I hope all are doing well in the crazy weather we have been experiencing all over the U.S. With Spring coming soon, we can look forward to the Spring Training Assemblies and getting out for the April Rotarians at Work projects.
It was wonderful to see the gatherings to celebrate Rotary’s 118th birthday and celebrate what The Rotary Foundation does.
Thank you to the event coordinators for their hard work and to our guests, Shirley Grace and Jon Teich. They had a great time as you can see from the Maui whale watching expedition! Special thank you to all of you for supporting The Rotary Foundation because we see first hand how the money is put to good use to help our communities and people in need. We can be proud of all the good work YOU have done.
Keep up the good work and we’ll do more celebrating at the Hilo District Conference to recognize the impactful projects you all are doing around the District!
During March, Rotary Water and Sanitation Month, we’re celebrating our commitment to create healthier communities by supplying clean water and sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Here are just a few examples of club service projects that are creating a lasting impact:
Clean water is a basic human right that many are often denied. There are 2.5 billion people in the world that lack access to improved sanitation and 748 million people that don’t have clean drinking water. Nearly 1400 children die each day from diseases caused by lack of sanitation and unsafe water. When people have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives. Through Rotary programs, we make schools healthier, bring water for a communities, provide access to toilets and more.
“I raise up my voice — not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard … we cannot all succeed when half of us are held back." Malala Yousafza
Welcome to March! It was in 1987 that Congress declared this month National Women’s Month, celebrating the vital role that women and girls have played in American history.
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. You already know that Women are active participants in Rotary, serving their communities in increasing numbers and serving in leadership positions in Rotary. The 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary. The vote followed the decades-long efforts of men and women from all over the Rotary world to allow the admission of women into Rotary clubs, and several close votes at previous Council meetings.
Rotary International also celebrates women and girls through the Girls’ Empowerment Initiative which debuted in 2022 and has continued today. Rotary Clubs are encouraged to engage in projects that empower girls, through education, health, clean water, disease prevention, community and economic development, the environment or peace and conflict prevention-Rotary’s seven areas of focus. Our District has a team of committed volunteers from Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai who meet monthly via zoom to discuss potential girl’s empowerment projects and share ideas for speakers that clubs can use as a resource for girls’ empowerment issues (the speakers and projects are listed on our Girls’ Empowerment page on this website CLICK HERE to go to the sitepage). Please click the Read more button to find out about the upcoming events.
Maui, Mar 1-8, RC of Kihei-Wailea, online auction for local and global programs. We will coordinate local pick-up/delivery with winning bidders. Unfortunately, shipping is not available. Gift certificates can be mailed. Go to mauirotary.org for more info. CLICK HERE to bid
Oahu, Mar 4, 8:30am-Noon. Volunteers needed for RC of Downtown Honolulu's service project at Ke‘elikōlani Middle School, 1302 Queen Emma St, Honolulu, HI 96813. The purpose of the effort was to prepare the interior walls of the building for future murals to be created on them by a local artist. Contact: Nathan Kam, +1 808 741 2763, nathan.kam@finnpartners.com
Maui, Mar 1-31. RC of Kihei-Wailea. Food Drive for the Maui Food Bank in honor or Mark Harbison. Drop off donations to any Maui Coldwell Banker Office. In partnership with the Coldwell Banker Island Prop Foundation, this food drive honors Mark Harbison, our late friend, peer and president of the Maui Foodbank for 10 years. For this community outreach initiative for the Maui Food Bank, all donations (food and monetary) made in Mark's name.
Hawaii East, Mar 4 and Apr 22, 1-4pm. RC or Pahoa Sunset, South Hilo and Hilo at Kua O Ka La Charter School, 345 Makalika St, Hilo. Genki Hou! Genki Ball making for the toss on April 22. Contact Susie Osborne at 808 640-3439, susie@kuaokala.org
Hawaii East, Mar 5, 2-24pm. Girls Empowerment Ladies Tea at Arc in Hilo, 1099 Waianuenue Ave, Hilo. Calling all women and girls. Join Hawai’i Rotary and hear from local, inspirational speakers to learn how to have your voice, as a girl or woman heard. Please bring feminine hygiene products for an upcoming service project. Contact Hawai’i Island GEI Representative, Connie Ichinose for questions (ConnieIchinose@gmail.com). Attendance: $15 per person - RSVP below and pay at the door: CLICK HERE to register
Celebrate International Women's Day 2023 with Rotary. Mar 8 to 13. Virtual, multi-day sessions to raise awareness about the barriers that women around the world face as professional and local leaders and to build a supportive community to take collective action for change. Bonus Daily Content: You will receive additional content with interviews, insights, and opportunities to connect with other attendees on these topics: March 10: The Burnout Epidemic: If You Are Tired, You Are Not Alone; March 11: Embracing Empathetic Leadership: Promoting a Life-Life Balance; March 12: Building Truly Inclusive Cultures: Changing Systems or Changing Behavior?; March 13: Unpacking Your Leadership Toolkit: The Courage to Lead. CLICK HERE for more info and register
Oahu, Mar 18, 10am-4pm drop off, Mar 19, 10am-4pm. Rummage Sale Fundraiser. RC of West Pearl Harbor. Waipahu High School Cafeteria, 94-1211 Farrington Hwy, Waipahu. Fundraiser to benefit scholarships for Waipahu High School students and community service projects.
