Three Hawaii Island paniolo legends honored

Video by David Corrigan, voice of Stephanie Salazar

WAIMEA, Hawaii: Thousands were drawn to the north side of the island for the 19th annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival on Saturday.

Organized by members of the upcountry community and Hawaii County’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the festival marks the blooming of the historic cherry trees at Church Row Park and celebrates the age-old Japanese tradition of hanami, which translates to “cherry blossom viewing party.” After a seasonal winter chill, the trees typically are blooming in February.

This year’s festival holds a special distinction… it is part of the nationwide 100-year anniversary of the 1912 planting of cherry trees along the Potomac River in Washington D.C.

The Japan-U.S. Cherry Blossom Centennial celebration features the planting of cherry trees across the nation as a continued symbol of friendship between the two countries.

Yoshihiko Kamo, Consul General of Japan in Honolulu, was on hand for the event, as was Dr. Tetsuo Koyama, director of the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden.

Using seeds presented from the Embassy of Japan that are especially suited to Hawaii’s climate, seedlings were cultivated last fall for planting at the festival.

One seedling, Cerasus jamasakura Cv. Sendaiya, was ceremoniously planted 10:30 a.m. in Church Row Park by a number of officials and dignitaries.

Also helping with the tree planting: Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi, who had a busy day at the festival… not only planting cherry seedlings, but also pounding mochi, with the assistance of Kona Hongwanji Mission outside the Fireside Food Court, and joining his wife Takako during a bon dance at the Festival Entertainment Stage.

It was at the Festival Entertainment Stage where a trio of paniolo were commemorated: Charles T. Kimura, Charles T. Onaka and Jamie Dowsett.

The Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival is produced by the Hawai’i County Parks and Recreation Department. Overseen by the park’s culture education administrator, Roxcie Waltjen, the festival is a community-wide effort by a dedicated team of volunteers

By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by David Corrigan]

HALAWA, Hawaii: In North Kohala, a celebration was held at the Tong Wo Society building in Halawa in honor of Chinese New Year.

Shortly after 10 a.m., with a large crowd gathered around the yard of the building on the only day it is open to the public, the bang of firecrackers roused the lion dancers, who swirled around the pyrotechnics to the din of the drum.

The lion dancers also turned their attention to the Tong Wo Society building, going through the structure to offer a blessing.

Built in 1885, the building is said to be the state’s oldest Chinese building. The Tong Wo Society is currently hoping to raise $25,000 in order to purchase and install a new roof for the building.

The people also had a chance to feed envelopes of money and dollars bills to the lion dancers outside. A potluck followed the activities.

The Chinese New Year is a 15-day celebration that begins with the first new moon in January and ends with the first full moon. Also known as the Spring Festival, this marks Chinese year 4710, or the Year of the Dragon.

The Chinese lunar-solar calendar rotates through 12 zodiacal animals: the rat, the ox, the tiger, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the sheep, the monkey, the rooster, the dog and the pig. Legend says these animals were chosen simply because they were the only creatures to accept Buddha’s invitation to gather on the new year.

The holiday is marked by rituals, traditions and community celebrations intended to foster health, happiness, prosperity and luck. And of course… plenty of firecrackers!

By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by David Corrigan]

WAIMEA, Hawaii: Some well known faces in culinary TV were in Waimea on Thursday, giving students at the Waimea Middle School a taste of the Celebrity Chef Tour.

Jonathan Waxman, Ming Tsai, and Tyler Florence – omnipresent personalities on the Food Network – are on the island on the second annual Celebrity Chef Tour benefiting the James Beard Foundation. A big dinner is scheduled for Saturday evening at the Canoe House at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, but the first stop was the Mala’ai Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School.

These enthusiastic students foraged for the ingredients, all grown by the students and staff at Mala’ai, for use in some improvised masterpieces by these master chefs…

Celebrity cocktail mixologist Manny Hinojosa got things started with some virgin beverages. Then Waxman and Tsai went to town, giving some quick tips from the pros as they prepared some other dishes.

Meanwhile, Tyler Florence hit the grill to cook up some special omelets, filled with the herbs grown by these students who later got to dig in to the gourmet breakfast.

