Local News

Local Briefs

Teens will compete for youth honor

The 2014 Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui Youth of the Year finalists will compete for the Gene Freedman Youth of the Year honor from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. A reception will follow from 6 to 7 p.m.

Teen participants are Mason Aquino, Central club; Jamie Gomes, Makawao club; Aaron Na’ea, Lahaina club; and Tia Bright, Haiku club.

One teen will be named local Youth of the Year and will go on to complete against other Boys & Girls Clubs members across Hawaii for the state title and a $1,000 college scholarship from Tupperware Brand Corp.

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Writing competition accepting entries

The LahainaTown Action Committee is accepting submissions for its first Maui Short Story Competition.

The intent of the contest is to encourage previously unpublished writers to explore writing about the island of Maui from a unique perspective, according to a news release.

The competition is open genre. However, LAC recommends keeping the subject to Maui. For example: Maui life, heritage, culture, the land and the ocean. There is a 1,500-word maximum.

Entries will be accepted until March 20.

The entry fee is $25 per submission. There is a limit of three entries per person.

Winners will be announced April 11. First place will receive a cash prize. Other winners will receive prizes donated by LAC sponsors.

Entries can be submitted online or via postal mail accompanied by an entry form that can be found at www.visitlahaina.com. For information, call 667-9175.

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MHS meeting for graduating seniors

Parents/guardians of seniors planning to paritipate in the 2014 Maui High School commencement ceremony must attend one of two mandatory meetings.

The meetings will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. Feb. 8.

All meetings will be held in the Maui High School cafeteria.

Information about commencement will be provided and senior expectation and permission forms will be distributed.

Forms must be picked up and signed by both the parent and student at the meetings.

For more information, contact Ti’a Joaquin at 727-4000.

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MEO’s Head Start taking applications

Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start will accept applications for the 2014-15 school year beginning Monday.

Head Start is a federal program that provides early childhood development services to families that meet the federal poverty guidelines and selection criteria.

Children who will be 3 or 4 years old by July 31 are eligible for enrollment.

Parents/legal guardians will be required to bring the child’s birth certificate and two forms of household income (i.e., 2013 W-2 forms or 2013 tax returns and four to six current pay stubs or a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families printout).

Applications may be completed in the office between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (except on federal and state holidays) at the MEO Family Center, 99 Mahalani St. in Wailuku.

For more information, contact the MEO Early Childhood Services department at 249-2988.

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Donation in memory of Martin Luna

Instead of a holiday gift exchange in December, the employees of Munekiyo and Hiraga Inc. in Wailuku decided to do something a little different.

In honor of Martin Luna, an attorney for Carlsmith Ball who died of cancer last year, the employees dedicated their gifts to help fund the B. Martin Luna Room at Hope Lodge Hawai’i.

The 18 employees of the company donated $3,325 in honor of Luna, who was a respected community leader and friend to their company, according to a news release.

The American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge Hawai’i provides free lodging and ground transportation to patients and their caregivers during cancer treatments on Oahu. Neighbor Island, Guam and Oahu patients who live more than an hour’s drive from the facility may apply to stay at this “home away from home.” The American Cancer Society plans to break ground for its 19-guest-room facility in Honolulu this year.

For more information on Hope Lodge Hawai’i, visit www.hopelodgehawaii.org or call the Maui office of the American Cancer Society at 244-5554.

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School to showcase mikoshi at festival

Kamehameha Schools Maui won the competition among Maui high schools to showcase its mikoshi at the 20th annual Honolulu Festival for the second straight year.

A mikoshi is a decorative float unique to specific prefectures in Japan that is carried by groups of celebrants during festivals.

The mikoshi will be on display at the Hawaii Convention Center on March 8, and the students will carry their float in the grand parade down Kalakaua Avenue on March 9.

Kamehameha Schools Maui’s winning design was inspired by the students’ perceptions and experiences with multiculturalism, unity and love, according to a news release.

This year’s festival theme is: “Jubilation: One Heart, One Pacific, One World.”

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Mardi Gras a benefit for AIDS foundation

The Maui AIDS Foundation will hold Mardi Gras Maui from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. March 8 at The King Kamehameha Golf Club.

VIP ticket holders will enjoy dinner, champagne and a special performance by Deborah Vial.

Everyone will be entertained by Kit Kat Cabaret and Glamity and dance to DJ LaRage, DJ Kurt and Dj Trvr.

Trish da Dish will emcee this third annual event that raises money for those affected by HIV/AIDS on Maui.

There will also be a silent auction and prizes for best costume. People must be 21 to attend.

VIP tickets are $100, or $125 at the door. General-admission tickets are $35, or $40 at the door. Sponsorships range from $1,000 to $2,500 and include a table for 10 with VIP admittance and other benefits.

Visit mauiaids.org or call 242-4900 to purchase tickets.

Local News

Local Briefs

Maui’s economy is topic of presentation

Teena M. Rasmussen, director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development for Maui County, will discuss

“What’s On The Horizon for Maui’s Economy” at the noon meeting of the Rotary Club of Kahului on Monday at Cafe O’Lei at the Dunes at Maui Lani.

