Big Island: There is an urgent need for water for the Marshallese community living in Ocean View on the Big Island.  This community was forced out of their island, Enewetak Atoll, due to the series of nuclear testing that were done on that island.  Enewetak is also where the US military buried the nuclear waste (photo attached) from the bomb testing.  This island is contaminated!  This community chose Ocean View because it is affordable, it offers the same food they are used to (fish, taro, coconut, breadfruit), and it allows community members to continue the lifestyle they lived back home (multi-generational families living under one roof.)  Unfortunately, there is no water and the only way to get water is to haul it in from the county water line.  Some families can only afford a 5-gallon or a 300-gallon container of water per day, some have no car so they rely on neighbors that own vehicles to help haul water for them.  The immediate need is to purchase a flatbed truck that can haul larger amounts of water.  A used truck is worth $50-$60,000.  The Rotary Clubs of Hawaii Island have made a commitment to help this community and have raised $30,000 so far.  This project is being spearheaded by the Rotary Club of South Hilo.  Rotarian Dela Nakamoto says, "As a Marshallese, I cannot sit by and watch my family members go through this.  I ask for your help in raising money for this cause.  My goal is to raise $10,000 and I plan to challenge 100 Rotarians and non-Rotarians to each give up to $100.  I thank those of you who have made a commitment so far. If you would like to participate in this cause, please let me know how much you would like to give and send in your check payable to: Rotary Club of South Hilo Foundation, P.O. Box 6173, Hilo, HI  96720  Submitted by President Della Nakamoto, RC of Kahului

 

Oahu, Jan 28, 5-9pm. Hawaii Beer Fest 2023 Winter Edition at Bishop Museum Great Lawn. Rotary Club of Honolulu, The Odom Corporation,  Hawaiian Ice, Summit Media, Power 104.3, KCCN FM 100, and Krater 96.  Event-goers can sample over 100 craft and draft beer styles and hard seltzers, featuring select international breweries, and including America and Hawaii’s favorite beer brands and breweries. Hawaii Beer Fest will also feature a variety of food booths, retail booths, adult party games, as well as, exclusive samples of beers found locally only at Hawaii Beer Fest…for one-night only!  A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Rotary Club of Honolulu. Tickets for the 21 and over event will be available at TicketTailor.  More information at hawaiibeerfest.com

 

Maui: Over 70 gifts delivered to Ka Hale A Ke Ola Resource Center in Lahaina

On the Wednesday before Christmas members and friends of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset delivered over 70 gifts for keiki at Ka Hale A Ke Ola Resource Center in Lahaina. Project Chair Past President Joanne Laird worked with Misty Bannister, Children’s Services Coordinator, to secure the name, age, and gender for 45 children ages 4 months to 24 years old. Personal gifts valued at $50 each were purchased for each child. Accepting the gifts was Bannister and Ka Hale A Ke Ola staff members Edna Kama and Clarence Alo. Along with the gifts from the members of the Lahaina Sunset Rotary, extra toys and gifts were delivered from 5A Rent-a-Space for additional children. 5A Rent-a-Space also provided 24 backpacks and school-age children’s’ individual gifts were placed inside the backpacks. To quote Misty Bannister: “We are so grateful for the kind and very generous friends we have at the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset. They really went above and beyond to fulfill the wishes of the keiki at our Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless shelter in Lahaina. I feel blessed with the gift of meeting these amazing people and connecting them with our precious keiki. Generous members and friends of this club have certainly blessed our youth and their families, and they most definitely have blessed us with such a beautiful friendship. We are forever grateful.”

Kauai: Kauai’s largest holiday celebration is back ― in a big way. Thousands lined up Rice Street in Lihue on Friday evening to watch the famous “Lights on Rice” Parade. It’s the first time the parade has been held since the pandemic began. The parade kicked off at 6 p.m. at Vidinha Stadium, and made its way down to the county building. Even before the parade started, the atmosphere along the parade route was electric. This year, there were over 60 units and some 3,000 participants. “First time in three years we’re able to do the ‘Lights on Rice’ Parade. We’re very excited,” said David Lister, president of the Rotary Club of Kauai, which organizes the event. “Sixty-five entries in this year’s parade and it’s just great that the Rotary Club can do this for the island.” Families staked out their spots along the parade route hours before the event started and said it feels good to bring this back for the people of Kauai. Fellow island resident Jlyn Espinosa added, “It’s a way to get the community together. It’s an exciting time, it’s the start of the holiday season.”

Oahu: WAIANAE COAST CHRISTMAS PARADE sponsored by Waianae Coast Rotary Club. The event hade 1,000 marchers, 30 vehicles, 5 bands. It started at Waianae Boat Harbor, to Farrington Hwy., to end at Waianae Mall. Every year, a new theme is chosen, and local organizations bring out their most creative efforts—and candy! The parade sports floats, marching bands, horse groups (and their pooper scoopers!), boats, trucks, anything that moves!

Big Island: The Rotary Club of Hilo awarded nearly $32,000 to three local nonprofits from the proceeds of the Hilo Brewfest 2022. Bob Hanley, Club member and Brewfest Originator, Beverly Heikes, Club President made the presentation to The Hilo Medical Foundation’s Primary Care Physician Training and the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of East. Each received $13,300. Added for this year was the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island for $5,320. These awards total nearly $32,000 that stays right here to help our local communities.

 

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp registration is open now.  Please let high school students (preferably Sophomores and Juniors) know about this opportunity in February.  Sponsoring Rotary Clubs fund the camps.  More info and to volunteer, go to:   https://www.rylahawaii.org/

 

Zone 26/27 Institute Keynote Speaker Videos are now available.  If you would like to be inspired and hear from these awesome speakers who spoke at the November Salt Lake City Institute, here is the link to John Hewko, Gordon McInally, Lorlei Higgins and Marcelo Haick’s recording:  https://vimeopro.com/southamcreative/2022-big-west-rotary-institute

 

Rotary International offers select discounts to our members in some areas of the world.

You will find discounts on entertainment, shopping, travel, and some products like Zoom.

Save 20% monthly or 20% annually on video conferencing from Zoom.

 

Go to members@abenity.com (signing in with your rotary.org user name and password)

Check out the new year offers from Hello Fresh, LasikPlus, Garmin, Restaurant.com, hp, Sam’s Club, Disney Resorts and much more.

The Rotary Club of Pearlridge is proud and honored to recognize the Pearl City High School Interact Club for their acts of kindness by designing special Holiday cards with their heartfelt messages and images that were sent to hospitalized children in America. The 2022 Cards for Hospitalized Children Project was chaired by PCHS Interact club member McKenna Runyan who presented the card project to the club to implement as a community service project to benefit and brighten the spirits of hospitalized children in Hawaii, as well as across the country during the Holiday season. PCHS Interact Club Advisor Mr. Dane Souza invited RCOP President Dick Mosko and me, Barry Villamil, RCOP Director of Interact Clubs, to sit in on a few classes while the students crafted their wonderful and extremely meaningful Holiday cards that was completed the same day the students were scheduled to go on Winter break on Friday, December 16, 2022.