Last week, nine high school students participating in the Neighbor Island Medical Scholars Program flew to Oʻahu to attend the Medical Diagnosis and Treatment program — a weeklong, hands-on experience at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Following the program, students return to their home islands to shadow local Kaiser Permanente physicians and other health care partners in their communities, gaining real-world exposure to clinical care while applying what they’ve learned in the classroom.

“Having these bright and motivated students on our campus last week was incredibly rewarding,” said Dr. Jill Omori, director of the Office of Medical Education. “For the students to have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned at Medical Diagnosis and Treatment in a real clinical setting with physicians from Kaiser Permanente is truly invaluable in nurturing their growth and commitment to health care careers.”

The Neighbor Island Medical Scholars Program aims to inspire local students to pursue careers in medicine and return home to care for their communities. By removing financial and geographical barriers and creating meaningful learning experiences, the School of Medicine and Kaiser Permanente cultivate a homegrown workforce that reflects Hawaiʻi’s diversity and values.

“Our partnership with the John A. Burns School of Medicine is one of the most meaningful ways we can support the development of future physicians — especially those from the neighbor islands,” said Dr. John Yang, president and medical director of Hawaiʻi Permanente Medical Group. “When students feel connected to their home communities and a deep sense of kuleana to give back, they’re more likely to return and serve where they’re needed most. That’s one of the ways we can address the physician shortage across Hawaiʻi.”

Nea Portillo, a student at Kīhei Charter School on Maui, expressed her gratitude to the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, and all the partners that made this program possible.

“After seeing how my community was impacted by the Maui wildfires and knowing that there is a great need for more people to serve in our health care industry, it makes me want to step up and help fill a role,” Portillo said. “That way, if our community is ever in a crisis moment in the future, I want to be able to help take care of our community.”

This is the first year Kaiser Permanente has joined the three-year-old Neighbor Island Medical Scholars Program as a partner, and the addition has proven invaluable for some students interested in the medical field.

Colten Clarke, a student at Kealakehe High School in Kona, was ecstatic to experience how physicians use what they learned in school in their daily lives.

“I love getting to actually do what I’m learning in school, what I’m interested in, and getting awesome hands-on experience,” Clarke said. “I love all the labs we’re doing about anatomy and learning more about patient encounters. I can’t express how awesome it is that I’m getting to do what I want to do at only 16 years old.”

The 28-year veteran of the force will handle the top cop duties while the Hawai’i County Police Commission searches for a new chief to replace departing Ben Moszkowicz, whose last day is Aug. 31.

During the Commission’s monthly meeting on Friday, the members voted 6-2 to appoint Mahuna. Commissioners Jacob Tavares and Wendy Botelho opposed the appointment, wanting to solicit letters of interest for the position from within the department.

Manuha, 49, expressed his gratitude to the commission for its support.

“I will not let any of you down in this temporary capacity,” Mahuna said.

His appointment comes after Moszkowicz’s retracted letter of resignation was not accepted by the commissioners during a special meeting on July 10.

Moszkowicz, who took over the department in December 2022, submitted his resignation on June 4 in order to become interim chief of the Honolulu Police Department. He did so after Honolulu City and County Mayor Rick Blangiardi recommended Moszkowicz for the interim position after the unexpected retirement of Joe Logan.

While Moszkowicz rescinded his resignation the same day, he remained a candidate for the interim position with Honolulu. Both actions raised questions by some about his loyalty to the Big Island.

Mahuna was named Acting Deputy Chief on July 1, 2023, and permanently appointed as Deputy Police Chief on Jan. 16, 2024.

Mahuna also served as Major of Area I Operations, overseeing the Criminal Investigation Division, which includes vice, juvenile aid and the criminal investigation sections, as well as the crime lab.

He has also served as Major of the Technical Services Division, which includes the department’s communications dispatch center, communications maintenance section, computer center, records and identification section, and traffic services section.

During the Friday police commission meeting at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center in Kona, several testifiers spoke about finding a chief who will cancel agreements with Immigration and Customs and Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.

Testifiers overwhelmingly said the Memoranda of Understanding, also known as MOUs, erode trust with the community and Hawai‘i Island police.

“A successful police chief needs a combination of strong leadership skills, deep law enforcement knowledge, and the ability to foster positive community relationships,” one testifier stated. “Key qualities include integrity, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to ethical conduct and accountability.”

The testifier continued that the community needs a police chief dedicated to the Big Island’s unique mix of people and concentrating on the needs and safety of residents.

“Assisting the whims of federal immigration agencies like ICE … erodes trust within immigrant and other communities who agree that Hawaiʻi is a melting pot of immigration,” the testifier stated. “When local police are seen as extensions of federal immigration enforcement, residents and others become less likely to seek police protection when it is actually needed.”

Another testifier thanked the commissioners for making “the necessary decision” to remove Moszkowicz. She continued: “That was the right step, but it did not end there.”

“Today, I’m urging you to ensure the new police chief protects our people over collaborating with ICE,” the testifier stated. “Let’s be very clear about what is happening. Families are being racially profiled, hunted and kidnapped, often through deceptive welfare checks or traffic stops.”

In June, Moszkowicz confirmed the police department has two memorandums of understanding with the Homeland Security Investigations, one that allows them to share office space with two special agents when they work with them on drug and human trafficking cases and the other authorizes the department to have task force officers cross-deputized for specific enforcement relating to drugs and violent crimes.

Moszkowicz clarified at that time that these agreements do not include civil immigration enforcement.

“I have publicly committed that the Hawai‘i Police Department will not sign any 287(g) agreements with the Department of Homeland Security,” Moszkowicz said in June. “Our commitment remains to keep people safe, protect their rights and provide whatever humanitarian support we can to anyone in Hawai‘i. We have not, do not and will not conduct civil immigration enforcement.”

Tavares said it is clear the community wants a transparent and open process in the selection of the interim and permanent police chief.

“We need to find someone who is just going to be totally passionate about it, who’s going to eat, slee, and digest this job,” Botelho added.

Other commissioners expressed a desire to focus their time and energy on finding a permanent chief.

Commission Vice Chair John Bertsch said if the body solicits letters of interest and goes through taking testimony and interviewing candidates for the interim position, it could create more frustration for the public and may not be in their best interest.

“I think we might be creating more confusion and possibly more anxiety in doing that two-step process as opposed to focusing all our efforts on the permanent chief,” Bertsch said.

Commission Chair Rick Robinson said if the commissioners were to go through the process of accepting applications for the interim position, it would energy spent on someone who would potentially only be chief for three months.

The bottom line for Botelho is finding the right person for the interim job.

“If it takes us a lot of time, then it takes a lot of time,” she said, referring to the selection of the interim chief. “It’s not going to be done quickly. I want to take my time.”

With the appointment of Mahuna, the commission will discuss the process in searching for a new chief during its Aug. 22 meeting.

After the meeting, Mahuna said the concerns testifiers voiced during the Friday meeting were also his concerns.

“We are all in this together,” Mahuna said. “I have to make sure that they feel comfortable in trusting their police department.”

With the loss of faith in Moszkowicz following his resignation and attempted retraction, Mahuna knows he will have to reach out to stakeholders and affirm his support and commitment to the community.

“They have to know how I feel about certain things,” said Mahuna, who was born and raised on the Big Island. “What they’ll find is that in a lot of ways we agree on a lot of issues.”

Mahuna said he does intend to apply for the permanent position as chief when the time comes.

The first three years of the monthly support groups were funded privately by Cockrell Electric, with about 20 people helped through referral from HOPE Services Hawaiʻi.

In January, the Women’s Fund of Hawaiʻi awarded a $10,000 grant to He Hoʻomaka Hou Ana O Puna to help expand its program and allow self-referrals from women in need.

With that funding, Rivera has been able to better reach women in remote areas of Hawaiʻi Island, develop a mentorship initiative for past participants, and enhance community outreach efforts.

He Hoʻomaka Hou Ana O Puna also was awarded in January a Peer 2 Peer Grant for $75,000 by the National Center for Victims of Crime. This funding has allowed the organization to expand trauma-informed peer mentoring programs for survivors of crime, including domestic violence and sexual assault.

The main program creates a puʻuhonua (safe and culturally affirming space) that encourages kukākūkā (courageous conversations) to promote deep healing and resilience. Participants engage in group and one-on-one mentoring sessions to address intergenerational trauma and work toward individual and community healing.

“Healing is a ladder that we are climbing one step at a time,” said Renee Rivera, the program’s co-director and lead mentor. “Sometimes it feels like I’m starting over all the way at the bottom myself. There is no perfect mother, child, sister, friend. There is no perfect woman, but it’s okay, because there are other women we can lean on and learn from.”

Participants commit to regular kukākūkā sessions and complete required assignments, looking for solutions that lie within ancestral roots, including huakaʻi to wahi pana (trips to sacred or culturally significant spaces).

A 2024 study by the Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence found that domestic violence is a prevalent problem in the state, with 18% of adult residents saying they have experienced physical violence or intimidation from an intimate partner and that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the violence and isolation for some.

The study also found that Native Hawaiians and Filipinos experienced the highest rates of domestic violence in Hawaiʻi at 30% and 24%, respectively

“Many Native Hawaiians have either lost touch or have never had access to their own culture, which we need in order to heal from past trauma and change the future for ourselves,” Rivera said. “Before anyone can rebuild their life, they have to be given the space to heal, and sometimes all they need is just one person to support her, teach her, and love her no matter what she’s experienced in life.”

Rivera brings lived experience as a Native Hawaiian survivor of homelessness, sexual assault, domestic violence and substance addiction. She hosts group sessions and has created a community of supportive wāhine who are able to heal, embrace Native Hawaiian culture even if they are not Native Hawaiian, and nourish themselves through food, outdoor activities and kukākūkā.

Jerry, who did not wish to provide her last name, said she has been in the Haumana Kukākūkā program for about a year and has experienced a transformation.

“I can’t pinpoint when it started, but it is a direct result from being part of this,” she said. “We are not with each other all the time, but the connections we make with each other are so strong and real that we are always connected. It is healing.”

Kodie, who also did not give her last name, joined Haumana Kukākūkā in October after experiencing a domestic incident that left her without a support system for emotional and mental strength.