The public is invited. The cost for lunch is $20, or a $5 program fee.

Information about speakers and club service projects can be found at www.kahuluirotary.org. For more information, call club President Paul Janes-Brown at 572-8000.

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Spanish class will begin on Monday

The Maui Puerto Rican Association is sponsoring a free fourteen-week class in conversational Spanish. Classes will be held Monday and continue every Monday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. through May 5 at Luana Gardens Community Center, 615 Papa Ave. in Kahului.

The class is taught by Maria Rawe, an educator with more than 40 years’ experience in teaching Spanish, according to a release.

For information and registration call 264-7770 or Heritage Hall at 243-0065.

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School announces community meeting

The Pu’u Kukui Elementary School Community Council will seek comments from the community during a meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the school cafeteria.

The three topics on which input is being sought are as follows:

* Should there be school uniforms for Pu’u Kukui students?

* School safety.

* Should there be a Pu’u Kukui student acknowledgment/recognition (Pueo of the Month) program?

Other topics may also be raised for the council to address.

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Lutheran schools week starts today

Emmanuel Lutheran School is celebrating National Lutheran Schools Week today though Friday.

The school will join with other Lutheran schools in celebrating the educational opportunities that they offer their students.

There are 274,000 students enrolled in 1,374 early-childhood centers (preschools and day cares), 871 elementary and middle schools, and 88 high schools across the United States.

Emmanuel students will be collecting canned goods for the Wailuku Union Food Pantry and bringing offerings to support Lutheran Hour Ministries in Kenya. They will sing at Roselani Place, have daily dress-up themes, participate in assemblies and participate in other activities as part of the celebration.

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Nonprofit postpones Butterfly Ball event

The Legacy of Life Hawai’i Butterfly Ball, originally scheduled for March 15, has been postponed, according to an announcement.

The purpose of the ball is to assist the organization in its public education and outreach efforts to encourage organ and tissue donation and to provide support to donor families. A new date has not been set.

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Rotarians will meet at Kamalii school

In lieu of the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Kihei Sunrise, members of the club will meet at Kamalii Elementary School from 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday to participate in the Keiki Dental Project with 1st-graders.

Visiting Rotarians and guests are invited to assist. To participate, call Project Director Patty Hemmen at 280-8372. The regular meeting of the club will resume at the Five Palms Restaurant in Kihei on Feb. 5.

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Church to hold rummage sale

Christ the King Church will have a rummage sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 20 W. Wakea Ave. in Kahului. The sale will benefit the 2014 Charity Walk.

Food items for sale will include kimchi, pickles, baked good and Filipino desserts. Potted plants and flowers also will be available.

For more information call Christine Souza at 442-2197 or Pricilla Duque at 268-0371.

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Rotary club to get update on grant

Donald Ross will give an update on the Rotary Club of Kihei Wailea’s Cambodia Global Grant at the club’s noon meeting Wednesday at Mulligans on the Blue.

The cost for lunch is $15. The public is welcome to attend.

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Aquaponics for home and enterprise

The University of Hawaii Maui College will offer in-depth training on how to build and maintain a small-scale aquaponics system. The basics of water quality, system components, fish and plant species choices and the various types of systems will be covered.

The training will run on four Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to noon: Saturday to Feb. 22.

Instructor Bob Howerton is an aquaculture specialist with expertise in integrated agriculture-aquaculture systems, aquaponics and aquascience at the University of Hawaii.

To register, call Edventure at 984-3231, or register online at edventuremaui.com (click on career trainings).

Tuition assistance is available for most sole proprietors, businesses, employees and unemployed workers. For more information, contact mvstephe@hawaii.edu.

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Chinese New Year event in Lahaina

Lahaina Cannery Mall will kick off Chinese New Year with a display of martial arts mastery, firecrackers and the traditional “feeding of the lions” from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 8.

This free cultural experience, led by Au’s Shaolin Arts Society, will usher in the Year of the Horse for West Maui residents. The event is to be preceded by a hula performance from Halau Hula O Keola Aliiokekai at 1 p.m.

For more information, call 661-5304, visit www.lahainacannery.com or follow @LahainaCannery on Twitter or Facebook.

Local News

Local Briefs

VW drivers invited to island cruise

Volkswagen drivers are invited to gather for an island cruise on Sunday.

Motorists will meet at 8:45 a.m. at the War Memorial Complex parking lot, and the cruise will begin at 9:30 a.m.

The route is from Wailuku to Waikapu and then toward Kihei with a stop at the Piilani Village Shopping Center. Motorists will park nearest to Minit Stop at the parking lot.

The cruise will then continue on South Kihei Road, heading toward Lahaina. Motorists will turn onto Shaw Street to get to Front Street.

The final stop will be at host Paradise Grill’s parking lot. VW enthusiasts who do not participate in the cruise are welcome to stop by, talk story and take pictures.

For more information, email mae_gouveia@hotmail.com or kiheisouzas@aol.com.

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Permaculture expert will speak at college

Australian Permaculture Specialist Darren J. Doherty will present strategies in agricultural design and planning at 6 p.m. today. The free event is open to the public and will be in the new science building, Ike Le’a, on the University of Hawaii Maui College campus.