This great learning opportunity was made possible in large part thanks to garden volunteer Susan Tuason, herself a chef and also the wife of the Mauna Lani’s Executive Chef, Sandy Tuason.

On Saturday, the celebrity chefs will prepare an unforgettable six-course dinner centered around the best and freshest local island ingredients. Each course will be matched with exquisite wines and Hinojosa’s flavorful cocktails for select courses. It is possible that diners will find some ingredients on the menu that were grown right here by Waimea’s young chefs of the future.

By Lynn Beittel, David Corrigan, and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by Lynn Beittel of Visionary Video]

WAIMEA, Hawaii: The 37-year-old Waimea man charged in the death of a 3-year-old girl under his care will stand trial.

Ezekiel Wakinekona had a preliminary hearing on Thursday, facing charges of manslaughter in a Waimea courtroom, following the death of Marley Makanani.

On Sunday, Makanani died of brain damage due to near drowning along with head trauma due to child abuse, according to the medical examiner.

There were about 15 to 20 supporters of Wakinekona in the courtroom.

In testimony given during the hearing, a North Hawaii Community Hospital doctor described the apparent injuries to the victim the night she was brought into the emergency room.

Makanani was flown to Kapiʻolani Hospital on Oahu, where she later died.

The defendant’s wife – Kahealani Wakinekona – also testified. She described the moment where Ezekiel came to her with the injured Makanani.

Kahealani is a nurse at North Community Hospital, and said that as the sole breadwinner of the family, Ezekiel takes the role of caretaker of the family’s six children.

Makanani and her two sisters were left in the care of Wakinekona by her mother, Tasha Nihau-Lindsey… she is a cousin of Wakinakona’s.

Now, the State Department of Human Services says Marley’s siblings remain in foster care and Child Welfare Services is working with the family to identify other relatives and kin as placement options. While the children are in foster care, visits are being arranged for the children to visit with their family.

Ultimately, Judge Melvin Fujino found that there was enough evidence to send the case to Circuit Court. Fujino set Wakinekona’s bail at $500,000.

By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by David Corrigan]

WAIMEA, Hawaii: The Waimea Community Association held its January Town Meeting on Thursday evening. The gathering is becoming a pre-legislative session tradition, allowing the community a chance to interface with elected officials right before another period of crafting state laws.

First district State Senator Malama Solomon was front and center, detailing her priorities for 2012.

Also at the meeting: State Representative Cindy Evans, who explained her goals for the upcoming session.

Also on hand, councilmember Pete Hoffmann, giving an update on Hawaii County issues…

But the night wasn’t just about what the elected officials want… For the third year, attendees let it be known what their “hot button” issues are in Waimea.

Of course, taxes and job creation are always high on the list…

But so were energy and electric bills…

Of course, being held at the Waimea Middle School cafeteria – it stands to reason that plenty of folks in attendance are concerned with the health of state charter schools.

The Kawaihae Harbor always gets attention…

As well as concerns of coqui frogs – slowly making their way into the area surrounding Waimea – and other invasive species.

And in Hawaii, preservation of the island’s precious resources is always a priority…

Also during the meeting, the election of Sherman Warner as the WCA President for a second two-year term, and Patti Cook for Vice President.

And speaking of Patti Cook, its just a short time removed from the Hawaii Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate the 2011 Final Reapportionment Plan, which would have redrawn the political boundaries for elected office across the state.

Patti joined Malama Solomon, Louis Hao, and Steven Pavao in a lawsuit against the plans, because the commission did not exclude all non-permanent residents. The commission voted to include many military members that in the past have been excluded, thus skewing the expected numbers. The court agreed that the commission’s plan was unconstitutional and ordered a new plan to be drawn up. The result will likely be a forth senate seat for the Big Island, and possibly another statehouse seat.

Media release from Parker School:

WAIMEA, Hawaii: Parker School is pleased to announce the availability of two Richard Smart Scholar grants for the 2012-2013 school year. Each grant of $8,500 will be awarded to one incoming freshman and one current Parker School student entering the freshman class in the fall of 2012. These grants will be given to students exhibiting exceptional academic potential on the basis of both need and merit. The Richard Smart Scholar program is a renewable grant awarded to students in their freshman year and renewed each year of their high school career based upon acceptable academic performance.