“When you have people to lean on, it makes a big difference,” Kodie said. “We all have different stories, but our culture is what ties us all together, even for those who aren’t Hawaiian. Renee always tells us to keep showing up as you are. She reminds us that even if we aren’t flawless, we still matter.”

Jerry added: “We have hope and faith in one another, and we stand up with each other for a greater purpose. We’re always thinking of the next sister, and the next and the next that we can bring in to heal.”

Rivera said she six women who have been in the program now attending college for the first time. She also has place a woman into housing after 16 years living on the street. And, a member of the support group a couple of years ago now is an intern with the program.

“I’m so proud of them and what we have been able to do together,” Rivera said. “We have been able to set a foundation for them, and I wish I could reach even more people.”

One of the first women to participate in the program said Rivera’s mentorship has completely changed her life at 56 years old.

“Renee has supported me through everything I have done,” said the woman who wished to remain anonymous. “She has pushed me to have higher expectations for myself and be a better version of me.

“I never thought my life would change, but now I have a sponsor, I’m on the drug court committee, and I went to college at 54. She helped me through it all.”

After facilitators, like Rivera and peer mentors, understand a person’s unique needs, they work with various local agencies to find housing, health care services, and mental and behavioral health services, as well as other programs or services that individual participants require.

“I’m so thankful that we have funders and community partners who believe in our vision,” said Jessica Ipina, director and founder of He Hoʻomaka Hou Ana O Puna. “We are creating pathways for women to heal, rebuild, and thrive.”

According to Ipina, the nonprofit will continue offering these important programs with the long-term goal of fostering individual and community-wide multigenerational healing.

“This was my way of giving back to my hānai family and the women who saved my life and changed its direction,” Ipina said. “I wouldn’t be here without them, and I feel just as committed to fostering this supportive environment that I see is making a difference.”

More information on Haumana Kukākūkā and the Peer to Peer mentoring can be found on the He Hoʻomaka Hou Ana O Puna website.

Have you ever thought about being the person who brings a smile to someone’s face no mattter “rain nor heat nor gloom of night” when you deliver the ONE package they waited days to receive or put THE letter from a loved one they haven’t heard from in years into their excited hands?

The U.S. Postal Service is looking for good men and women like you to fill rural carrier positions in several Big Island communities.

Job fairs are scheduled July 18-19 at five post offices around the island during the 2-day period. Positions are available in Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Waimea and other areas.

Meet postal employees who will provide information about the assistant rural carrier and rural carrier associate positions available in those areas and help candidates apply on-site during the job fairs.

Times, dates and locations for Big Island hiring events:

• WHEN: 10 to 11 a.m. July 18
  WHERE: Kealakekua Post Office, 81-990 Halekiʻi St., Kealakekua
• WHEN: Noon to 1 p.m. July 18
  WHERE: Hōlualoa Post Office, 76-5921 Māmalahoa Highway, Hōlualoa
• WHEN: 2 to 3 p.m. July 18
  WHERE: Kailua Post Office, 74-5577 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona
• WHEN: 9 to 10 a.m. July 19
  WHERE: Kamuela Post Office, 67-1197 Māmalahoa Highway, Waimea
• WHEN: 1 to 2 p.m. July 19
  WHERE: Hilo Post Office, 1299 Kekuanaoa St., Hilo

Assistant rural carrier and rural carrier associate salaries start at $20.38 per hour.

They also receive the Territorial Cost-of-Living Allowance, which is an additional payment to compensate postal employees who work in facilities outside the continental United States — such as Hawai‘i, Alaska and Guam — because of higher costs of living in those areas.

Driving is required for these positions.

Applicants must have a valid state driver’s license, safe driving record and at least 2 years unsupervised experience driving passenger cars or larger.

Join a diverse team with a variety of positions, training and advancement opportunities to maximize your skills and interests.

Applications are also accepted at the U.S. Postal Service website. Job postings, with requirements, are updated weekly, so check back frequently for additional opportunities.

There’s a ton of stuff happening this weekend and heading into the end of the month that we had to sift through so we could bring you some of the best.

For example, if you’re looking for a place to leave your worries behind, shed off those troubles and chuck your responsibilities, Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre has a place where you can lose yourself opening at a familiar spot in Downtown Hilo.

The theatre troupe’s production of “Cabaret” premieres this weekend for a 3-week run at the historic Palace Theater.

Audiences will experience the seedy, dazzling and decadent world of 1930s Berlin along with all the drama of the Kit Kat Club. Once you’re seduced by the scandals and the oh-so-sexy comedy, darlin’, you won’t want to leave.

Tickets are $25 for general admission.

Maybe a more chill vibe is your style? Don’t want to get too worked up? Downtown Hilo’s newest coffee spot might have event more in your lane.

Coffee Notes is your new home away from home — where coffee, culture and community blend perfectly. It’s hosting one of its first events, featuring Hilo jazz musicians Bradley Leighton and Bub Pratt, on Friday night.

The event is free, too, unless you bring your own beverages. Then there’s a $2 corkage fee.

If it’s a different kind of thrill and seduction you seek though — perhaps of a 4-wheeled variety — head to Hilo Drag Strip on Ho‘olaulima Road, past the Hilo transfer station and Hawai‘i County Mass Transit headquarters, for Big Island Auto Club’s Drag In July event this weekend.

Crowds will be treated to 2 days of drag racing, rumbling engines, lightning quick bikes and motorcycles and more during a Summer Showdown. It’s the Jardine ‘ohana memorial race as well, honoring and remembering the life of Lawrence “Turtle” Jardine.

Relay For Life of the Big Island also returns this weekend to Francis Wong Stadium in Hilo, shiking a bright light of hope on a future without cancer as teams and community members gather to and raise funds in support of the American Cancer Society.

Everyone on the island is invited — and encouraged — to come out and participate.

There are plenty of activities planned from the survivors and caregivers laps, lighting of the luminaries, family fun, food trucks, games, tons of items for sale, line dancing, of course Zumba and a lot more.

So don’t just sit there Saturday night. Get up, get out and get to Relay and make a difference.

There’s one more event we’ll mention before you peruse on your own, and it’s because you need your keiki to become a trainer to attend.

They’ll probably want to have a desire to at least catch all of the pocket monsters, anyway.

Gam3Escape in Hilo is hosting its July Pokémon Day this weekend, with Professor Jim returning to teach prospective Pokémon trainers how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Crowd-favorite Pokémon Bingo will return and a Pokémon Trading Card Game League Challenge tournament will be offered for anyone who wants to participate.

No opportunity will be missed to help everyone catch as many Pokémon as possible that day.

So, see, we told you there was a lot to go through — and there’s even more to do.

Here’s our top 10 things to do on the Big Island for July 18-24.

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No. 1 — “Cabaret” (Hilo, July 18-21, 25-27 and Aug. 1-3)

When: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays; doors, box office and concessions open 1 hour prior to performance time

Location: Hilo Palace Theater, 38 Haili St.

Leave all your worries at the door. Shed off those responsibilities. Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre invites you to a place where life is beautiful, the girls are gorgeous and the music never stops! Experience the dazzling, decadent world of the seedy Kit Kat Club of 1930s Berlin interpreted by a live orchestra, 35 of Hilo’s most dynamic performers and unforgettable songs such as “Don’t Tell Mama” and the title classic “Cabaret.” Trust us, darlin’, you’ll get one taste of the music, dance and drama with the seductive, scandalous and oh-so-sexy musical comedy, you won’t want to leave. Tickets are $20 for students, $25 general admission and $30 for priority orchestra seating.

More info/tickets: Visit the Palace Theater website.

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No. 2 — Jazz Event (Hilo, July 18)

When: 8:30 p.m.

Location: Coffee Notes, 116 Keawe St.

Your new cozy neighborhood spot, where coffee, culture and community blend perfectly, is hosting one of its first events. More than just a café, Coffee Notes is your home away from home, and this Friday, it’s bringing Hilo jazz musicians Bradley Leighton and Bub Pratt right into your living room. So come out and catch some cool vibes at Downtown’s newest spot. Free to attend, but there is a $2 corkage fee if you bring your own beverage.

More info: Call Coffee Notes at 808-767-8887 or click here.

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No. 3 — Drag In July (Hilo, July 19-20)

When: Gates open at 8 a.m. both days

Location: Hilo Drag Strip, 2295 Ho‘olaulima Road

Presented by Big Island Auto Club, expect 2 days of fast cars, rumbling engines, lightning quick bikes and motorcycles and more during this Summer Showdown event that will include time trials, junior dragsters, bracket racing, bikes and motorcyles. The weekend also serves as the Jardine ‘ohana memorial race, honoring and remembering Lawrence “Turtle” Jardine. Admission is $10 for adults. Keiki 12 years old and younger are free. All programs are subject to change based on participation/racers.

More info: Contact Big Island Auto Club at biachawaii@gmail.com or follow the club @biac808 on Facebook and Instagram.

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No. 4 — Stewardship at the Summit: Rain Forest Restoration (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, July 19)

When: 8:45 a.m.

Location: Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center parking lot

Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in the national park. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Parents or guardians must accompany participants younger than 18 years old. 

More info: Visit the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park website.

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No. 5 — “A Little Night Music” (Waimea, July 19-20)

When: 3 p.m. both days

Location: Kahilu Theatre, 67-1186 Lindsey Road

This elegant and bittersweet musical — presented by Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival featuring a full orchestra — waltzes through the follies of love and longing under the glow of the midsummer night. It blends sharp wit, heartbreak and sumptuous melodies — including the iconic “Send in the Clowns” — to tell a tale of intertwined romances and second chances. Tickets start at $40. Improve your experience for free by adding on a pre-performance conversation with the artistic team behind “A Little Night Music,” exploring the vision, challenges and creative journey behind bringing the musical to the Kahilu stage.

More info/tickets: Visit the Kahilu Theatre website.

* * * * * * * * *

No. 6 — July Pokémon Day (Hilo, July 19)

When: 3 p.m.

Location: Gam3Escape, 57 Shipman St.

Does your child like Pokémon? Do they have to catch them all? Professor Jim returns to Gam3Escape this month to teach participating trainers how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The afternoon and evening will also include crowd-favorite Pokémon Bingo and a Pokémon Trading Card Game League Challege (deck lists are required; players will be divided into age divisions when possible). Keiki younger than 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Each participant will receive a starter deck, booster pack and a promo pack. Entry fees are $10 for learn to play and Pokémon Bingo and $10 for tournament.