With 20 years of experience consulting with more than 1,600 properties in 44 countries, Doherty offers advice and examples of how to take a whole-systems approach to land management. He helps make permaculture profitable and productive, while “regenerating” the soil, according to a news release.

The Sustainable Living Institute of Maui, Susty Pacific, Roth Ecological Design International, The Asia-Pacific Center for Regenerative Design, Upcountry Sustainability, Regrarians and UH-Maui College are hosting the speaker.

For more information, email mvstephe@hawaii.edu or call 984-3502.

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Old Wailuku Inn topic of presentation

Shelly Harris, whose parents own the Old Wailuku Inn at Ulupono, will be guest speaker at the noon meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Maui on Thursday at the Hideaway Restaurant in Kahului.

She will talk about the historic bed and breakfast, which was built in the 1920s.

The meeting is open to the public, and visitors are welcome. Lunch is $12.

For more information, contact Kathy Anderson at 357-8877.

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Council members to share new initiatives

Maui County Council Members Don Couch from South Maui and Don Guzman from Kahului will be guest speakers at the 6 p.m. meeting of the Italian American Social Club on Tuesday at St. Theresa’s Hall in Kihei. The event will begin with a potluck dinner.

Each council member will give a brief summary of new initiatives for the year. They will also take questions from the guests in attendance.

The event is free and open to the public.

For further information, contact Don Tedesco at dstedesco@gmail.com or at 298-0970.

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Sing along with Uncle Wayne at library

“Sing Along with Uncle Wayne,” a free musical and educational program, will be presented at Kihei Public Library at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the children’s area.

“Uncle Wayne” Watkins, an early childhood educator and musician, will inspire children to sing along and dance to the music as he strums his acoustic guitar. Watkins currently serves as director of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Children’s Center.

Everyone is invited to attend this one-hour program, especially families with toddlers and preschoolers. All children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

Contact the library as soon as possible if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed.

Kihei Public Library is at 35 Waimahaihai St. For more information, call the library at 875-6833.

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Waldorf tour geared toward adults

Haleakala Waldorf School will present a Discover Waldorf Tour beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The tour, geared toward adults, is an opportunity to get a glimpse of what children experience in the classroom, according to a news release. The school’s Kula campus is across from the Kula Post Office.

For more information, visit www.waldorfmaui.org or call 878-2511.

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WWII history topic of presentation

Harry Smith, a Kapalua resident and student of the World War II Pacific Theater, will give a talk titled “Love Sowed in a Field of Hatred” at the noon meeting of the Rotary Club of Maui on Thursday in the Class Act Dining Room of the University of Hawaii Maui College.

The story is about the intersection of the lives of one of the Doolittle Raiders, a member of the famous Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat team of Hawaii, and the Japanese officer who led the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Smith visited Iwo Jima twice for the Reunion of Honor, on the one day per year when civilians are allowed to visit the island. In his retirement, Smith shares WWII stories with Maui students and organizations as a way to honor U.S. veterans and keep WWII history alive.

The meeting is open to the public. The cost for lunch is $20. For more information, email president@rotaryclubofmaui.org.

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Local Briefs

Pollard receives college scholarship

Joseph Pollard, a senior at Maui High School, has been awarded a partial scholarship to Tuskegee University in Alabama. He plans to major in aeronautical engineering.

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Obamacare topic of talk at AARP event

Jackie Foster, from the Hawaii Health Connector, will give an overview on what is involved in signing up at the regular meeting of the Kula AARP Chapter on Monday at the Kula Community Center.

The meeting will begin with refreshments at 9 a.m, followed by the program at 9:30.

Following Foster’s talk, Maui County Council Chairwoman Gladys Baisa, a Kula AARP member, will install new officers for 2014.

The meeting is open to the public, with no reservations necessary. Members and guests are encouraged to bring food for the Maui Food Bank.

For information, call Diane Logsdon at 878-3448.

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BHS announces graduation meetings

Mandatory meetings have been scheduled for parents or guardians of Baldwin High School graduating seniors planning to participate in commencement activities.

Parents and guardians must attend one of the following meetings:

* 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the BHS auditorium.

* 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the BHS auditorium.

* 9 to 10 a.m. Feb. 1 in the BHS library.

Information about graduation participation, expectations, requirements and logistics will be discussed. A senior graduation participation letter will be distributed and parent permission forms will be collected.

For more information, call Donna Vierra at 727-3192.

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PATH founder will speak at meeting

David Brown, founder and director of Public Access Trails Hawaii, will be the speaker at the Rotary Club of Kihei Sunrise 7:30 breakfast meeting Wednesday at the Five Palms Restaurant at the Mana Kai Maui Resort in Kihei.

The mission of PATH is to build community ties by connecting people and places through trails, urban paths and bikeways, according to a news release. PATH provides digital resources for walkers, bikers and others, including a GPS-activated, searchable database for Hawaii’s trails.

PATH was founded by Brown in 2007. He also is a founding member of the Maui Chapter of the Sierra Club, and a member of the Maui Advisory Committee of Na Ala Hele, Hawaii’s Trail and Access System. Brown will share information and answer questions.

