National park areas to close
To ensure public safety, there will be several trail and area closures at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park in March during helicopter operations to remove invasive, non-native vegetation.
All closures are from 6-11 a.m.
March 2, 9, 23 and 30, ‘Aimakapa, closure of visitor center, VC parking, mauka/makai trail.
March 16, Kaloko, closure of Kaloko Road, Kaloko parking area and Kaloko picnic area.
For more information, contact the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park visitor center at 326-9057.
AARP retirement workshop offered
AARP Hawaii is offering a free “Think of Your Future” workshop from 1-4 p.m. March 3 at the Hawaii Aging and Disability Resource Center Training Room, 1055 Kinoole St. in Hilo.
No individual advice will be given and no products or services will be promoted or sold. The workshop is just about helping people plan for retirement and is open to AARP members and nonmembers.
Sessions include “Ten Steps to Get Ready for Retirement,” “Understanding Your Social Security Retiree Benefits” and “Medicare 101.”
Register at https://bitly.com/aarpHIevents or call toll free 1-877-926-8300.
Wine, cheese, jazz at Woman’s Club
The Hilo Woman’s Club is hosting a fundraising evening of fine wine, cheese, jazz music and silent auction from 4-7 p.m. March 17 at its clubhouse on 7 Lele St.
Guests can enjoy pupus and wide variety of palate pleasing cheeses and be guided through a large variety of wines and their appropriate pairings by Randy Nunokawa of Grapes-A Wine Store.
Hilo-based guitar/bass duo JazzX2 will perform instrumental jazz standards, contemporary tunes and island favorites.
Proceeds support the community-building efforts of the Hilo Woman’s Club.
Tickets are available for a $35 donation and can be obtained at the event, but seating is limited. To purchase tickets in advance or for more information, call 935-9838.
Schools receive beautification award
Two Hawaii Island schools were among the recipients of the 2017 Cooke Beautification Award for Public Schools.
The Hawaii Community Foundation, on behalf of the Cooke Foundation, announced that Kohala Elementary School and Kohala High & Intermediate School received the award which is presented every two years to recognize Hawaii public schools for completing beautification projects that better their school environment and significantly enhance the school’s overall appearance and ambiance.
Kohala Elementary was honored for the transformation of an overgrown gulch in an abandoned area of school property into a half-acre of cultivated gardens known as the “Discovery Garden.”
Kohala High & Intermediate renovated signage located on the exterior of gym, a focal point of the campus, creating a montage of letters spelling the word “Cowboys” — the school mascot.
The Cooke Foundation will begin accepting applications for the next cycle of awards in July 2019. Details will be posted at www.cookefdn.org.