More info: Contact Gam3Escape at 808-498-4095 or via email at g3ecustomerservice@gmail.com.

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No. 7 — Relay For Life of the Big Island 2025 (Hilo, July 19)

When: 5 to 10 p.m.

Location: Francis Wong Stadium, 323 Manono St.

The Big Island community is invited — and encouraged — to come out and participate in this annual event that supports the American Cancer Society, raising funds for and awareness about the fight against cancer. Walk or run a lap — or 10. Decorate a luminary for a loved one who survived their battle with cancer or another who lost theirs. Cheer on cancer survivors as they walk triumphantly in their lap. There also will be lots of family fun with a dunk tank, horsehoes, cornhole, a “human slot machine” and more, plus food trucks, team contests, free entertainment, line dancing and great items for sale, among other activities, all with the goal of making sure hope is not lost but instead the light that guides the path to a future without cancer.

More info: Click here, follow Relay For Life of the Big Island on Facebook or email Kittrin Cade at kittrin.cade@cancer.org.

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No. 8 — Improv Comedy Night (Hilo, July 19)

When: 7 to 8:30 p.m.; doors open half an hour before the show

Location: The Keawe Theater, 280 Keawe St.

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of side-splitting laughter, quick-witted improv fueled by audience-driven antics and endless creativity during this hilarious show presented by Hilo Community Players and Big Island Comedy Theater. Parental discretion is advised as the show could contain mature content. General admission is $10. Tickets are $5 more at the door.

More info/tickets: Click here.

* * * * * * * * *

No. 9 — 3D Printing Fun (Waikōloa, July 21-25)

When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day

Location: Hawai‘i Keiki Museum, 69-250 Waikōloa Beach Drive

Kids ages 8 to 15 years old will explore the world of computer-aided design by learning to use TinkerCAD to design and then printing their own toys. The 5-day workshop will include discussions about their toy design, sharing their design with other participants, exploring the exhibits at the musuem, working with TinkerCAD and then finally printing their 3D computer-aided designed toy and showing it to everyone to share what they learned. Cost is $250 per child.

More info/register: Visit the Hawai‘i Keiki Museum website.

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No. 10 — Hilo Orchid Show Gala Preview Party (Hilo, July 24)

When: 6 to 9 p.m.

Location: Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium, 350 Kalanikoa St.

Where’s the best place in Hilo to get wine, beer and food while you have fun with friends, fellow community members and neighbors plus get to bask in the sweet smell of orchids on display? It’s this party, silly, the “fun”-raiser that kicks off the annual Hilo Orchid Show and Sale while also raising funds for peace and agriculture. The evening gala features hard and soft beverages, catered food, live music plus orchid viewing and pre-sales. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at The Most Irresistible Shop and Ku’ikahi Mediation Center in Hilo or online.

More info/tickets: Visit the Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center website. You can also contact Carol at 808-935-7844, ext. 8, or via email at carol@hawaiimediation.org.

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Check for yourself to see what’s happening around the Big Island

We admit. We can’t fit everything going on each week in our top 10. So here are websites for some popular Big Island venues that you can peruse to discover other events, activities, shows, festivals or workshops that pique your interest.

• Willy’s Hot Chicken, Kailua-Kona: https://willieshotchicken.com/
• Aloha Theatre, Kealakekua: https://apachawaii.org/
• Blue Dragon Tavern, Kawaihae: https://www.bluedragontavern.com/
• Donkey Mill Art Center, Hōlualoa: https://donkeymillartcenter.org/
• East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, Hilo: https://ehcc.org/
• Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
• Hilo Town Market, Hilo: https://hilotownmarket.co/events
• Hilo Town Tavern, Hilo (on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041333509786
• Honoka‘a People’s Theatre, Honoka‘a: https://www.honokaapeople.com/
• Kahilu Theatre, Waimea: https://kahilu.org/
• Keauhou Shopping Center, Kailua-Kona: https://keauhoushoppingcenter.com/experience/
• Kona Commons, Kailua-Kona: https://www.konacommons.com/events
• Lava Shack, Pāhoa (on Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/lavashackpahoa/?hl=en
• Lyman Museum, Hilo: https://lymanmuseum.org/
• MyBar Kona, Kailua-Kona: https://www.mybarkona.com/
• Palace Theater, Hilo: https://hilopalace.com/
• University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Performing Arts Center, Hilo: https://artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu/
• Volcano Art Center, Volcano: https://volcanoartcenter.org/
• Wailoa Center, Hilo: https://www.wailoacenter.com/

Hawai‘i County Department of Parks and Recreation is host the open ocean swimming race Aug. 30 at Richardson Ocean Park in Hilo. It begins at 9:30 a.m.

This 1-mile swim is designed for strong swimmers with strong swimming skills who can handle the sometimes rough course conditions, including currents and waves.

There are rocks and could be waves breaking over an outside the reef near the channel entrance. There also could be ocean swells with a strong current along the coastline.

Racers can swim with or without fins; any swimmer wanting to use a snorkel must also register in the “FINS” category. Those using fins or snorkels must indicate that on their entry form.

No flotation devices, wet suits or hand gloves/paddles are allowed.

Registration information

• Entry fee: $30 (includes entry, registration, timing service and swag for swimmers).
• Payment method: All payments must be paid in cash, money order or check ONLY (payable to Hawai‘i County Director of Finance).
• Mail entry forms and fee to: 2025 Roughwater Swim, 799 Pi‘ilani St., Hilo, HI 96720.
• Deadline: All registration forms and fees must be mailed in and postmarked no later than Aug. 13. Mail-in registration only. No registrations accepted day of the event.
• Towels: Participants will receive a race towel, while supplies last. (Towels are limited in quantity.)

Entry forms and event information are available on the Parks and Recreation website.

“FINLESS” age group categories

• 10 to 14 years old (Keiki).
• 15 to 19 years old.
• 20 to 34 years old.
• 35 to 49 years old.
• 50 to 64 years old (Masters).
• 65+ years old (Seniors).
• 80+ years old (Kūpuna).

Awards will be given for first place in the “FINLESS” categories only.

Email the Parks and Recreation Aquatics Section at aquatics@hawaiicounty.gov for additional information.

The new officers were assigned to the following jails and prisons in East Hawaiʻi:

• Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center, jail, downtown Hilo: 7.
• Kulani Correctional Facility, minimum security prison, 20 miles southeast of Hilo on slopes of Mauna Loa: 1.

A graduation ceremony was conducted July 14 at Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA in Hilo.

Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Director Tommy Johnson was guoted congratulating the graduates in a state release: “All of these graduates have worked hard to this point and effectively demonstrated humility and teamwork.”

Johnson said they will face situations throughout their careers that will test their character, integrity, commitment, faith and courage of conviction. The challenge is to do what is right.

“In doing so, they will have the greatest impact on public safety and gain the respect and admiration of their peers, supervisors and the public they serve,” the release quotes the director. “I sincerely thank each of the graduates for their service. I thank their [families] and loved ones for their steadfast support.

Keynote speaker Hilo Circuit Court Judge Peter K. Kubota also applauded the graduates.

“You guys are great young men,” Kubota was quoted in the release. “A lot of training, a lot of commitment, a lot of hard work and sacrifices from yourselves and your family members to get you there. All from our beautiful community of Hilo.”

It’s a challenging and “very rewarding career that you’re embarking on,” Kubota added, noting that the new corrections officers join a team throughout the islands that forms the foundation of the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

There are 1,140 adult corrections officer positions filled in the state. Another about 380 are vacant.

Graduates of Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Basic Corrections Recruit Class 25-03B completed 8 weeks of rigorous training comprised of more than 300 hours of classroom instruction and physical training.

A variety of subjects are taught, including standards of conduct, ethics and professionalism, report writing, interpersonal communications, maintaining security, crisis intervention, security threat groups (gangs), mental health, first aid, use of firearms and self-defense tactics.

All incoming corrections officers also receive field training during their final weeks of training.

Recruits go into facilities to begin their jobs with guidance from training sergeants.

New officer Valuvalu Leiato said he wanted to become a corrections officer to make a positive impact on those in custody and under the care of the Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

“You can never judge a book by its cover,” Leiato was quoted in the release. “Like what the judge said, a simple shaka, a simple aloha. That makes a big difference.”

Thirteen of the 24 motorists arrested during the week of June 30 to July 6 were taken into custody in the Hilo District. Five were arrested in Kona, three in Puna, one in South Kohala and two in North Kohala. Six of the 24 drivers were involved in a traffic crash, and three of the drivers were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 484 DUI arrests compared with 500 during the same period last year, a decrease of 3.2%.

Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 542 major crashes so far this year, compared with 520 major crashes during the same time last year, an increase of 4.23%.

To date, there have been 13 fatal crashes, resulting in 14 fatalities, compared with 17 fatal crashes, resulting in 19 deaths for the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 23.53% for fatal crashes and 26.32 % for fatalities.

So far in 2025, the non-traffic fatality count (not on a public roadway) is zero, compared to zero non-traffic fatalities for the same time last year.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island-wide.

The Rotary Club of Hilo is supporting veterans, service members, and first responders, especially their families, with free tickets to the renowned Hilo Orchid Society Show, a three-day event featuring orchids grown across the island at the Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium from Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27.

Veteran Honor Guard Commander Jeno Enocencio accepted the tickets on behalf of veterans and current service members living on Hawaiʻi Island. He and other members of the Veteran Honor Guard have been distributing them across the island’s communities.

“We did this last year and it was a great way to bring us together with the Hilo Orchid Society to give back to a deserving part of our population,” said John Regan, member of the Rotary Club and the Orchid Society. “It’s going to be a wonderful event for everyone who attends.”

The show will feature displays from 17 orchid vendors and two amateur growers, including the Hilo Orchid Society. Members will present an accurate layout of orchids, which will be placed where they best grow, across a map of the Big Island.

“We wanted to lean into the educational side of this event, because there is so much to learn at all ages,” said Kathy Gollaher, this year’s show chairperson. “Last year, we initiated the Keiki and ʻOhana Orchid World and we plan to bring that back as well.”

Nineteen arts and crafts vendors will offer orchid-focused items, along with food available outside the venue but inside the gates.

Orchid displays and vendors will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 26, and from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on July 27.