The cost of the breakfast is $22. The public is invited. For more information call President Christine Pawliuk at 292-2242 or see the club’s website at www.kiheirotary.org.

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Association to host coastal experts

Coastal geologist Tara Owens and Maui County Lead Shoreline Planner Jim Buika will present “Managing Coastal Erosion in South Maui” at the Kihei Community Association meeting Tuesday at Kihei Charter Middle School, 41 E. Lipoa St.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. for pupu and discussion. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Nonperishable food items will be accepted for the Maui Food Bank, as KCA begins its 2014 drive. For more information, see www.gokihei.org or call (508) 499-9996.

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Writing coach to speak at meeting

Author, writing coach and teacher Jasmyne Boswell will be guest speaker at the noon meeting of the Rotary Club of Kihei Wailea on Wednesday at Mulligans on the Blue.

The cost for the lunch is $16. The public is welcome.

Boswell has more than 30 years of experience helping people overcome personal stumbling blocks to launching businesses, careers and projects, according to a news release. For more information about the speaker, visit www.jasmyneconsulting.com.

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Aloha Fest today at King’s Cathedral

King’s Cathedral Maui will present Aloha Fest, a free community event, at 9 a.m. today. The cathedral and chapels are at 777 Mokulele Highway in Kahului. Registration for prizes and grocery giveaways will begin at 8:30 a.m. For more information or a free ride, call 871-7311.

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Emma Fusato wins geographic bee

Emma Fusato, a 4th-grade student at Kula Elementary School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Jan. 8 and a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship.

The school-level bee, in which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 26th annual National Geographic Bee, sponsored this year by Google.

Emma will next take a written test. Up to 100 of the top scorers on the written test in each state will be eligible to compete in the state bees on April 4.

Emma is the daughter of Cara and Ryan Fusato.

Second- and third-place finishers were 5th-graders William Faris and Maile Crowe.

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Dental program to hold orientation

The University of Hawaii Maui College’s Dental Assisting Program will hold a general orientation meeting for prospective students at 4 p.m. Thursday at Maui Oral Health Center in Wailuku.

The program is an accredited two-semester program that provides students with the skills needed to work in the dental profession, according to a news release. Students are taught in the classroom, while receiving hands-on clinical training at the Maui Oral Health Center and at private practice dental offices on Maui.

For more information or to reserve a seat, call 984-3250. Program information may be found at www.maui.hawaii.edu/dental.

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School planning 50th anniversary

The public is invited to a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday to help plan Kula Elementary School’s 50th anniversary celebration. The meeting will be in Room F-103 at the school in Kula. The school is in the early stages of planning the event, according to organizers.

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Homeless receive new year’s gift

Family Life Center clients received a special gift of backpacks designed to provide safety and comfort for those who are homeless.

Ron Kaplan, designer and producer of the backpacks, distributed the bags at the shelter on Kane Street in Kahului on Jan. 4. He demonstrated a special feature that includes a large poncho that can be converted to a waterproof pup tent covering or shelter.

Chicago resident Kaplan and his wife, Trudy, have been visiting Maui for the last 10 years. The shelter received 200 backpacks for distribution, and Kaplan said that in the last two years 5,000 bags have been distributed. The partners in the production of the backpacks are the City Park Project and High Sierra.

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Rummage sale will support school band

Emmanuel Lutheran School Band will hold its annual rummage sale from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at 520 W. One St. in Kahului.

Household items, clothes and toys will be among items for sale. Proceeds will support band students as they raise funds to participate in the Hawaii Lutheran Schools Music Fest on Oahu in March.

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Local Briefs

Class of 2018 focus of meeting at school

Parents and guardians of the incoming King Kekaulike High School Class of 2018 are invited to attend an informational meeting at 6 p.m. Saturday in the King Kekaulike High School library. Information presented will focus on explaining the freshman houses, graduation requirements for the Class of 2018, the registration process and freshman course selection.

Members of the King Kekaulike High School Leadership Team will make presentations at their designated stations about specific academic departments, school expectations, activities and athletics.

For more information, contact the school at 573-8710.

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‘Talk story’ session with kupuna Friday

The Makawao Community Association will host a Makawao History Project event from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday on the ground floor of the Silva Building, 1152 Makawao Ave.

The event will feature a “talk story” session with kupuna. Makawao residents Zita Costa, Barbara Tam, Harriett O’Shea and others will share their stories and give a history lesson about the old times in Makawao.

For additional information, contact Cheryl Ambrozic at 283-3732 or send email to association President Mike Foley at mike@makawaocommunity.org.

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Keeping children safe, topic of talk

Dorothy Ghylin-Bennett, an educator, counselor and exclusive trainer of prevention science programs from Channing-Bete Co. Inc., will share information about her work with communities in their efforts to protect children from bad behaviors at the noon meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Maui on Thursday at Carey and Eddie’s Hideaway Restaurant in Kahului.

The meeting is open to the public. Lunch is $12.

For more information, contact Kathy Anderson at 357-8877.

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Electronics e-cycling event in Lahaina

AAAAA RENT-A-SPACE in Lahaina, in association with Maui County Electronics Recycling and Habitat For Humanity, will host an electronic e-cycling event from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday in the parking lot at 3600 Lower Honoapiilani Road.

