Crater service trip begins Saturday
The Friends of Haleakala National Park is seeking volunteers who want to enjoy the beauty of Haleakala Crater and help preserve the native habitat for a service trip Presidents Day weekend, Saturday to Monday.
Participants will hike into and out of the crater via the Switchback Trail and stay free in Holua Cabin. The work will relate to protecting native plants in the crater wilderness. In addition to helping the environment, there will be some time for hiking, stargazing, photography or just relaxation.
The park entrance and cabin fees are waived for participants doing service work with the Friends of Haleakala National Park. A maximum of 12 people can be accommodated on each trip, and volunteers must be able to hike in and out of the crater carrying their sleeping bags and a share of the food.
Visit the website www.fhnp.org to register and learn more about the service trips and the group's mission to preserve and protect Haleakala National Park. Reservations may be made by calling the trip leader at 267-5429.
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Kiwanis to hear from district official
John Field, lieutenant governor of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District of Kiwanis International, will be visiting the Kiwanis Club of Maui at its noon meeting Thursday at Carrie and Eddy's Hideaway restaurant in Kahului.
He will bring club members up to date on Kiwanis matters during his yearly visit.
The meeting is open to the public. Visitors are welcome. Lunch costs $12.
For more information, contact Kathy Anderson at 357-8877.
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Mental Health Kokua plans whale watch
The Mental Health Kokua will present its 21st annual Whale Watch cruise from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Funds raised from the whale watch will be used in Maui County to assist people in recovery from mental illness.
The whale watch will depart from Maalaea Harbor on a Pacific Whale Foundation vessel. Refreshments will be served onboard.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for children 12 and younger.
Mental Health Kokua is a nonprofit agency providing a comprehensive array of mental health services that reach more than 1,300 individuals each year, including more than 600 from Maui County.
These services on Maui include transitional and supportive housing placements, case management and a psychosocial rehabilitation program.
For more information on the whale watch, call 244-7405 or 281-1168.
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Church plans rummage sale Saturday
Jesus Is Alive Church will have a rummage sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 3700 Haleakala Highway in Pukalani.
There will be a wide variety of items available, including housewares, home furnishings, dishes, seasonal and decorative items, electrical equipment, bed linens, blankets, towels, toys, games and books. There also will be an extensive selection of clothing for all ages.
Food items for sale will include items such as chili and rice, baked goods, hot dogs and soda.
For information, call 573-life (5433).
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Hotel association director to speak
Lisa Paulson, the new executive director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, will be the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Lahaina's meeting at noon Thursday.
The club meets at the Royal Ocean Terrace at the Royal Lahaina Resort. Lunch can be purchased off the menu.
For more information, call President Liz May at (808) 721-5909.
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Hale Kau Kau fundraiser tickets on sale
Tickets are being sold for Hale Kau Kau's 14th annual Fundraiser Pa'ina, to take place March 2 in the Aulani Ballroom of the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
The event, featuring auctions, dinner and entertainment, raises funds for the meal program that feeds the needy and homebound elderly, sick and disabled. The event's theme is "Music Feeds the Soul" with entertainment headliner Nathan Aweau, a Na Hoku Hanohano award winner.
Individual tickets are $95 per person. Various sponsorship levels are available and welcome. Tables for 10 may be reserved.
To purchase tickets, contact or visit the Hale Kau Kau office at St. Theresa Church, 25 W. Lipoa St., Kihei. The phone number is 875-8754. Email orders will be accepted at halekaukau@saint-theresa.com.
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Health booklets in Marshallese available
MEO Head Start is offering free health booklets written in Marshallese for community agencies or interested individuals.
The booklet also includes a DVD with health information in English, Spanish and Marshallese. Information presented is intended for families with young children, ages birth to preschool. The booklets were provided as a service from the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care and designed to support Head Start children and families.
Booklets are available in counts of 100 per box. For more information, or to pick up materials, contact the MEO Head Start program at 249-2988.
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Valley Isle Keiki Fest looking for vendors
Crafters and vendors have until March 22 to reserve a booth at the 2013 Valley Isle Keiki Fest set for April 13 at the University of Hawaii Maui College.
The event aims to promote a positive environment and community where children from birth to age 12 are safe, healthy and ready to succeed.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the campus Great Lawn, with "Celebrating the Keiki April, the Month of the Young Child" as the theme.
Booth space costs $125 for vendors selling child-related items, while nonprofits providing "hands-on" activities for children will have their fees waived.
All vendors will be subject to approval for the Keiki Fest. To reserve a booth space or obtain sponsorship information, call Vanessa Kina at 250-2777 or Katherine Chan at 280-8595, or email keikifest@gmail.com.
The main sponsor of the Keiki Fest is the Kiwanis Club of the Valley Isle, in partnership with UH-MC, the Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation, 4-H Maui, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Maui.