Parker School provides a college-preparatory experience in a small-school setting where students develop academically while exploring their individual talents. Parker School students bring this mission to life each day on campus, whether they are attending AP classes, participating in fine arts ensembles, team sports, or preparing for an upcoming debate tournament. Parker School students are well prepared for college upon graduation.

Applicants must complete the Parker School admissions application, financial aid application and essay. Scholarships will be awarded based on need, merit and the submission of an essay with a maximum of 600 words responding to the following question: Where do you see yourself in 10 years, and how can Parker School help you get there?

For more information about the Richard Smart Scholar grant, please contact Ann Renick in the Parker School admissions office at 885-7933 x107.

By David Corrigan, Tim Bryan and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by Tim Bryan]

WAIMEA, Hawaii: This week, we reported on the Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade that rolled down Mamalahoa Highway on Saturday night…

But that wasn’t the only part of the day’s holiday celebration.

The Lokahi Giving Tree Project was the focus of the Upcountry Fair at KTA’s Waimea Center where dozens of musicians, singers and dancers volunteered their time and talent to celebrate the coming holidays and to encourage community friends to give generously to this year’s Lokahi Giving Tree Project.

The event was emceed by Penny Keli’i Vredenburg… who introduced the various performing artists like Darlene Ahuna and Waimea’s amazing blind student-musician Kuha’o Kawa’auhau-Case.

People brought donations – small and large… the “absolute necessities” such as baby diapers, toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bath soap, laundry detergent, feminine products, rice, non-perishable foods

Gift cards to various local merchants were also encouraged.

Foodland, local farmers markets, gas stations, Costco, Walmart or Target.

Established in 1985 by newscaster Leslie Wilcox and Mariellen Jones, the Lokahi Caring Project provides people with opportunities to relieve the burden of struggling individuals and families through donations of goods, cash equivalents, enriching experiences, and advocacy.

The Lokahi Caring Project is a unique partnership between KHON2 and the non-profit organization Keiki O Ka Aina Family Learning Centers.

By Tim Bryan, David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by Tim Bryan]

WAIMEA, Hawaii: One of the biggest holiday parades on Hawaii Island was held this Saturday, on a wet and chilly night in Waimea.

Part of the town’s All-Day Lokahi Giving Tree Celebration, the 51st Annual Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade was themed “Embracing our Children”… and as it always does, the procession of big rigs, floats, and locomotives – all adorned with Christmas lights – thrilled the crowd that lined the Mamalahoa Highway.

The parade began at 5:30 p.m. this year- a half-hour earlier than previous years – and closed the highway from the historic Church Row Park to the Lindsey Road intersection. The route then turning right onto Lindsey Road past Parker School to Waimea Park.

Many of the favorite parade participants were in cue, like HELCO’s Toys For Tots Train, and North Hawaii Community Hospital’s Santa Float.

Food concessions provided warm treats for the onlookers. Each of the concessions contributed a share of their proceeds with the Lokahi Giving Tree project.

Also new this year – every parade unit was asked to make a donation at the start of the parade – and also, just before the first units began marching through town, a Lokahi Bucket Brigade of volunteers walked the parade route – to make it easy for all to make a small donation.

The Waimea Community Association has issued this media release:

WAIMEA TOWN MEETING THURS., DEC. 1 TO EXPLORE DEEPLY ROOTED COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, FOLLOWED BY 2ND ANNUAL LOKAHI TREE LIGHTING

Two men from diverse backgrounds – attorney Brian DeLima and retiring South Kohala Police Capt. James Sanborn – each with deeply rooted community connections — will top the agenda for Waimea Community Association’s next Town Meeting, which will be held at 5 p.m., Thurs., Dec. 1, 2011 at Parker School Theatre — a different time and place than usual for the association.

The meeting will begin promptly at 5 p.m. (a half hour earlier than usual), to accommodate a 6:30 p.m. lighting of the giant Norfolk Pine Tree fronting Parker School’s historic Barbara Hall. Everyone is invited to both the Town Meeting and 2nd Annual Lokahi Giving Tree Lighting, which will include caroling, storytelling about Waimea Christmases Past and the start of the in-gathering of “absolute necessities” for Hawai’i Island families.