Electronic equipment will be accepted and delivered to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in Wailuku for refurbishment or recycling.

Items that will be accepted include: TVs, keyboards, laptops, computers, computer monitors, PDAs, MP3 players, monitors, printers, scanners, DVD and VCR players, telephones, cellphones, fax machines, stereos, speakers, video cameras, digital cameras and microwaves.

Items that are not useable or resellable will be shipped to the Mainland for recycling.

No appliances or hazardous wastes will be accepted.

For more information, call Liz May at 669-5200.

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Condo council president will speak today

Penny Munroe, president of the Condominium Council of Maui, will be the guest speaker at the noon lunch meeting of the Rotary Club of Kihei Wailea today at Mulligans on the Blue.

The cost for lunch is $16. The public is invited to attend.

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Pukalani Community Association to meet

The Pukalani Community Association will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Hannibal Tavares Community Center downstairs meeting room.

Agenda items include Pukalani School, Pukalani covenants, conditions and restrictions, and Upcountry bus stops and routes.

The public is invited to attend.

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Meeting, report cards at LHS event

Lahainaluna High School encourages parents to attend its quarterly Parent Information Night at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Samuel Kamakau Library.

The session will include updates from the PTSA and the administration.

Information on the Jan. 31 senior project presentation will be shared. Students participating in the annual Shakespeare monologue contest will also be announced.

After the business meeting portion, first semester report cards will be available for distribution. For more information, call the school office at 662-4000.

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Hawaii People’s Fund workshop Saturday

Hawaii People’s Fund will be hosting an informational briefing, “Kipuka for Change,” from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the University of Hawaii Maui College Ho’okipa Conference Room.

The topic is funding social change, and the workshop will be informal and interactive, according to an announcement.

Send RSVPs to hpfgrants@lava.net or call 593-9969.

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5th-graders to perform ‘The Ramayana’

The Haleakala Waldorf School 5th grade, led by teacher Mercy Kraft, will perform “The Ramayana” at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday on the school campus in Kula. The play will be presented as a dance drama using Kathak dance and Indian musical accompaniment.

The students will be accompanied by Indian classical music master Ross Kent on sarod. A student of Ali Akbar Khan for 36 years, Kent is an international performer, teacher and recording artist. He will be accompanied by Udaya Bryce on tablas and Andrea Walls on violin.

“The Ramayana” is one of the two great epics of India and tells the tale of an incarnation of the god Vishnu and his earthly battle with the demon Ravenna. Performed throughout India for more than 2,000 years, “The Ramayana” has been incorporated by many of the cultures of Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines, according to a news release.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and are available from members of the 5th grade or by calling 281-5653. Savory and sweet Indian snacks will be available for purchase.

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Grant information workshop Friday

The Hawaii Council for the Humanities will present a free grant information workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Friday in the Alexa Higashi Meeting Room of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Topics to be covered include information about HCH and available resources, how to apply using HCH’s online application system and how to write a competitive HCH grant proposal.

For more information, contact Stacy Hoshino, director of grants and special projects, at 469-4551 or shoshino@hihumanities.org.

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Damerell to speak at Rotary meeting

Dr. Mickey Damerell, a Maui orthodontist, will be the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Maui’s noon meeting Thursday in the Class Act Dining Room at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

A book titled “Behind the Green Mask: U.N. Agenda 21” will be the topic of Damerell’s talk.

During his many visits to Jurupa Valley, Calif., to help his 90-year-old father clean nonhazardous and hazardous wastes from his commercial property, he heard an interview with Rosa Koire, the author of the book.

Damerell will share information he learned about the many problems he had been dealing with while releasing his father’s property and what he learned from the book.

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Rummage for Na Hoku soccer team

The Na Hoku soccer team will have a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Kahului Jodo Mission. Items for sale will include a couch, a weight bench, baby items, a girl’s bike and more. There will also be a kalua pig plate lunch and bake sale. HI-5 bottles and can donations will also be accepted.

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St. Anthony grad to intern at Olympics

St. Anthony Junior-Senior High School graduate Michela Moe has been selected by NBC Sports to assist with the network’s coverage of the XXII Olympic Winter Games, being held Feb. 6 to 23 in Sochi, Russia.

Moe is a senior at Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y., majoring in communication management and design in the Roy H. Park School of Communications.

A total of 34 students from the Park School will be serving behind-the-scenes roles at the Olympics.

“I’ll be a hospitality intern, so I will escort athletes and stars from the airport to the hotel, making sure everything is OK. I am most excited to learn about the industry. This only happens every four years, so to be part of the world’s largest sporting event is awesome,” Moe said.

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Maui author will address Rotary club

Author Jill Engledow will speak Friday to the Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui about “The Park in Our Backyard,” a short history of Haleakala National Park, the people and events that led to its establishment as well as its growth and impact on the island today.

The 8 a.m. presentation will be at Casanova Restaurant in Makawao. The charge for breakfast is $15.

The presentation will include a slideshow of vintage photos from Engledow’s book “Haleakala: A History of the Maui Mountain,” which tells the story of the mountain that makes up East Maui, the “crater” at its peak and the national park that protects its land and endangered species.