Beginning today, July 15, all police emergency notifications will move from Nixle to the Everbridge system, the same platform already used by Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense.

Residents can now receive all their emergency alerts in one place, including updates about police activity, missing persons, road closures, severe weather, and natural disasters.

“Having a single source for emergency notifications helps our entire community stay safer,” said Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz. “We strongly encourage everyone to sign up so you’re prepared when an emergency happens.”

Signing up is free, quick and allows you to customize which alerts you want to receive—whether you prefer text messages, emails, or phone calls to a landline or mobile phone. When signing up for Everbridge, the system allows you to check one box for Civil Defense alerts and one box for police alerts.

Nixle subscribers will automatically be transferred to Everbridge and will not need to change anything to continue receiving alerts.

Those already subscribed to Everbridge from Civil Defense can log in and click on the box for the Hawaiʻi Police Department. Then, there is a choice for more specific notifications including:

• Missing people
• Missing children
• Runaways
• Police activity
• Road closures

Residents can sign up for both Hawaiʻi Police Department and Civil Defense alerts on the same webpage:

• Hawaiʻi Police Department: www.hawaiipolice.gov 
  • Click “Emails and Alerts”
• Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense: www.hawaiicounty.gov/civil-defense 
  • Click the “Alerts” tile

Signing up for Everbridge will help ensure readiness for emergencies. For questions, call Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031.

The Hawaiʻi Island Police Activities League (HI-PAL) helps organize events geared toward keiki as a way to bridge gaps between the community and the police. Police officers can interact with youth in various activities and act as mentors.

The positive connection with the youth helps encourage teamwork, citizenship, responsibility, and builds trust among young people living across the island.

Last year, HI-PAL hosted a successful boxing event in Kona and wanted to bring it back to the community in Waimea this year.

The family-friendly event is free to the public with bouts beginning at 3 p.m. at the Thelma Parker Gym in Waimea. Concessions will be available on-site.

For any additional questions about the event, email Officer Kuilei Dela Cruz at kuilee.delacruz@hawaiicounty.gov, or call the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s South Kohala Community Policing Section at 808-887-3080.

About 1-1/2 years ago, the family-owned property that sits on about 2.4 acres of lush land at 82-6151 Māmalahoa Highway was listed for $6.5 million by Standard Commercial and at one point had gone as high as $7.5 million in 2024.

But after negotiations in January 2024 with a Honolulu-based nonprofit to turn it into workforce housing ended, and another recent deal with an unidentified buyer fell through, the sale price is now at $5.75 million.

“You don’t see a lot of boutique hotels,” on the market,” Standard Commercial Realtor Ian Clagstone said. “We think it’s a great opportunity for someone to come in and get it to reach its full potential.”

The property includes the 64-room hotel, commercial spaces, a residential apartment, two residential studio units and a two-story home.

The Manago Hotel still has much of its old charm. The lobby hasn’t changed much over the decades, with the same front desk.

Just off to the right of the lobby is the beloved Manago Hotel restaurant, which also opened in 1917. While the family stopped renting rooms more than a year ago, the restaurant is still running and offering its famous pork chops.

In 2023, the restaurant was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as one of six America’s Classics Awards, which recognizes locally owned restaurants that have timeless appeal and reflect the character of their community.

Japanese immigrants Kinzo Manago and his “picture bride” Osame Manago founded the hotel. In 1942, it was turned over to Harold and Nancy Manago, the second generation. They managed the business for 42 years, according to the hotel’s website.

In 1984, Harold and Nancy’s youngest son, Dwight and his wife, Cheryl, took over the hotel and are still running it today. Their 35-year-old daughter Britney Manago is the hotel’s general manager.

“I can’t remember not being at the hotel,” Britney Manago said. “The earliest childhood memory I have is being with my grandparents at the front desk or working in the garden.”

The hotel rooms still do not have televisions. Britney Manago said the hotel has a communal TV room for guests.

One of Britney Manago’s favorite spaces at the hotel is the koi pond. She has fond memories of running around the pond, which was full of fish, with her sister and cousins.

“Unfortunately, we only have one fish right now,” Manago said.

Britney Manago said the hotel hasn’t changed much over the past 30 years, although during the COVID-19 pandemic the communal TV room was converted into additional space for the restaurant.

She said it took the family a long time to decide to put the hotel on the market, but when they finally came to that conclusion, it felt like it was the right time.

“I was fortunate to be part of this great family legacy,” Britney Manago said.

Several experienced hotel management companies have expressed interest in taking over operations, enabling a smooth transition.

Yifan Chen, assistant professor of finance and real estate in the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai‘i, said commercial real estate transactions in Hawai‘i often take time, and overall deal volume tends to be lower due to the state’s relatively small market size and higher capital costs.

“The Manago Hotel has attracted significant interest, and understandably so — it’s a historic property with deep roots in the community and a long-standing, award-winning restaurant,” Chen said. “Any potential transactions or renovation of the property must balance multiple considerations: preserving the building’s historic legacy, maintaining its appeal to visitors, and ensuring the operations remain compatible with the needs and values of the local community.” 

The hotel has generated a lot of interest. In January 2024, the Honolulu-based nonprofit Mental Health Kokua was interested in turning the hotel into workforce housing. The nonprofit acquired $5.5 million in funding from Hawaiʻi County, but the deal fell through.

Recently, Clagstone said there was a buyer for the hotel, but it fell out of escrow.

“It’s really about finding the right buyer,” Clagstone said.

Despite parts of the property being more than 100 years old, Clagstone said the hotel is in pretty good condition. He said: “The family has always taken good care of it.”

According to the offering summary published by Standard Commercial, there is some undeveloped land at the property that could be developed into new amenities like a swimming pool or a grand lawn.

Clagstone said every interested buyer has expressed interest in keeping the hotel’s beloved eatery open.

When it comes to a potential buyer, the Manago family wants to find someone who understands the importance of the hotel and what it means to the community.

“I’d prefer to get someone willing to run it as is,” Britney Manago said. “We just want it to be maintained.”

Ku‘ulani Auld, the archivist for the Kona Historical Society, grew up celebrating birthdays and family parties at the Manago Hotel Restaurant.

Auld, who ate there just last week with her extended family visiting from California, said the establishment is one of those places “you feel at home.”

As always, she ordered the pork chops, however, Auld said the restaurant also makes a good simple hamburger and potato salad.

“I hope whoever takes it over loves it and wants to be part of the community,” Auld said.

Britney Manago said the restaurant has continued to be successful over the years because they don’t overcomplicate things and continue to use the same recipes that opened the restaurant.

“People come to our restaurant because it’s nostalgic,” Britney Manago said. It brings people back to their childhood. People want to come home and feel at home. We wanted to maintain that and have a sense of comfort.”

Auld said the Manago family is deeply rooted in the community and believes they will do what’s best for their family and the business.

When news broke in January 2024 that the hotel was being considered to be turned into workforce housing, Auld thought that was a great idea.

But she said she hopes “the restaurant never closes. I know that would be important to the Manago family.”

On Oct. 26, 1925, the Palace Theater opened its doors under the ownership of Adam C. Baker, a well-known native Hawaiian showman. The Palace showed silent films accompanied live by the Palace Pipe Organ.

Today, the theater serves as a gathering place for Hilo, with a goal to entertain, educate and inspire those who step inside.

For the past 25 years, the nonprofit, Friends of the Palace Theater, has been working toward a clear mission: revitalizing, restoring and sustaining the Palace Theater as the iconic landmark that it is for the Big Island.

After more than 10 years of capital improvements — from the installation of air conditioning to the expansion of a solar array — Friends of the Palace Theater is now turning its efforts to the auditorium’s interior, which desperately is in need of care.

“I have had my eyes on the centennial since I started at the Palace in 2018,” Executive Director Phillips Payson said. “It is an honor to be shepherding her through this momentous occasion.”

Payson said the Palace has gone through a transformation in the past seven years.

“We’ve done so much,” he said, ticking off the projects: facade renovation during COVID, air condition installation in the auditorium, addition of two fans in the auditorium and upgrade of the tech booth.

And after this yearʻs interior restoration, Payson said: “The Palace will look the best it has ever looked since the 1920s or ’30s.”

The Palace was designed to take advantage of its limited property size and the stadium seating arrangement allowed for unobstructed sight lines, while giving the Palace a very spacious lobby. Decades before electronic sound amplification, the Palace was configured to produce excellent natural acoustics for live musical groups and drama.

Originally, the Palace sat more than 800 people, but seating was taken out of the back portion of the auditorium to allow for more room for the ever changing technology required to put on live performances. The theater now seats 485, including 82 seats available in the priority orchestra seating section and a newly expanded ADA section that can accommodate up to 15 guests.

To complete a majority of the interior by the centennial, the Palace is actively recruiting volunteers for volunteer days filled with painting and cleaning while also hiring professionals for projects like carpeting and restoring wood features.

Volunteers and skilled contractors will work on manageable projects such as removing carpet, stripping and repainting bannisters, and unifying and color matching wall panels.

The auditorium has a mix wood elements and light colors that look peach pink and mint green to match the hand-painted portions of the walls.

“Bins and shelves will be purchased to keep our backstage storage areas organized. Contractors will be hired to continue patching holes in the ceiling.”

According to Payson, the next volunteer day will be in August after the closing of the summer musical, “Cabaret.” Volunteer duties will include:

• Painting the colors around the original hand-painted art
• Replicating the same color on all the wooden panels
• Consolidating tech equipment
• Redoing the wooden bannisters along the stairs

The nonprofit is asking for donations in the form of supplies — paint, brushes, scrapers, sandpaper, paint thinner, bins, shelves and more — and lunches for volunteers, which could be purchased from locally owned businesses.

They are also seeking donations to hire contractors for the carpet installation and to patch the holes in ceiling in the auditorium, which could cost more than $25,000 for the large one over the stage.

“We have an active community fundraiser for fixing the holes in the ceiling, which requires a lot because we have to come at them from below,” Payson said. “It will require scaffolding and weʻll have to go dark for multiple days.”

On Wednesday, the Palace Theater announced the cast list for “The Wizard of Oz,” which will be the centennial fall musical production. Under the direction of Jackie Pualani Johnson, the timeless tale will be family-friendly and will run for three weekends, from Oct. 3 to 19.