Oahu, Mar 18, 6:30-8:30am, RC of Kapolei Sunset. Adopt-A-Highway. Help us clean our aina! Volunteers ages 18 and up are welcome to join us. We pick up trash along Farrington Highway between Kapolei Commons and Ko Olina. Meet at the turn out on the mauka side of Farrington Highway just before Kamokila Community Park. Wear gloves, protective clothing and sunscreen. Vests and thrash bags provided. We go out for breakfast afterwards for some fun relaxation and fellowship. Tes Banagan, tessamoraine@gmail.com, 925-980-7041. RCKS website: https://rotaryclubofkapoleisunset.org/
Oahu, Mar 18, 9-11:30am, Eco Rotary Club of Kakaako. Tree planting at Gunstock Ranch, Kahuku. RYANOWAN@gmail.com
Oahu, Mar 25, 9-11am, RC of Kapolei Sunset. Ho'ola Na Pua Project. Ho'ola Na Pua (New Life for Our Children) was founded to shine light on the dark criminal enterprise of sex trafficking, placing the health of Hawaii's youth at the center of their mission and vision for our community. Rotary is one of HNP's partners. We will be painting benches, presenting a check to HNP and getting a tour of Pearl Haven. Funds will be used for a STEM teacher. We will work from 9:00-11:00AM, present the check, go on the tour, and then go to lunch about 12:00PM. To learn more about Ho'ola Na Pua, go to their website: https://hoolanapua.org/
Oahu, Apr 15, 8-11am, RC of West Honolulu joins DOE for the 33rd Annual Texaco Honolulu District Elementary Speech Festival at Kaimuki High School. Our club has participated for many years as judges and it is fun to hear these students do their speeches. If you would like to volunteer to be a judge, the link to sign up is: https://bit.ly/HDOSpeech2023
Oahu, April 16, 11:30am-12:30pm. Recyclable Drive and Book Drive at Mililani Mauka Elementary School. The Youth Leadership Celebration participants will be collecting recyclables to raise funds for the Sustainable Coastlines.
Each year clubs around the State get out to execute a Community Service Project. This year, it is April 22, which happens to be Earth Day too! We are participating in Kahu Hawaii's Volunteer Month and our projects can be listed for others to join you. We will have a group listing under Rotary D5000 on the Kanu Hawaii website and the postings are being coordinated by Kristina Tomino for Youth Service Chair, Ryan Char. Read more for the projects planned so far.
DRAM? It’s “Whiskey Drinking Rotarians And Members” Interested?
A D5000 DRAM Fellowship is starting up. Membership in Whiskey DRAM is limited to Rotarians, who have an active membership in Rotary International and their spouses. There are three levels of membership, annual at $35, Lifetime at $100 and Lifetime with Spouse at $125 dollars, plus transaction fee If you meet these requirements and want to join one of the newest fellowships Rotary has to offer, please contact Laine Kohama at laine@gigaisland.com
Young Leaders Celebration: 2nd annual event will be held on April 16th, 2-6pm at Mililani Mauka Elementary School. Participatants in Interact, RYLA, HRYF are invited to attend. Click here for the registration form for the Young Leaders Celebration. Please share them with friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, classmates, whoever you wish to spread the news to. Hurry and register now before March 25th while it is FREE or pay a late fee. Donations and foliage for decoration are needed.
We have also added a recyclable drive and book drive before the event begins, as follows:
11:30am - 12:30pm Recyclable Drive and Book Drive
1:15pm Check-In Begins
2:00pm - 5:00pm YLC Program
Within the program we will be conducting 2 more mini service projects targeting mental health and Kupuna love, and a game for the kids that incorporates leadership, quick-thinking, problem solving, and teamwork skills. The program also includes food, prizes, awards, speeches and performances.
The Rotaractors are very excited for this event and hope that the turnout is well. We would really appreciate all the help we can get from Rotary, especially with the advertisement of this event. We appreciate all the support we've had thus far, both this year and last. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me back or give me a call at 808-772-7744.
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