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Filmmaker to appear at Akaku event

Akaku: Maui Community Television will present “Meet the Filmmaker,” a media salon with Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker William Gazecki, from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 333 Dairy Road in Kahului.

As a documentary filmmaker, Gazecki has been awarded the International Documentary Association’s Distinguished Documentary Achievement Award. His film “Waco: The Rules of Engagement” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. His film “Reckless Indifference” won a Golden Satellite Award from the International Press Academy.

This event is open and free to the public. For more information, call 871-5554.

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Organic certification class at UH-MC

The Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the University of Hawaii Maui College is offering its first organic certification class, beginning Thursday. Between classroom instruction and onsite farm visits, every aspect of certification will be explored.

The class is available to both enrolled students and community members. It is a collaboration between the credit and the continuing education branches of the college, according to an announcement.

UH-MC Instructor Mailani Souza holds a degree in agroecology and environmental quality and has a background in farming diverse tropical vegetables, nuts and fruits, as well as livestock.

The course will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. every Thursday through May 15 at UH-MC. The cost is $123, reduced to $23 if eligible for tuition assistance through a grant from Alexander and Baldwin Inc. To register and confirm eligibility, call Edventure at 984-3231.

Tuition assistance is available for most sole proprietors, businesses, employees and unemployed workers, according to a news release. For more information, email mvstephe@hawaii.edu.

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Iao Preschool plans orientation meeting

Iao Preschool will hold it’s annual “Talk ‘n’ Tour” orientation meeting at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the preschool on the grounds of Iao United Church of Christ, 2371 W. Vineyard St., Wailuku. All interested families are invited.

This meeting is a prerequisite for admission to the preschool beginning in August. Children eligible to enroll must have been born after July 31, 2010.

Good Beginnings-Maui, Preschool Open Doors and Child Care Connection clients are welcome. Iao Preschool is an accepted school for Kamehameha Schools Pauahi Keiki Scholarship awardees, according to a news release. Limited scholarships may be applied for from the school.

Iao Preschool is accredited by the National Association for the Education of the Young Child and is a mission project of Iao United Church of Christ.

For more information visit www.iaoucc.org, email iaopreschool808@gmail.com or call 242-1995.

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Old Lahaina Courthouse hosting lectures

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the Pacific Islands Region of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, in collaboration with the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, is presenting weekly sanctuary lectures at the Old Lahaina Courthouse every Tuesday at 11 a.m. The lectures are free and open to the public.

“Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is pleased with the prospect to extend our outreach on Maui’s west side,” said Malia Chow, sanctuary superintendent. “Our presence at the Old Lahaina Courthouse will allow us to reach visitors and our local population with sanctuary messages, and we are grateful to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation for this opportunity.”

“The Old Lahaina Courthouse has a long history of community use, and we are happy to partner with NOAA to provide a space for the weekly, free whale talks,” said Theo Morrison, executive director of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

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Rotary World Help topic of presentation

Al Stjernegaard, past president of the Rotary Club of Port Moody, British Columbia, will be the speaker at the Rotary Club of Kihei Sunrise 7:30 a.m. breakfast meeting Wednesday at the Five Palms Restaurant at the Mana Kai Maui Resort in Kihei.

Stjernegaard will make a presentation about Rotary World Help. Based out of a Coquitlam, British Columbia, warehouse, Rotary World Help has sent more than 100 humanitarian aid containers around the world, according to a news release.

Stjernegaard will explain how his Rotary Club and District 5050 organized this project.

The cost of the breakfast is $22. The public is invited. For more information, call President Christine Pawliuk at 292-2242 or visit www.kiheirotary.org.

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Activist to address marine noise pollution

Marsha Green will present “Underwater Noise Pollution: Impacts on Cetaceans and Other Marine Life” from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary conference Room.

Green has been studying humpback whale behavior and impacts of marine noise pollution for many years and has been an activist in the area of reducing anthropogenic ocean noise, according to a news release.

She is a professor of psychology at Albright College in the Pennsylvania, the president of the Ocean Mammal Institute, and co-founder of the International Ocean Noise Coalition.

For 27 years, she has been bringing students to Hawaii to study whale behavior in the field. Green became interested in the effect of boats and underwater noise on whales after her research documented the impact of parasail boats on humpback whales in Hawaii, the release said. She has worked with the European Parliament, NATO and the United Nations and on a federal advisory committee to encourage the mitigation of underwater noise and the development of ocean noise regulations.

The sanctuary is at 726 S. Kihei Road. Green’s talk is part of the sanctuary’s ongoing lecture series.

Local News

Local Briefs

Rotary club extends Christmas tree pickup

The Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui will extend its Christmas tree curbside pickup service for Upcountry Maui to include Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A $10 donation per tree will go toward supporting local Rotary projects. Pukalani and Kula residents should call 878-2177, and Paia, Haiku, Makawao residents should call 298-2393 to schedule pickup.

Since the trees will be processed into compost, people are asked to remove all decorations and to set the tree out on the curb before 8 a.m. on the day of pickups.