The following weekend will be the four-day centennial celebration, including a red carpet and gala event on Oct. 23, a live music masquerade dance from 7 p.m. to midnight on Oct. 24, a music festival from 5 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 25, culminating on the centennial date, Oct. 26, with a silent movie showing of “Phantom of the Opera” with live music from organist Walter Greenwood.

“On the anniversary date, we want to honor the legacy of the Palace with a program that showcases the Palace as it was 100 years ago,” Payson said. “The entire weekend will honor every facet of how we exist out here and engage with every pocket of Hilo that comes through.”

To volunteer or to donate materials, labor or food as a business owner, email development@hilopalace.com, or call the box office at 808-934-7010.

To learn more about donating to the interior restoration campaign, visit the Palace Theater website.

Hawaiʻi County Department of Research and Development presents the 2025 Hawaiʻi Business Mākeke until 3 p.m. today (July 12) at Prince Kūhiō Plaza, located at 111 E. Pūʻainakō St., in Hilo.

The event features a lineup of 60 vendors who actively give back to the community.

“This event was shaped by feedback from Hawaiʻi Island entrepreneurs, small business owners, community groups and residents who called for spaces that go beyond just commerce,” said Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda in an announcement about the event. “They wanted opportunities to support people who mentor others, share knowledge, care for ʻāina and help their communities thrive. This mākeke is built to celebrate those efforts, whether it’s passing on cultural practices, growing food or investing in future generations.”

Community organizations, cultural practitioners and grassroots initiatives are also part of the lineup, standing alongside the makers and entrepreneurs they often collaborate with behind the scenes.

“This isn’t just a place to shop,” said Hawaiʻi County Research and Development Director Benson Medina in the release. “It’s a space to reconnect, discover something new and support businesses that are rooted in purpose,”

From handmade jewelry, fashion and wellness goods to cold-pressed juices, sweets, shave ice, plate lunches and pantry staples — there’s something for everyone.

Every business and organization participating in the 2025 Hawaiʻi Business Mākeke brings something more, says an Instagram post promoting the event by Hawaiʻi County Department of Research and Development’s Business and Industry Development Program.

“They’re contributing to Hawaiʻi Island’s future through how they show up and who they support,” the post says.

Follow @hawaiicountybusiness on Instagram for additional information about the 2025 Hawaiʻi Business Mākeke and other initiatives.

You can also visit the Hawaiʻi County Department of Research and Development website to learn more about what the department does, what is has going on, future events and get additional general information.

A horn officially signaled the start of the derby the morning of June 28 at Pua Ka ʻIlima Surf Park in Kawaihae. Participants then had 2 hours to fish for a prize-winning catch in their age group.

Officers weighed and recorded their fish at 11 a.m.

Hawai‘i Police Department Community Policing officers from North and South Kohala as well as Kona hosted the event, with support from Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Divison of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers.

Volunteers from People for Active Transportation Hawai‘i, or PATH; Eddie Caravalho; Friends of First Responders; Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, Hawai‘i; State of Hawai‘i Organization of Police Officers, or SHOPO; and Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney also helped make the day possible.

While the fish were weighed, participants and their families enjoyed a complimentary lunch of hot dogs, chili bowls, shaved ice and snacks.

New Hope Church Kawaihae and Waiākea Water provided a hydration station with cold water, fresh fruit and healthy snacks.

Fish of all sizes were caught, and keiki had the chance to make gyotaku fish prints at Caravalho’s booth. Smiles filled the park as lucky number prizes were handed out.

The day ended with a drawing for a 2-night stay at the Hilton Waikōloa Village, awarded to a keiki from North Kohala.

“We are incredibly grateful for everyone who participated, donated and supported this year’s derby,” said the event’s coordinator South Kohala Community Policing Section Officer Justin Cabanting in a release summing up the event’s success. “Each year, this event continues to grow and bring families together.”

HI-PAL is a Hawai‘i Police Department program that connects officers and youth through mentoring and recreational activities. It fosters teamwork, citizenship and personal responsibility.

Contact the Community Policing Section in your area for additional information about community activities and events.

Puna community members are invited this weekend to the next activation of Revitalize Puna — a community-driven initiative to support long-term recovery and resilience in Puna following the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea volcano.

The 12th activation of Revitalize Puna will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 12 at William “Billy” Kenoi District Park Gym, located at 15-3022 Kauhale St., in Pāhoa.

This free event is hosted in collaboration between Hawai‘i County Civil Defense, Hawai‘i County Council District 4 and Hawai‘i County Disaster Recovery Division. It will feature:

• Disaster preparedness resources and demonstrations from community organizations and Hawai‘i County Civil Defense.
• Updates on recovery infrastructure projects, including roads, waterlines and Pohoiki boat ramp restoration.
• Family activities, plant giveaways and meals for the community.

“Revitalize Puna reflects our commitment to engage with the community through transparent and open communication with aloha,” said Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda in the county’s announcement about the upcoming activation. “By bringing Civil Defense, our Kīlauea Recovery team and local partners into the same space, we’re giving residents tools to be prepared and informed as we move forward together.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Alameda, Hawai‘i County District 4 Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz and other county officials, all of whom will be available to offer updates about progress on recovery efforts and listen to resident concerns.

“Revitalize Puna is about partnership, empowerment and action,” said Kierkiewicz in the announcement. “We’re showing up where the community is — to talk about the real issues, share updates and make sure Puna’s recovery reflects the needs and voices of our people.”

Community members are invited to register in advance online.

Revitalize Puna since its launch in 2021 has brought together thousands of residents to build community connections and shape recovery from the ground up.

Highlights from past activations include distribution of more than 4,000 free plants and seeds, serving more than 1,900 meals from local vendors and facilitating direct engagement with county leaders through resilience-building workshops and listening sessions.

Learn more about the Revitalize Puna program and past activations at the Hawai‘i County Kilauea Eruption Recovery website.

Starting in August, PMG will roll out an outreach and awareness-building campaign featuring a different nonprofit each month for a year, with a different focus highlighted. Starting the initiative, the focus will be on youth services and programs.

“Nonprofits are the heartbeat of our island,” said Cyrus Johnasen, General Manager for PMG on Hawaiʻi Island. “They care for our keiki and kūpuna, safeguard our ʻāina, and show up every day to serve our people. This initiative is our way of showing up for them.”

Participating organizations will gain access to significantly discounted radio advertising, on-air recognition, and community engagement opportunities across PMG’s Hawaiʻi Island platforms, which include KAPA, KBIG and The Beat radio stations.

As part of the campaign, new nonprofit partners aligned with each month’s theme will receive a Buy One, Get One Free advertising offer. Existing nonprofit advertisers will receive a generous 2-to-1 ad match in appreciation of their continued partnership.

Each month’s theme will be highlighted through DJ mentions, public service announcements, and station-wide messaging across PMG’s family of stations.

The initiative runs through July 2026. The scheduled themes are as follows:

• September 2025: Food security and agriculture
• October 2025: Health and wellness
• November 2025: Domestic violence and family support
• December 2025: Veterans and active military support
• January 2026: Houselessness and housing assistance
• February 2026: Education and literacy
• March 2026: Cultural preservation and Hawaiian programs
• April 2026: Women and girls empowerment
• May 2026: Environmental stewardship and conservation
• June 2026: Disability and special needs services
• July 2026: Kūpuna Services and aging in place

Nonprofit leaders, community advocates, and listeners are encouraged to help spread the word and make sure that the organizations doing critical work on Hawaiʻi Island get the visibility and support they need.

Nonprofits interested in participating can contact Cyrus Johnasen at 808-961-0651 or email cjohnasen@pmghawaii.com to learn more and reserve space in the upcoming monthly features.

The second annual event will take place on July 19 at the Kona Country Club in Kailua-Kona. With space for up to 120 golfers, the event will support the nonprofit Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation, which is dedicated to providing equipment and training for emergency responders on Hawai‘i Island.

Registration for the deadline is July 11.

Harbor House’s partnership with the foundation is a personal one. This event was spearheaded by the restaurant’s general manager, Tawny Hanakeawe, who knows firsthand the importance of equipping Hawai‘i Island first responders with the gear and equipment they need.

In 2017, Hanakeawe’s father was rescued near Kealakekua Bay after his boat capsized while out night fishing.

In 2024, Hanakeawe connected with the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation and knew this was her opportunity to give back and thank those firefighters who put their lives on the line for her dad.

“This tournament brings together everything we care about: community, service, and aloha,” said Tawny Hanakeawe, General Manager of Harbor House. “We’re excited to welcome everyone for a fun and impactful day.”

This year’s tournament will follow a 4-person scramble format with a shotgun start at 8 a.m., and registration opens from 6 to 7:30 am. Entry is $150 per player, with sponsorship opportunities available at $150, $300, and $500.

To register or sponsor the event, contact the following indiviudals:

• Walter Ah Mow at 808-938-0244 or email at srt213@hawaii.rr.com.
• Tawny Hanakeawe at 808-326-4166 or email at tawny@theharborhousekona.com
• Peggy Ciriako at 808-322-2595 or email at peggy@konagolf.com

That’s “details,” for anyone 40 and older in case you didn’t know, since the word’s first known use wasn’t until 1986.

We also frequently highlight them in our introduction.

Don’t fret. Several of those larger events and activities are included this week, but we’re starting off by taking a road less traveled, if you will.

We decided to spotlight an event that might be considered by many to be somewhat on the small side; however, it’s one we think is definitely just as big ticket as any other because of its purpose.

On the calendar this weekend — and the second Sunday of every month — is a stellar sale hosted by the Women’s Ministry Group at Puna Seventh-day Adventist Church.

It’s an opportunity for you to discover some truly unique treasures at bargain prices and connect with your fellow community members at the same time. Plus, the women’s group members get to declutter their homes a little.

There will be a varity of items up for grabs such as clothing, household goods, toys and much more.

The best part: It’s all for a good cause. This rummage sale promotes sustainability, community engagement and raises funds for local and international causes.

It’s a win-win-win situation.

Other upcoming events to note include the 12th annual Hilo Brewfest, Hilo Hawaiian Music Festival, a free screening of the documentary “Sugarcane” and 12th activation of the Revitalize Puna initiative.

There’s definitely something for everyone — at least we think so. Take a look. We think you will, too.

Here are our top 10 things to do on the Big Island for July 11-17.

