Hawaii Tribune-Herald: Opinion

Opinion

Thursday, Jul 29, 2004

Mahalo Letters

Puna Memorial Day
Puna Hongwanji Mission would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to those who participated in our interfaith Memorial Day service on May 29. The service began under blue skies on the temple grounds.

After the roll call, Chaplain George Brennen gave the main speech, and it was during this time that the skies parted and rain poured down. Everyone believed that the drops were tears of joy from the fallen veterans. At the conclusion of the solemn service, the sun once again appeared. No one could have choreographed a more perfect weather.

Participating church groups were Pahoa Sacred Heart Church, Puna Baptist Church, chaplains of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Puna Hongwanji Mission. Also in attendance were representatives of other churches.

We would also like to acknowledge the various veterans groups: Military Order of the Purple Heart, VFW Post No. 3830, VFW Women's Auxiliary, Hawaii AJA Veterans Council, Navy League, Disabled American Veterans, and others.

The day would not have been complete without the presence of the youth: Hilo High School ROTC, Hilo High School Band, Pahoa Elementary School fourth-grader Koa Curry, who gave a moving recitation of "Flanders Field."

We would also like to acknowledge the floral companies and friends for providing flowers and foliage so that bouquets of flowers could be made. The War Memorial sparkled under the bright sun.

Contact Puna Hongwanji Mission if you would like to participate in next year's interfaith Puna Community Memorial Day Service. Again, thank you for your participation.

Marilyn Sato

Puna Hongwanji Mission

Wellness Day kokua
The Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation held their "Spring Into Health" Wellness Day on March 10.

This event was very successful thanks to the numerous donations that were received from many generous local businesses.

On behalf of our board of directors, staff and clients, please accept our heartfelt mahalo for your caring and commitment. We appreciate the support from the local community. Mahalo!

Kaiulani Carvalho

Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation

Mahalo letters (01.13.2004)

Lyman Museum

The Lyman Museum would like to thank the following people for their contributions to the success of our Remains of a Rainbow lecture series. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion for the rare plants and animals of Hawaii with our community.

Mahalo to Jack Jeffrey of the Department of Fish and Wildlife for an extraordinary presentation of Hawaiiês endemic forest birds.

Mahalo to John Kahiapo of the Department of Land and Natural Resources for a fascinating look at Hawaiiês endemic streamlife.

Mahalo to Dr. Susan Cordell of the U.S. Forest Service for an interesting talk about the diversity of the ohia. Mahalo to Tracy Johnson of the U.S. Forest Service for telling us about the efforts of biological control of invasive species in Hawaii.

Mahalo to Yvonne Carter, also of the U.S. Forest Service, for sharing about the wonderful education and volunteer programs being used to save Kaupulehu Dryland Forest. Mahalo to Peter Van Dyke of the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden for the incredible efforts being made to propagate Hawaiian plants near to extinction.

Mahalo to Jerry Stowell of the Maui Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary for sharing his love for the big critters.

Mahalo to Dr. Don Hemmes of UH-Hilo for the fascinating information about the mushrooms of Hawaii. And mahalo to the Hawaii Tribune Herald for helping the Lyman Museum get the word out to the community about these wonderful presentations.

Mahalo,

Linda Collazo,

Public programs/volunteer coordinator

HPP P&R
The Parks and Recreation site at the Hawaiian Beaches Park had a very successful third annual Rubberband Turkey Shoot with close to 60 keikis and parents participating in the event on Nov. 19.

Winners each took home a turkey donated by the Puna recreation staff. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to the staff.

A special mahalo goes out to Michelle Gonsalves who helped with the Turkey Shoot competition. Also, a special thanks to Cindy Anakalea, Ginny Aste, Pat Anakalea, Betsy Kimura and Michelle Gonsalves who volunteered to prepare and serve the free turkey dinner after the event.

We look forward to seeing you at our 2004 event next year.

Much mahalo,

Alana Hindle and HPP

Parks and Recreation staff

P&R Keaau
The Department of Parks and Recreation at Keaau Shipman Gym would like to thank the following persons and stores for their participation and donations in making our Halloween Spooky Stories II contest a success.

A big mahalo to KTA Stores, Keaau 76 Gas Station, Keaau Play It Again Video, Hilo Wal-Mart and Keaau Middle School Grade 6 classes.

We would also like to recognize and thank the winners in this writing contest. Top prizes went to Sonny Puerto Jr., Kuupilialoha Veerman, Lovelyn Calingangan, Lulan Kelekoma, Marina Dally, Duarin Agcalon and Kyle Hanson. Again thanks to all.