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Seabury Hall announces open house

Seabury Hall will hold an open house for prospective students and families on Jan. 18. Registration will start at 8:30 a.m. in Cooper House. The program will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

The school’s mission and philosophy, upper and middle school curriculum, extracurricular programs, application and financial aid process will be presented by the head of school, division heads and admissions team. Faculty will give short demonstrations in their classrooms. The morning will also include a campus tour, student presentations and refreshments.

For information and reservations, contact the admissions office at 572-0807 or enelson@seaburyhall.org by Jan. 16.

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Todd Andrew Wilt graduates from college

Todd Andrew Wilt, son of John and Jean Wilt, graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the University of South Carolina’s Marine Science Program. Wilt’s 2013 fall semester 3.5 grade-point average qualified him for the dean’s list. While living in Wailuku, Wilt attended Emmanuel Lutheran School and St. Anthony Grade School. In 2009, he received a two-year culinary arts degree from Maui Community College (now University of Hawaii Maui College).

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Gala for organ and tissue donation effort

The Legacy of Life Hawai’i’s Butterfly Ball assists the organization in its public education and outreach efforts to encourage organ and tissue donation and to provide support to donor families.

The gala will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 15 at the King Kamehameha Golf Clubhouse. In addition to a prime rib and seafood dinner, there will be a silent auction.

Legacy of Life Hawai’i is the only organization in Hawaii that is federally designated to recover organs and tissues for transplant, according to an announcement.

The organization is seeking contributions of merchandise or services for the silent auction. Table sponsors will also be sought. Tax-deductible ticket prices for the gala range from $4,500 for a table of 10 to $165 for an individual ticket. To register, visit donatelifebutterflyball.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact butterflyballmaui@gmail.com or call 264-5335.

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Disaster services training for volunteers

The American Red Cross is recruiting disaster services volunteers on Maui. All disaster services training is provided free of charge. The first step for all new disaster volunteers is to take a series of basic classes.

New volunteer candidates must register for, and attend, the entire series. New volunteer training will be offered on the following dates at the Maui Red Cross Office, 45 N. Market St., Suite A, Wailuku:

* Disaster Services: An Overview

5:30 – 8:30 p.m Jan. 24

* Shelter Fundamentals

8 – 11 a.m. Jan. 25

*Disaster Assessment Basics

11:30 a.m. 2 p.m. Jan. 25

*Disaster Action Team: An Orientation

2 – 5 p.m. Jan. 25

To become a volunteer, the first step is to register online at www.redcross.org/hawaii. For assistance, call the Maui office at 244-0051.

* This article includes a correction from the original published on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. An incorrect address appeared in Local Briefs on Page A8. The email address for The Legacy of Life Hawai’i’s Butterfly Ball is butterflyballmaui@gmail.com. The Maui News apologizes for the error.

Local News

Local Briefs

Counselor to speak at Rotary meeting

The Rotary Club of Kahului will hear from H. Lee Shapiro, a relationship counselor and artist, during its noon luncheon meeting Monday at Cafe O’Lei at the Dunes at Maui Lani.

Shapiro will speak on “How to Fight Fair in All Relationships.”

Shapiro has been a relationship counselor for 34 years. He conducts seminars titled “The Art of Melting Conflict” around the country, according to a news release.

The public is invited to the meeting. The cost for lunch is $20 or a $5 program fee. Information about speakers and club service projects can be found at www.kahuluirotary.org. For more information, call club President Paul Janes-Brown at 572-8000.

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Health care careers focus of conference

A “RoadMap to Healthcare Careers Conference” will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Maui Beach Hotel in Kahului.

The deadline to register for this free event, presented by the Area Health Education Center, is Tuesday. Lunch will be provided at no cost.

For a registration form, visit www.ahec.hawaii.edu and click on “register here.” For more information, email mauiahecrd@gmail.com or call Rosie Davis at 553-3623.

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School recycling Christmas trees today

Makawao Elementary School will recycle Christmas trees from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today near the school playground. A $5 donation is requested, with all proceeds to benefit the school.

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‘Computers for Beginners’ class at libraries

“Computers for Beginners,” a free class for adults, will be presented at two Maui public libraries this month:

* 6 p.m. Wednesday at Makawao Public Library (1159 Makawao Ave.; phone 573-8785)

* 6 p.m. Jan. 14 at Kihei Public Library (35 Waimahaihai St.; phone 875-6833)

Al Bayless, an Internet computer class instructor at the Kaunoa Senior Center in Paia, will conduct the 90-minute course, where participants can learn some basic computer skills including how to use a touchpad and mouse; navigate the desktop; connect to the Internet; create an email account; and create a Word document. The focus of the class will be on PCs running Windows 7. Preregistration is required; seating is limited.

The first five adults who sign up for the course with a valid Hawaii State Public Library System card will have the opportunity to borrow a library netbook. Patrons who plan to borrow a netbook should arrive at the library 30 minutes prior to class to check out their netbook. Participants who own laptop PCs are welcome to bring them to class. A Hawaii State Public Library System card is required to connect to the Internet.

Contact the hosting library to register, or if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed, or to obtain more information.

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Association plans to meet on Tuesday

The Maalaea Community Association will hold its annual meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Maui Tropical Plantation.

