puna (Olaa) Sugar Co., which closed in 1982, and last was Ka’u Agribusiness Co., which closed in 1996. The sugar industry may have ended over 20-30 years ago, but plantation lifestyle and values have endured and have had lasting positive impacts on Hawaii’s society today.
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The eighth annual “Peace Week” celebration In Honokaa is just about to start. “Peace in Action” is one of the main themes of this year’s Peace Day and Peace Week festivities in Honokaa, Sept. 12-21. With perhaps a more energetic take on the practice, pacifists can choose from a variety of ways to participate.
Whether it’s making a difference by walking, talking, running, reading, drawing, dancing, or drumming—doing is key to the 8th annual Peace Day Parade &Festival. Since it began in 2007, the concept has grown to now embrace community events with diverse expressions of peace, compassion and global interdependence (see below).
The main event is of course the Peace Day Parade, when the “moving stage” passes by—with marching bands, taiko drummers, hula, bon dancers, cirque performers and multicultural music and entertainment with a message. The Parade is followed by a large community festival with food booths, silent auction, and great live music at the Honokaa Sports Complex. Admission is free and all are welcome. For information visit www.PeaceDayParade.org or follow Peace Day Parade on Facebook.
Here are the first of the many “Peace Week” events: Student Peace Poster Contest. “Peace in Action” is the 2014 theme. Deadline to enter, Friday, Sept. 12; Peace Week Kickoff and Poster Gallery Reception, Friday, Sept. 12, 5-7 p.m. at C&J Concepts; Saturday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., “Practical Mindfulness in Our Daily Life,” Hamakua Jodo Mission, Paauhau mauka. A day-long workshop on the practice of mindfulness meditation. Space limited, advance registration required at 775-1064. Also on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m., “Mindfulness Meditation: The Way to Compassion and Inner Peace,” an educational talk about mindfulness and meditation by Dr. Gregory Pai, at Kamuela Honjwanji. Free and open to the public.
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PATH, Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii (www.pathhawaii.org or 326-7284) is hosting the upcoming USO Bike Ride. U-S-O stands for Understanding, Strengthening &Overcoming cancer. Maori &Samoan men will ride around the island Sept. 16-27 to raise awareness for men’s health and wellness — be a part of it! Homestays are needed for the upcoming U-S-O Cancer Ride.
This is the mission of an amazing group of men who have ridden all over the Pacific islands to promote men’s health and wellness in the wake of their own fathers’ passing from cancer.
After riding around islands of New Zealand and Samoa, the group comes to take on the Big Island and Oahu. PATH will host this incredible group of seven men and women (three couples, one single) from New Zealand and Samoa and is looking for homestays in the following areas: Sept. 16-17, Kona; Sept. 18, Waimea; Sept. 19-20, Hilo/Puna; Sept. 21, Ka’u/Pahala; Sept. 22-23, Kona; Sept. 24, Waikoloa, and Sept. 25-27 in Kona. Please call Laura Dierenfield at 936-4653 or email laura@pathhawaii.org to offer a homestay.
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Mala’ai’s Super Kitchen at Waimea Middle Public Charter School, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Kahilu Town Hall. The theme is ‘Welcome Back Voyagers’ and our special guests will be our community’s wayfinders just back from a leg on the Hokule’a’s and Hikianali’a’s World Wide Voyage. This Free community dinner is being created by Chef Angela Zink, and will feature Portuguese Bean Soup in honor of Waimea’s Annual Paniolo Parade the following Saturday, Sept. 20. Also being served is a fresh Waimea salad, a fruit dish for dessert, and Mala`ai herbal tea. There is no charge for this community dinner. We will be providing recipes for the bean soup that will show you how you can re-create this recipe at home for under $3/pp. Remember, “Everyone loves a good meal”. We hope to see you there! Questions? Email Executive Director Alethea Lai at alethea@malaai.org. More info: www.malaai.org
P.S. We do welcome helping hands and donations for the dinner, and please, feel free to invite family and friends!
To submit items for Sunday’s Kokua Way column, email Carol at waiukahenutz@gmail.com.