Mahalo,

Glenn Kokubun

Recreation director

Keaau Shipman Gym

Kealia ohana
The Ohana and Friends of Pukaana Congregational Church in Kealia, South Kona, held their first Makeke (mini-market day) during our recent Sunday School Hoike.

All proceeds from the Makeke will go to the churchês building fund, to help with the completion of our fellowship hall.

We would like to take this opportunity to say mahalo a nui loa to the community and the many churches who participated in and contributed to the overwhelming success of this blessed day. With the numerous donations, aloha and support that we received, our Hoike theme of Give Thanks to the Lord was, indeed, very appropriate.

Na Iesu e Malama ia oukou apau loa,

Aunty Katherine

Lehua

Domingo, co-chair

Sylvia Ako-Morris,

co-chair

Pukaana Congregational Church

Makeke Committee

Good Samaritan
Recently, while transporting a tractor from Hilo to Waimea, my trailer had a flat tire about 10 miles from Honokaa. I had no spare tire. I jacked the trailer up and removed the tire thinking I could throw it in my truck, detach the trailer and drive to Honokaa to purchase a new tire.

However, the tractor in the trailer had more weight on the hitch than I could lift safely.

So I picked the tire up, swallowed my pride, and put my thumb out. The first vehicle that passed me turned around and returned to offer his help.

The driver was David Tamura. He transported the dirty tire in the back of his SUV, cleared the blueprints and other working paraphernalia from his front passenger seat, and transported me to Honokaa to replace the tire. The third auto store had a tire and replaced it while David waited, and he transported me back to my vehicle.

David is truly a Good Samaritan and his brotherly concern for a strangerês plight is sincerely appreciated. David, thank you very much.

Bob Arthurs

Kurtistown

Makuu Mele
Mahalo for all the kokua from our community, merchants and entertainers of Hilo, Pahoa and the moku puni o Hawaii nei for supporting our Makuu Mele Kalikimaka Hoolaulea held on Nov. 22 at our cultural center.

We were blessed by your presence at our aina hoopulapula.

Mahalo for the people who entered the wreath and lei contest and all the vendors who participated in the daysê affair.

Aloha ka kou,

Emily Naeole

Coordinator,

Makuu Farmers Association

Mele Kalikimaka Hoolaulea

Easter Seals
Easter Seals Hawaii would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the families and friends of Easter Seals who participated in our 2nd Annual Gingerbread Festival held on Dec. 14 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Sangha Hall.

We would also like to extend our mahalo to Hardy Iida of Sangha Hall, Wayne Takasaki and the Young Buddhist Association, the Hilo High and Waiakea High School Key Club members, the Precious Moments Club members and the many other volunteers who helped at this yearês festival.

We would also like to acknowledge the generosity and creativity of the Corporate Team participants: KTA, HFS Federal Credit Union, Laulima Termite, Starbucks, Kuhio Grille, Mary Begier Realty and Brilhante LLC.

Everyoneês support and participation made this Gingerbread Festival a successful and fun event.

Mahalo,

Wendy Correa

Program manager

Easter Seals

Hawaii

Hilo

Rural Health
The State Hawaii Rural Health Association, the State Office of Rural Health, and the Hawaii Island Rural Health Association send a heartfelt thank you to all who attended and supported the Hawaii Rural Health Association 2003 Annual State Conference: Rural Health at Work in Communities hosted on the Big Island.

Your evaluations reflected your appreciation of the array of presenters showcasing what Rural Health Associations have done, are doing, and will continue to do for you and your community. All aspects of our state (culture, economy, education, science and technology) are interdependent to the health of our communities.

Special thanks to the sponsors who made this successful event possible: Earl and Doris Bakken Foundation, Hawaii Community College (Rural Development Project), Hawaii County Office of Aging, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Hawaii Medical Services Association, Hawaii State Department of Health, Injury and Prevention Control Program, State Office of Rural Health and University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Lei Kapono

Mochi pounding

The Wailea Village sixth annual mochi pounding drew more than 400 people and its success was possible only through the combined efforts of so many people from the immediate community and beyond.

Community events can only happen when people come from their hearts, and in serving and helping and celebrating with others.
We are all transformed with great joy and a great feeling.

Our seventh annual mochi pounding is on Friday, Dec. 31, 2004, and we can only look forward with a heightened sense of wonder that we will meet and celebrate again! In deepest gratitude.

Akiko Masuda

Wailea Village Historic Preservation Community

Go To Top Of Page

All rights reserved. Copyright 2001 Hawaii Tribune Herald.
Content on this site may not be archived, retransmitted, saved in a database, or used for any commercial purpose without the express written permission of Hawaii Tribune Herald.