* * * * * * * * *

No: 1 — Free screening of “Sugarcane” and live panel discussion (Hilo, July 11)

When: 7 p.m.; doors, box office and concessions open at 6:30 p.m.

Location: Palace Theater, 38 Haili St.

A groundbreaking investigation exposes a shocking cover-up of cultural genocide perpetrated by the Catholic Church and government, illuminating the enduring love, beauty and courage of an indigenous community. A stunning tribute to the resilience of native people and their way of life, this feature documentary is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning. Rated R. Live panel discussion with directors Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie plus documentary participant Ed Archie NoiseCat will follow the screening.

More info/RSVP: Visit the Palace Theater website.

* * * * * * * * *

No: 2 — Eli-Mac Live in Concert (Hilo, July 11)

When: 7 to 11:30 p.m.

Location: The Crown Room, Grand Naniloa Hotel, 93 Banyan Drive

Prepare for an unforgettable night of live music and good vibes filled with powerful vocals, fierce energy and a fearless blend of reggae, soul and hip-hop through a bold, raw sound that is uniquely Eli-Mac. Revel in an evening filled with music, passion and soulful vibes. Come early, grab a drink and get ready to enjoy a spectacular show in the heart of paradise. Must be 18 years old or older to attend. General admission is $46.59, including all fees and taxes.

More info/tickets: Visit PromoTix.

* * * * * * * * *

No: 3 — 12th activation of the Revitalize Puna initiative: Community Preparedness & Resilience (Pāhoa, July 12)

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: William “Billy” Kenoi District Park Gym, 15-3022 Kauhale St.

Puna community members are invited — and encouraged — to join this free community-driven effort launched in 2021 to support Puna’s resilience and long-term recovery following the 2018 Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone eruption. The event will feature disaster preparedness resources and demonstrations; updates about recovery infrastructure projects, including Pohoiki boat ramp restoration; as well as family activities, plant giveaways and community meals.

More info/registration: You can register in advance at Eventbrite. Visit the Hawai‘i County Kīlauea Eruption Recovery website for more about Revitalize Puna.

* * * * * * * * *

No: 4 — Hilo Hawaiian Music Festival (Hilo, July 12)

When: Noon until pau; doors, box office and concessions open at 11 a.m.

Location: Palace Theater, 38 Haili St.

Everyone is invited, from keiki to kūpuna, to Downtown Hilo’s historic Old Dame herself for one of the best music festivals of the year, featuring all Hawaiian music. What a lineup, too. The Palace Theater stage will be graced with the likes of some of the most talented local musicians: Mark Yamanaka, Sonny Lim, Kevin Brown, Ipo Kumukahi, Kris Fuchigami, Lopaka Kenoi, Kehau Tamure, Kihei Ahuna, Rick n Ricky boy Alaniz of Mokuleo, Rick J., JJ Ahuna, Victor Chock, Dwight Tokumoto, Ben Kaili and many others. Festival emcee is none other than songbird of Hawai‘i Christy Leina‘ala Lassiter, the newly named 2025 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Female Vocalist of the Year. Tickets are just $15 pesale or $20 at the door.

More info/tickets: Visit the Hilo Hawaiian Music Festival website. Presale tickets also are available at Basically Books and Hilo Town Tavern in Hilo.

* * * * * * * * *

No: 5 — 12th annual Hilo Brewfest (Hilo, July 12)

When: 2 to 5:15 p.m. general admission

Location: Hilo Yacht Club, 77 Laehala St.

Get ready for a day to remember with amazing live music from Sudden Rush, Girls Night Out, and Body & Soul paired with more than 70 individual flavors of craft beers, seltzers and ciders from 35 breweries to sample; tasty dishes from 15 local restaurants and food vendors; plus a stunning ocean view on the grounds of Hilo Yacht Club. Join the Rotary Club of Hilo for the 2025 installment of this popular suds celebration, with proceeds to benefit Hilo Benioff Medical Center’s physician training, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center and Aloha ‘Īlio Rescue. Must be 21 years old or older to attend and present valid ID at the gate. General admission is $75. Designated drivers can get tickets for just $50.

More info/tickets: Visit the Hilo Brewfest website.

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No: 6 — “The Marriage of Figaro” (Waimea, July 12-13)

When: 3 p.m. both days

Location: Kahilu Theatre, 67-1186 Lindsey Road

Schemes, secrets and sharp wit collide in one of the world’s most frequently performed operas, composed by Mozart and bursting with unforgettable music and lively mischief. Sung in Italian with English supertitles, the production is presented by Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival, featuring a full orchestra. You can even add a Behind the Curtain experience for free, getting behind the scenes for a candid preshow conversation with the creative team. Tickets start at $40.

More info/tickets: Visit the Kahilu Theatre website.

* * * * * * * * *

No: 7 — Live reggae concert with Josh Heinrichs, Fortunate Youth and 77Jefferson plus guests (Kailua-Kona, July 12)

When: 4:30 to 11 p.m.; doors open at 3:30 p.m.

Location: Willie’s Hot Chicken, Suites 1 and 2, 74-5599 Pāwai Place

Don’t miss this chance to see three of the biggest names in reggae on one stage for one night only on the Big Island and in Hawai‘i. This concert will feature a full band experience, with horn sections, keys, percussion and nothing but good times. Guests of the artists also will take the stage to get the crowd pumped before 77Jefferson gets the ball rolling at 6 p.m. followed by Josh Heinrichs at 7:30 p.m. and Fortunate Youth closing out the night beginning at 9 p.m. All ages welcome. General admission starts at $39. VIP experiences available for those 21 years old and older.

More info/tickets: Visit Eventbrite.

* * * * * * * * *

No: 8 — Women’s Ministry Group Rummage Sale (Kea‘au, July 13)

When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Puna Seventh-day Adventist Church, 15-1530 Kaloli Drive

Could there be any better way to spend a Sunday than snagging great deals while you connect with the community and help a good cause, too? If your answer is it is the best, then this women’s ministry group has an event designed and tailored just right for you. This rummage sale provides an excellent chance for the group’s members to declutter their homes while allowing community members to discover unique treasures and bargains, typically featuring a wide variety of items for sale, including clothing, household goods, toys and more. The event also promotes community engagement, sustainability and fundraising efforts for local and international causes. The group hosts rummage sales the second Sunday of each month.

More info: Contact Puna Seventh-day Adventist Church at 808-238-7607.

* * * * * * * * *

No: 9 — Kahuku Unit guided hike (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, July 13)

When: 9:30 a.m.

Location: Meet at the Kahuku Visitor Contact Station (turn into Kahuku, near the 70.5-mile marker on Highway 11 in Kaʻū, about an hour from the park’s main entrance)

Ranger-guided hikes are back every Sunday in July. Learn about the Kaʻū field system during the “Farming the Rock” guided hike. Walk along an old ranch road to the remnants of the Kahuku field system and discover how Hawaiians farmed this area to feed the large population of Kaʻū, long before Western contact. Free.

More info: Call Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at 808-985-6011.

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No: 10 — Robotics: Rolling and Flying (Waikōloa, July 14-18)

When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day

Location: Hawai‘i Keiki Museum, K104, 69-250 Waikōloa Beach Drive

Kids ages 8 to 18 years old will embark on a robotics adventure starting with rolling robots featuring the same gyroscopic technology as BB-8 from the “Star Wars” sequels. Participants will dive into the basics of programming robots, merging coding with play. Then they’ll explore the skies using drones. Robots unleash creativity, problem-solving and the excitement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics exploration in this dynamic and fun-filled experience. No coding experience needed. Cost is $250 per child.

More info/registration: Visit the Hawai‘i Keiki Museum website.

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Check for yourself to see what’s happening around the Big Island

We admit. We can’t fit everything going on each week in our top 10. So here are websites for some popular Big Island venues that you can peruse to discover other events, activities, shows, festivals or workshops that pique your interest.

• Willy’s Hot Chicken, Kailua-Kona: https://willieshotchicken.com/
• Aloha Theatre, Kealakekua: https://apachawaii.org/
• Blue Dragon Tavern, Kawaihae: https://www.bluedragontavern.com/
• Donkey Mill Art Center, Hōlualoa: https://donkeymillartcenter.org/
• East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, Hilo: https://ehcc.org/
• Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
• Hilo Town Market, Hilo: https://hilotownmarket.co/events
• Hilo Town Tavern, Hilo (on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041333509786
• Honoka‘a People’s Theatre, Honoka‘a: https://www.honokaapeople.com/
• Kahilu Theatre, Waimea: https://kahilu.org/
• Keauhou Shopping Center, Kailua-Kona: https://keauhoushoppingcenter.com/experience/
• Kona Commons, Kailua-Kona: https://www.konacommons.com/events
• Lava Shack, Pāhoa (on Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/lavashackpahoa/?hl=en
• Lyman Museum, Hilo: https://lymanmuseum.org/
• MyBar Kona, Kailua-Kona: https://www.mybarkona.com/
• Palace Theater, Hilo: https://hilopalace.com/
• University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Performing Arts Center, Hilo: https://artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu/
• Volcano Art Center, Volcano: https://volcanoartcenter.org/
• Wailoa Center, Hilo: https://www.wailoacenter.com/

With the 7-1 vote in favor of Bill 51 by the Policy Committee on Health, Safety and Wellbeing, it now moves to the full council (made up of the same members) to be considered for passage.

The vote came after the committee listened to two hours of passionate testimony for and against the measure, which also received a lot of written testimony. Council Member Jenn Kagiwada was the only no vote on the bill, expressing concern about its enforceability. Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz was absent.

If the bill is passed, someone caught feeding feral animals, including cats, pigs, chickens and goats, could face a fine of $50 for the first violation and $500 for additional violations.

Those supporting the measure say feeding these feral cats threatens native endangered species like the nēnē, Hawaiʻi’s official state bird, and the Hawaiian monk seal because their feces carry a deadly parasite called toxoplasmosis.

Those against the bill say stopping the feeding is inhumane and would increase the impact on wildlife because the felines would be forced to roam for food.

“Cutting off their food supply would only force the cats to hunt and scavenge, worsening the very problems the ordinance aims to fix,” Jeanne Alford said in written testimony to the County Council.

County Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma said while cats are a big concern, including the 600 cats in and around Lili‘uokalani Gardens, other feral animals also cause problems.

“It’s chickens and pigs tearing up our ballfields in county parks,” Honma said. “We have issues everywhere.”