WAIMEA TOWN MEETING

The Town Meeting will begin with a briefing by Capt. Sanborn, who is formally retiring the day before – Wed., Nov. 30 – wrapping up 39 years with the Hawai’i County Police Department. Capt. Sanborn will begin by sharing a recently-completed 5-year plan that each of the island’s district commanders was required to develop for 2012-2017. After reviewing the plan’s highlights, he will reflect on his years in the department, where, among other things, he helped develop and imbed Community Policing into the department’s practices and procedures.

“I believe my legacy lies with Community Policing and the relationships built over the years with the communities on the Big Island that have allowed the Department to ‘bridge the gap’ that existed for a number of years,” he said.

Born on Oahu, Sanborn’s family moved to Hawai’i Island when he was young and he grew up and has spent most of his life here except when serving with the U.S. Navy Seabees in Vietnam. He graduated with the 24th Recruit Class and through the years, was assigned to the South Hilo Patrol Division, Traffic Enforcement Unit, Administrative Bureau where he handled Health and Safety Issues and Industrial Accidents. Later he served on the Kona Patrol, which is where he began developing a training curriculum for Community Policing, and then was transferred to the North Hilo District and later the South Hilo Patrol Departments – where he managed Community Policing. He was promoted to Captain in 2007 and assigned to the North Kohala District, and six months later, assumed command of the South Kohala District until the current Capt. Richard Miyamoto was promoted and assumed the North Kohala assignment.

“Waimea and South Kohala have been extremely fortunate to have Capt. Sanborn command the district for the past four years – largely because of his dedication to pro-active partnering and problem solving inherent to Community Policing,” said WCA President Sherman Warner.

“We appreciate that he will spend his first night ‘out of uniform’ with us to reflect back and also advise us on what may lie ahead for us and the department,” Warner said.

Next on the agenda will be a “listening session” with Brian DeLima – a format designed to help members of the entirely new Board of Education meet with their respective communities and get feedback on current issues, which vary widely from district to district, said Sen. Malama Solomon, who arranged for DeLima to attend the Waimea Town Meeting.

“While I have worked closely with Mr. DeLima for many years and especially so in recent months to share my constituents’ thoughts, hopes and concerns, there is nothing quite like discussing issues face-to-face with the families, educators, administrators and employers who depend on, live with, or provide public education services every day,” she said.

“Also, Mr. DeLima, as a former County Councilman, brings a wealth of public policy experience to this position, but public education is the largest budget item for our state, and the size of the budget is only dwarfed by the complexity of a system that should be ‘the door of opportunity’ for the next generations.

“Too often, our pubic education system in Hawai’i falls short, so I also hope this meeting will be an opportunity to share ideas about innovative strategies to improve academic and fiscal accountability at all levels,” said Sen. Solomon.

Everyone is welcome to WCA Town Meetings and membership is not required. As always, all who attend WCA monthly Town Meetings are asked to help support local food pantries by bringing a donation – preferably cash, a check, KTA Sav-A-Tapes and/or Foodland Maka’i My Rewards – or non-perishable food items. Also, as always, Starbucks Waimea will provide hot coffee for which the association suggests a small donation be made, again to support local food pantries.

2ND ANNUAL WAIMEA TREE LIGHTING

At 6:30 p.m., everyone in the North Hawai’i community is invited to the 2nd Annual Lokahi Giving Tree Project lighting ceremony, which will be emceed by Waimea’s own Darde Gamayo from KAPA-FM. It will include caroling with Ginger Bertelmann, Melissa Samura and Parker School students, music by “Makeshift Heroes” – which includes several members of the Honoka’a Jazz Band, and storytelling about Christmases Past by Leningrad Elarionoff.

The tree lighting formally kicks off this year’s Lokahi Giving Tree Project, which is organized by community volunteers to help perpetuate Richard Smart’s legacy of generosity by being sure everyone in the community is remembered during the holiday season. The project targets those who are struggling and not served by other agencies – most often, working poor, or grandparents, aunties and uncles raising grandchildren, or individuals or families experiencing dramatic changes in circumstances during already difficult economic times.