Steve Parabicoli, wastewater operations program superintendent, will speak on “The County of Maui’s Water Reuse Program.” Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the new Maalaea-based paramedics and to discuss community issues with South Maui Councilman Don Couch. Members of the public are welcome.

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Author to appear at book-signing events

Kihei resident Susan Michele Moll will sign copies of her children’s book “The Magical Princess” from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Awakening in Paradise, near Longs, 1215 S. Kihei Road.

She will also be signing copies of the book from noon to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at Maui Friends of Library, 300 S. Puunene Ave. in Kahului.

The book is set on Maui and introduces some Hawaiian language, according to a news release.

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Kahului School council to meet

Kahului School Community Council will hold its monthly meeting beginning at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday in the school library. Parents, students and community members are invited. For more information, call 873-3058 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on school days.

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Kaniela Ing to give legislative update

State Rep. Kaniela Ing will be the guest speaker at the noon lunch meeting of the Rotary Club of Kihei Wailea on Wednesday at Mulligans on the Blue. Ing will present an overview of the 2014 legislative session.

The cost for lunch is $16; the public is welcome.

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Fundraising dinner at Wailuku restaurant

Mediation Services of Maui will host fundraising dinners at the Vineyard Food Co., 1951 E. Vineyard St. in Wailuku, on Friday and Saturday, with two seatings each night, at 5:30 and 7:30.

The Scandinavian cuisine menu is prix fixe at $38 per person, and 15 percent of the proceeds will be donated to MSM. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 243-3663 or by

visiting cateringfromsouptonuts.com.

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Auditions for youth singing of anthem

The United State Tennis Association Hawaii Pacific will audition youths 18 or younger to sing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Royal Lahaina Challenger main draw events.

The national anthem will be performed before each match of the main draw events, to take place Jan. 20 to 26. Auditions will be held at 4 p.m. Jan. 17 and 3 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Royal Lahaina Resort. To register or learn more, visit royallahainachallenger.com/anthem.

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Local Briefs

Vietnam subject of presentation

“Images of Vietnam” will be the subject of a talk and slideshow presented by Bob Hanusa at the Kiwanis Club of Maui noon luncheon Thursday at Cary & Eddie’s Hideaway Restaurant in Kahului.

Bob and Maggie Hanusa were among 16 volunteers from around the world who spent two weeks in Vietnam building a fence around a kindergarten school complex.

The meeting is open to the public and visitors are welcome. Lunch is $12.

For more information, call Kathy Anderson at 357-8877.

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Pink Paddlers blessing for 4 canoes

Mana’olana (the Pink Paddlers) will have a blessing of four canoes at 9:45 a.m. Jan. 11 at the Maui Canoe Club on the north end of Sugar Beach.

The public is invited to attend the event.

The bright pink canoes play a role in offering support and healing for cancer survivors, according to an announcement.

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Benefit for Hawaiian Islands Land Trust

The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust will present its 13th annual Buy Back the Beach Benefit Lu’au from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Old Lahaina Luau.

The event will feature a private concert by HAPA.

Tickets are $150 per person and $1,200 for a table of eight. Tickets may be reserved by calling 244-5236 or online at www.hilt.org/bbtb.

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Havron receives recognition at college

Blair Havron of Pukalani was among 24 American International College students in Springfield, Mass., recently recognized for their campus and community involvement. The students were inducted into Who’s Who Among Students at American Universities and Colleges.

Families, friends, faculty and staff filled the Bradley Room at the school on Dec. 12 for the ceremony as Brian O’Shaughnessey, dean of students, presented each student with a plaque.

Havron, a nursing major, is captain of the AIC Volleyball Team and president of the Christian Conqueror’s Club. She is also a member of the 3.0 Club for student athletes.

Students are nominated for inclusion in Who’s Who by campus committees and directory editors on the basis of academic achievement, service to their community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success, according to a news release.

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Maui consultant to speak at meeting

The owner of Pacific Islands Risk Management Group will be the speaker at the 7:30 a.m. breakfast meeting of the Rotary Club of Kihei Sunrise on Jan. 8.

SeaRay Beltran will make the presentation at the Five Palms Restaurant at the Mana Kai Maui Resort in Kihei.

Pacific Islands Risk Management Group is a private, full-service environmental, health, safety and engineer consulting firm with a strong focus on client’s objectives and needs, according to a news release. The mission of the group is to provide a common-sense approach to achieving regulatory compliance with all federal, state, regional and local safety, health, environmental and engineering requirements based on leading-edge technology.

Beltran will share details of the focus of this group and answer questions about current practices.

The cost of the breakfast is $22. The public is invited. For more information contact President Christine Pawliuk at 292-2242 or see the club’s website at www.kiheirotary.org.

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Cahill graduates from Boise State

Jennifer Cahill graduated from Boise State University during winter commencement held on Dec. 20 in Boise, Idaho, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Cahill attended Boise State University on a four-year swim scholarship. During her career on the Boise State Swimming and Diving team, Cahill helped lead the Broncos to three conference titles and a runner-up finish.

Cahill remains the school record holder in the 500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyle events and earned numerous individual medals and three relay titles at conference championships.