At one park, Honma said a sand pit meant for beach volleyball can’t be used because it’s been a feral pig “litterbox” for years.

The bill does not address if the animals would be removed from county property, where they would go, or how the proposed rule would be enforced.

Matthew Runnells, director of Hawai‘i County’s Animal Control and Protection Agency, said he doesn’t think the bill solves the issue of feral animals on county property. If the feeding stops, he explained, the populations will migrate.

“We need to figure out a method of removing these animals,” Runnells said.

When council members asked Runnells about enforcement, the director said it would be difficult, citing a manpower issue. His department only has 10 officers who respond to cases islandwide.

Runnells also said the county doesn’t take in healthy stray cats that were trapped by a member of the public because they don’t have space in the shelters. He thinks a sanctuary could serve that function of taking in unwanted animals.

The bill doesn’t single out any specific animal. But on Tuesday, most of the testimony centered around the cat colonies that exist throughout the island.

Many testifiers against the bill said the cats are abandoned on county properties, like parks and transfer stations, because people know the animals will be fed.

“It’s not a cat problem, it’s a human problem,” one testifier stated.

Alford, who has managed a small, stable colony of seven feral cats through a trap-neuter-return program for 12 years, noted that proper feeding and care lead to healthier animals, fewer nuisance complaints and smaller colonies over time.

“These cats are all spayed or neutered, vaccinated and monitored,” Alford wrote. “The only way this effort has remained successful — and humane — is through consistent feeding.”

Sandra Alstrand, a board member for the nonprofit Action for Animals, has worked for years with animal rescue organizations and feeds a colony of community cats. She described the measure as a frivolous waste of resources.

“These cats are not our enemy, as this bill seems to imply,” Alstrand stated in written testimony. “They are cats that were abandoned by people, either their owners or people who don’t want them on their property. This is a despicable practice, however, there really are no alternatives for these poor cats.”

Alstrand said animal control doesn’t take in cats from the community because drop-offs and animal sanctuaries are full.

“Until we address the problem of overpopulation with more free spay and neuter clinics, we will always have an overpopulation of cats (and dogs),” Alstrand stated.

Those supporting the bill pointed to the death of a 1-month-old nēnē gosling in 2024 that was found in Lili‘okalani Gardens, a county park in Hilo, with toxoplasmosis in its system.

One testifier, who ives in Keaukaha and frequents the county parks, said during the committee meeting that the bill would restore balance to Hawai‘i Island’s “fragile ecosystem.” She added: “I’m dismayed that there is a preference given to feral cats over the state bird, the nēnē.”

The testifier said she has seen piles of cat food that have become deadly traps to other animals.

Another testifier at the meeting said the feeding of cats empowers non-native predators in Hawai‘i to take over. She said she doesn’t think the bill is about punishing compassion, but preventing the deaths of native species.

Council Member Matthew Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder, who introduced the bill, said the measure isn’t about a lack of compassion or a starvation bill.

“I’m not an animal hater,” Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder said. “I have three cats, three dogs. I have 30 chickens. I have two peacocks. I have tilapia and goldfish. I love animals.”

Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder said while he appreciated the concern about the feral animals, “I can’t logically say to kill the bill and expect things to change. … We have endangered species that we’re trying to protect and you cannot say that the cats don’t impact the nēnē.”

Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder presented an amendment, at the suggestion of the Parks and Recreation Department, that would allow the county to continue working with nonprofits on the trap and neuter programs.

Council member Rebecca Villegas said there shouldn’t be feral cat colonies on this island.

“I have seen and heard the arguments that were made here today about responsible capture, spay and neuter, and release being a viable option, and all I have seen is our feral cat colonies increase,” Villegas said.

The councilwoman said the county needs to ensure the public spaces are safe and healthy for everyone.

Kagiwada opposed the bill, expressing concerns about putting another county code in place that won’t be regularly enforced. But she added: “I do think we need to do something. We can’t do nothing.”

Intentionally informal with no agenda, anyone can stop by for a cup of coffee or other favorite drink on the menu at the host venue during these popular events that garner conversation topics ranging from sharing personal stories to discussing neighborhood issues.

Here is the schedule for the upcoming Hawai‘i Police Department Area II Community Policing Coffee with a Cop events:

• 8 to 10 a.m. TODAY (JULY 9): Kona Heaven Coffee, Coconut Grove Shopping Center, 75-5805 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona.
• 8 to 10 a.m. JULY 11: Kona Mountain Coffee Co., 73-4038 Hulikoa Drive, Kailua-Kona.
• 8 to 10 a.m. JULY 16: Uncle Kimo’s Coffee Shop, next to Hōlualoa Garden & Kitchen Restaurant, 76-5897 Kona Belt Road, Hōlualoa.
• 8 to 10:30 a.m. JULY 17: Starbucks, Parker Ranch Center, 67-1185 Māmalahoa Highway, Waimea.
• 8 to 10 a.m. JULY 18: Kona Coffee & Tea, Kona Coast Shopping Center, 74-5588 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona.
• 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. JULY 21: Kohala Rainbow Cafe, 54-3615 ʻAkoni Pule Highway, Kapaʻau.
• 8 to 10 a.m. JULY 25: Clover & Mug, Keauhou Shopping Center, 78-6831 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona. NOTE: This event includes free Keiki ID for kids.

Contact Kona Community Policing Section at 808-326-4646, exts. 257, 258 or 259, with any questions regarding the events or Coffee With a cop in general.

Call the South Kohala Community Policing Section at 808-887-3080 for questions about the Kapaʻau and Waimea events

The 27th annual ‘Ohana Shoreline Fishing Tournament is this August, inviting you to cast a few lines for a chance to win some great prizes and awards while enjoying your favorite pastime and family fun. 

Hawai‘i County Department of Parks and Recreation announced that the 2025 fishing tournament is scheduled for Aug. 15-17. 

Registration packets — including tournament rules — are available to pick up now at the following location:

• A. Arakaki Store in Kohala.
• Hawaiian Island Creations in Waimea.
• J. Hara Store in Kurtistown.
• S. Tokunaga Store in Hilo.
• Any Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation facility islandwide.

Registration packets are also available at the Parks and Recreation Recreation Division website.

The tournament features six divisions:

• Men’s Division (18 to 54 years old).
• Women’s Division (18 to 54 years old).
• Teen Division (13 to 17 years old).
• Keiki Division (5 to 12 years old).
• Kūpuna (55-plus years old).
• ‘Ohana Division (family/team).

Participants can enter one individual division plus the ‘Ohana Division.

Entry fees are:

• Men’s and Women’s divisions: $35.
• Teen, Keiki and Kūpuna divisions: $30.
• ‘Ohana Division: $25 per team, which can consist of 1 adult and up to 3 keiki or teens.

There also is an Invasive Fish Division in which all entrants will be automatically entered, as well as an art contest.

One winning piece of artwork will be selected from each age division, with an overall winner to be chosen from all divisions.

That overall winner will be awarded a prize and their artwork will be used for the 2026 ‘Ohana Shoreline Fishing Tournament promotional flyer.

All artwork submissions should be submitted with tournament registration forms and payment.

Weigh-ins for this year’s fishing tournament will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at Honoka‘a Sports Complex, located at 45-541 Lehua St., in Honoka’a.

Completed registration forms should be mailed — and postmarked — by Aug. 1 to the Recreation Division office at 799 Pi‘ilani St. in Hilo.

Late entries will not be accepted.

Make checks for registration payable to Hawai‘i County Director of Finance.

Valuable gift cards and other awards will be presented to the top 10 heaviest fish in the Men’s, Women’s, Teen, Keiki, and Kūpuna divisions. Top ‘Ohana Division teams will win a prize pack.

One participant who catches the most targeted invasive fish will be declared the winner of the invasive species category.

Call Shelton Kalilikane at 808-217-6074 for more information about the 27th annual ‘Ohana Shoreline Fishing Tournament. Contact Randell Kokubun at 808-961-8681 for questions or information about tournament registration.

You also can visit the Hawai’i County Parks and Recreation Recreation Division website for more information.

According to co-founder Magin Patrick, summer can often be the hardest and loneliest season of the year for youth experiencing homelessness. Without school in session, they often lack opportunities to socialize or have access to regular meals.

The keiki summer camp and teen mentoring program offer participants a lifeline to feel hopeful and worthy. From Monday, July 7 to Thursday, July 24, participants have access to:

• Hot meals every day
• Fresh clothes, hygiene supplies, and showers
• Loving mentors who listen and guide
• Safe spaces to play, learn, and be children
• Creative outlets such as art and cooking

“Instead of going to beach days or summer camp, our keiki often spend their days hiding from the heat in cars or tents, with no safe place to be a kid,” Patrick said. “Without programs like ours, these children would go through the summer hungry, unbathed, disconnected, and unseen.”

This year, keiki attending summer camp will be having fun with plans including:

• A day at the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens
• Reed’s Bay for swimming and lawn games
• The Mokupāpapa Discovery Center followed by rock climbing in downtown Hilo
• Onekahakaha Beach Park for another beach day

Project Hawaiʻi is seeking support for purchasing school supplies, clothing, and shoes for the upcoming school year, which they provide to kids every year after the camp. To donate monetarily, or to sponsor a child directly, visit the donation drive on the website.

While the camp allows keiki to experience childhood, the teen mentoring workshop is a four-week residency experience that provides youth the chance to gain the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty through community service, leadership programs, and cultural experiences.

“Our teen mentoring program equips youth with essential life, social, leadership, and guidance skills to help them succeed and become leaders of their own lives,” said co-founder Magin Patrick. “Part of that is offering workshops that are creative spaces providing healing, confidence, and life skills. Teens thrive from all kinds of workshops ranging from art therapy to cooking.”

These workshops are offered throughout the year, so if there are volunteers willing to share their skills with teens eager to learn and experience something new, please contact Project Hawaiʻi over email at projecthawaii@helpthehomelesskeiki.org.

However, Project Hawaiʻi has an urgent need for food, which is promised and provided to participants in the teen mentoring program. According to Patrick, they are searching for donations or volunteers willing to host a food drive for meal ingredients for the program from July 7 to July 24.

For the list of meals and items needed for the program, please visit a donation drive here. Monetary donations can also be made online.