During the tree lighting, Rhonda Bell and Nancy Carr Smith will share several stories about some of the challenging circumstances that individuals and families in this community are experiencing, and also explain what kind of kokua is needed – from direct donations of “absolute necessities” to organizing a toy or food drive, to adopting an individual or family, to helping out at the all-day Lokahi In-Gathering on parade day – Sat., Dec. 3 – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at KTA’s Waimea Center, or thereafter at the temporary storefront in Parker Ranch Center next to Village Burgers.

Hot beverages, chili ‘n rice and hot dogs will be offered for purchase by students from Kanu o ka ‘Aina public charter school prior to and throughout the tree lighting, caroling and talk-story. Everyone is urged to dress warmly, grab a quick bite to eat and then join the sing-a-long.

Volunteers running this year’s Lokahi Giving Tree Project assure contributors that items gathered on island will remain here on our island to support the Waimea and North Hawai’i community.

If you know of someone in need, recommendations are welcome and Lokahi Giving Tree volunteers will meet with the individual or family. The focus of this program is serving those who are not receiving other types of assistance such as food stamps or subsidized housing.

To recommend recipients or apply for assistance, or if you are interested in adopting one or more individuals, please contact Gina Lu’uloa (756-3008) or Rhonda Bell (880-1984).

Schools, churches, businesses and clubs interested in lending a hand are asked to contact Rhonda Bell (880-1984) or Nancy Carr Smith (896-2239).

For more information about Waimea Community Association, call President Sherman Warner (885-1725) or go to www.WaimeaTown.org.

By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by David Corrigan]

KAPAAU, Hawaii: The North Kohala community celebrated a moment years in the making here in Kapa’au on Saturday, when the maile lei was untied on the Hawaii Wildlife Center.

The Hawaii Wildlife Center is the first state-of-the-art response facility in the Pacific islands exclusively for native wildlife. Operators say the facility will provide for the best achievable medical and husbandry care for sick, injured, contaminated and orphaned native wildlife, including those affected by natural and man-made disasters and by returning those successfully treated animals back to the wild.

For Linda Elliott, the President & Director of the center, it took a lot of work to reach this point.

A performance by Hula Halau Kalaniumi Aliloa O Hawaii Nei marked the occasion. The facility also received a powerful blessing by Kumu Hula Raylene Ha’alelea Kawaiaea.

A number of dignitaries were on hand to congratulate Linda and her many volunteers.

The facility is located directly behind Kohala Middle School, and has already received lots of help from its students.

Jim Kraus, manager of the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, was also in attendance, and said the new wildlife center will be an asset to the island.

The $3 million center will consist of a wildlife treatment facility, an interpretive lanai and an education pavilion. The 4,500-square-foot building includes rooms for wildlife intake, holding, washing, drying, food preparation, lab work, medical treatment and isolation. There’s also an outdoor recovery yard,

The facility will serve the central Pacific and Hawaiian archipelago, including the largest area under conservation status in the U.S., Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, where an estimated 14 million Hawaiian seabirds live.

By David Corrigan and Tim Bryan

[File Video by David Corrigan, county of Hawaii, and Lynn Biettel]

NORTH KOHALA, Hawaii: Once again, the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission has opted to list several North Kohala land parcels as top priorities for acquisition.

As we reported earlier, number one was Banyan’s Beach in Kona, but after that, the next five spots on the list are all in North Kohala.

At number two, the North Kohala cultural corridor that would stretch from Hapuu to Kapanaia, over 166 acres in all. Third is Niulii, nearly 50 acres close to Keokea Beach Park. Mahukona comes in at number four, although it is reportedly not for sale. Fifth is the Kukuipahu-Haena parcel in North Kohala, sixth is the Keawenui easement in North Kohala.

Some of the choices have appeared in previous annual priority lists. The number of North Kohala locations on the priority list even raised the eyebrows of another councilmember in eary 2010.

North Kohala has been the most active region on the island when it come to preserving their coastal lands.

In September, the community gathered to celebrate the purchase and protection of lands in Kaiholena, Pao’o, and Lapakahi. Dignitaries like U.S. Senator Dan Inouye spoke of the area with reverence.

The priority list will be part of an annual report submitted to Mayor Billy Kenoi.