On July 13, teens will host a car wash fundraiser at ʻOhana Fuels in Hilo to collect monetary donations as well as school supplies for the youth.

For those interested in making a long-lasting impact, there are opportunities to partner with Project Hawaiʻi and be part of the team supporting meal programs and educational initiatives.

“There is a way for every business or well-off individual to contribute,” Patrick said. “We can provide tools like custom donation pages with goal charts, QR codes, and inspiring stories to share. Together, we can empower Hawaiʻi’s homeless children to break the cycle of poverty and reach their full potential.”

To connect with Project Hawaiʻi to set up a fundraiser or choose a goal that is important, email projecthawaii@helpthehomelesskeiki.org. More links to donation and volunteer opportunities include:

• Donate a monetarily for a meal
• Sponsor a workshop or back-to-school items
• Volunteer for our family fun events or car wash
• Share our story with friends or local businesses

For more information, visit the Project Hawaiʻi website at helpthehomelesskeiki.org.

“KōCreate: Designing Homegrown Futures” is the latest initiative from Vibrant Hawaiʻi — a community-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening resilience around Hawaiʻi Island — and made possible through support from the Trust for Civic Life.

Launching this August — with a dynamic cohort of KōCreators — residents from around Hawaiʻi Island will embark on a 6-month learning journey grounded in seven core themes that will prepare participants to lead with clarity, connection and purpose to build practical skills in organizing, storytelling, systems thinking and civic trust.

Together, they’ll strengthen their capacity to lead change grounded in local strengths, lived experience and collective vision.

The initiative seeks people who are:

• Experienced in community needs assessments and organizing around shared goals.
• Strong listeners, with positive, action-oriented mindsets.
• Well-connected and trusted within their communities.
• Natural leaders who inspire collaboration and spark ideas.
• Committed to co-creating inclusive, community-driven solutions.

Core themes include visionary communication, relational leadership and strategic design — equipping participants to inspire action, hold inclusive spaces and design community-rooted initiatives.

Additional focus areas include resource mobilization, organizing and activation and regenerative leadership practices that sustain long-term engagement.

A theme of civic trust will navigate KōCreators through complex decisions with integrity, empathy and a deep understanding of power and values.

Rooted in the belief that communities already have the wisdom, relationships and creativity to chart their own course, the KōCreate initiative shifts the focus of engagement from extracting input to cultivating leadership.

It centers community members not as advisors to someone else’s agenda — but as the architects of their own solutions.

This place-based effort responds to the urgent need for more inclusive, imaginative and community-led approaches to housing, economic development, renewable energy and disaster preparedness.

KōCreate combines the Hawaiian word kō, meaning “fulfill” or “carry through,” with the word “create” — reflecting a commitment to bringing community visions to life through collective effort.

The initiative is designed and led by a cross-sector team including Breeani Kobayashi-Kūaliʻi, Ashley Kierkiewicz, Misty Pacheco, Raynn Dangaran and Janice Ikeda.

“We believe that when community members are supported to organize and take action together, the solutions that emerge are relevant and rooted,” said Vibrant Hawaiʻi Chief Execuitve Office Ikeda in an announcement about the initiative. “This means investing directly in residents — not just to participate, but to become facilitators, data analysts and storytellers of their own communities.”

KōCreators will host islandwide gatherings in 2026 designed to bring people together through community potlucks, vision board workshops, 3-D mapping sessions and hands-on training in emergency preparedness and energy resilience to generate tangible outcomes.

Those outcomes will include Community Emergency Action Plans tailored to local needs and a synthesis of community priorities around housing, energy and economic opportunity.

KōCreate’s long-term goal is even more ambitious: to grow confident, connected leadership in every community so residents are equipped to organize, make decisions and take collective action for generations to come.

“KōCreate offers a blueprint for what real community-driven change can look like. It’s not always clean or linear — it’s relational, emergent and grounded in trust,” said KōCreate Facilitator Misty Pacheco in the announcement. “But when done with integrity, it becomes a force for transformation: power is shared, knowledge is honored, change is created together.”

Whether you’re a community leader, student, cultural practitioner or someone passionate about organizing, storytelling or systems change, you are welcome at the KōCreate table, and together, you can help build relationships, skills and strategies needed to turn local vision into collective action.

“You’ll engage in hands-on activities, deepen your understanding of local systems and help design practical solutions that reflect the values and vision of your community,” the online application message says. “Whether you bring lived experience, technical skills, cultural knowledge or curiosity, we welcome you to apply and co-create meaningful change alongside neighbors and partners from across the island.”

Deadline to apply is July 11.

Learn more and register at the Vibrant Hawaiʻi website. You can also email contact@vibranthawaii.org for additional information.

“We are thrilled to launch this initiative with an invitation to imagine and implement new models of leadership rooted in a deep sense of belonging to and responsibility to Hawaiʻi,” Ikeda said.

Forty-six public, private, and charter schools on Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi advanced through school, district, and state-level Hawaiʻi History Day competitions to earn the opportunity to compete at the national level.

Under this year’s History Day theme, “Rights and Responsibilities in History,” students were tasked with choosing a topic, conducting extensive research, and then presenting their thesis and evidence through exhibits, documentaries, websites, performances, or essays.

Students explored narratives of tensions between what people are entitled to and what they owe to others or society, which have often led to turning points in history.

Winning first place in the national competition, Abigail Gomez and Lillian Tao from Waiākea High School created a project called “The Thalidomide Tragedy: The Importance of Manufacturing Responsibility, Consumer Safety, and the Birth of Modern Drug Regulation and Consumer Rights.” They won the Group Website Division.

“Thalidomide became widely used by pregnant women because it marketed as a cure for morning sickness and was prescribed by doctors,” Gomez said. “Even after the company received multiple warnings of thalidomide being linked to birth defects, they continued to market the drug, paid no mind to these warnings, and refused to take responsibility.”

“This was an abuse of marketing rights, and because of the devastating effects, multiple consumer safety rights were put into effect, leading to safe practices today,” Gomez continued.

The duo decided to pursue this complicated but important tragedy in history because they are both interested in going into the medical field, with Gomez interested in oncology and Tao in pediatrics.

“For me, the best part of doing this project was being able to expand my knowledge on a very important part of history that tied into my interests,” Gomez said. “It was a huge tragedy that affected so many people, but without it, our pharmaceutical practices may not have changed to have stricter regulations.”

Hawaiʻi also had four students presenting two projects in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi at a special “In Language There Is Life: I ka ‘ōlelo nō ke ola” showcase at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. The projects were displayed at the University of Maryland, College Park, on June 9 and at the museum on June 11.

In 2019, Hawaiʻi became the first and only state to have a History Day category for projects completely created and judged in an Indigenous language, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

During their time in Washington, D.C., Hawaiʻi students saw the places they have most likely only seen in media. While visiting the Capitol, they met all four of Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegates and gained insights into public service and the political process. Students were also able to take in the important history on display at the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“The experience in D.C. was so much fun. We met students from other islands, states, and countries and enjoyed exploring the monuments and museums in our small group,” Gomez said. “The award ceremony was also fun, and it was cool to see the number of students from around the country and the world who participated.”

Hawaiʻi History Day was started by the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities as a state affiliate of National History Day in 1990. In 2025, 865 students and 89 teachers from 44 schools on five islands submitted 558 projects to district- and state-level competitions.

While the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities was concerned about funding for the annual program, Hawaiʻi History Day is set to continue as normal in the 2025–2026 school year.

Gomez and Tao, along with other Hawaiʻi winners, are listed below:

• National 1st Place – Senior Group Website
• Abigail Gomez and Lillian Tao from Waiakea High School
  • “The Thalidomide Tragedy: The Importance of Manufacturing Responsibility, Consumer Safety, and the Birth of Modern Drug Regulation and Consumer Rights”
  • Ishael Shaw-De Mello and Sean Wagner, teachers
• National 1st Place – Senior Individual Performance
• Keilani Kajiyama Moses from Kahuku High and Intermediate School
  • “Defending Rights, Embracing Responsibility: Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga’s Pursuit of Justice for Japanese Internees”
  • Caitlin Albert, teacher
• National 2nd Place – Senior Individual Documentary
• Kalamakūokanaʻauao Crabbe from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
  • “The Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana’s Fight for Kohe Malamalama O Kanaloa’s Rights”
  • Sarah Razee, teacher
    • Razee also received a Teacher of Distinction award from the National Maritime Historical Society for her guidance to Crabbe
• National 5th Place – Junior Group Exhibit
• Ofa-Ki-Tonga Nonu, Malie Levi, and Tafailagi Lafaele from Lā‘ie Elementary
  • “The Polynesian Panthers Had Enough”
  • Serena Tuliloa, Colleen Spring, Kaitlin DeMartini, teachers
• Honorable Mention – Junior Group Website
• Isabella Ooka and Sofia Ooka from Waiakea Intermediate School
  • Love Canal: The Toxic Legacy of a Forgotten Disaster”
• Honorable Mention – Junior Individual Documentary
• Margot Little from Kahuku High and Intermediate School
  • “Racing Towards Gender Equality: The Boston Marathon and Beyond”
• Honorable Mention – Senior Group Performance
• Sijin Chen and Kainoa Kelly from Iolani School
  • “The Weight of Crowns: The Rights and Responsibilities of Winston Churchill in WWII”
• Honorable Mention – Senior Group Exhibit
• Alicia Duenas and Jackson Savala from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus
  • “Raising Voices, Changing Schools: Chicano Student Activism”
• Showcase Selections – ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Senior Individual Website
• Puaokekoʻolau Kahihikolo from Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo Public Charter School
  • “Ke Kīpeku ʻAna Ma Ke Awāwa ʻo Mākua”
  • Māhealani Lono, kumu
• Showcase Selections – ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi Senior Group Exhibit
• Pristine Pullman, Chukashali Smith, A’hari Gonzalez from Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Kekaulike
  • “Ke Koikoi o ke Kapu o Mauna Kea”
  • Kapolei Kiili, kumu
• Showcase Selections – ʻŌlelo Hawai‘i Junior Individual Documentary
• Kilolani Smith from Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo Public Charter School
  • “Nā Pono Lawaiʻa ma Hawaiʻi: Ko Kākou Kuleana e Mālama”
  • Kaimana Kawaha, kumu

More information for Hawaiʻi History Day and Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities can be found at https://hihumanities.org/.