A summer fun program for youth was held at the Queen Lili’uokalani Village Recreation Center on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons during the months of June and July; approximately 70 youths participated. This program was a collaboration between Family Support Services of West Hawaii (FSSWH), University of Hawaii - Kona 4H Youth Development Program, Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center (QLCC), the Aloha Performing Arts Center and the USDA Summer Food Program.
The youth enrolled in “TLC @ QLV” began their day with a free lunch provided by the USDA Summer Food Program before joining in on a variety of activities surrounding the theme of the week. During cultural awareness week, the children made flags representing a culture they identified with, learned to make a variety of ti leaf leis, and enjoyed Hawaiian music and story telling. Environmental week had the youth painting a large ocean mural together, designing their own flowerpots and planting basil. The week surrounding an animal theme brought the children to the Humane Society with the help of QLCC. There, the children not only learned about animals and the Humane Society, but several children were even featured in a ‘Pet of the Week’ television commercial. On-going activities included: sports (basketball, tetherball, volleyball, etc.), games (Lego’s, blocks, memory, checkers, etc.), and a reading center. During July the youth also had an excursion to the Kona pool.
At the reading center, children are encouraged to read daily and log what they have read. In total, 483 books were read, and each child was given a free book of their choice through a RIF (reading is fundamental) book distribution.
A parent night with a spaghetti dinner, several rousing games of bingo, and awards for all who participated in the literacy component of the program was held at the end of June. At the end of the program in July a Paina was held for parents, and the youth performed and showed the crafts they had made throughout the summer.
Also “Drama @ QLV” was held every Thursday for youth 12 - 18 years of age from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Jonathan Hagans, of the Aloha Performing Arts Center instructed youth who learned a variety of drama techniques. The youth developed several small skits, which they performed at the Parent Night Paina on July 28, 2000.
Along with the TLC@QLV program, seven teens joined “Teen Mentoring @ QLV” program. As mentors, the teens were responsible for a variety of tasks including: assisting with the set-up and clean-up of the facility, helping younger children read and log what books they had read in the reading center, assisting with RIF book distributions, playing/refereeing sports and games with the younger children, assisting with various activities / arts & crafts, as well as serving as extra eyes and ears to help ensure a safe and fun summer for all participants. The mentors also went a step above and beyond several times taking the initiative to bring their own tools to set up a shelving unit, bringing a tarp from home to provide shade for the children on a day when no other tarp was available, and even to create and perform a skit on recycling for the TLC participants. The tremendous effort set forth by these teens earned them half a school credit through a collaboration with Kealakehe High School.
All in all, the summer was a fun one at the Queen Lili’uokalani Recreational Center! Thank you to all the participants, teen mentors volunteers, staff, and of course, the H.O. Assoc. for the Center itself, in making this program a success!
Family Support Services of West Hawaii asks you to save the date for its signature fund-raising event, “An Old Hawaii Night” to be held on Saturday, November 11, 2000 at the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach. This gala with a decidedly vintage Hawaiiana theme and tropical décor, includes a three-course gourmet dinner served with wine and promises to be the party of the fall! The live and silent auctions will once again feature a fascinating glimpse into Hawaii’s unique history highlighting collectibles, one of a kind artwork, unique trips and Kama’aina getaways. FSSWH will honor Mr. Al Castle for his unending advocacy and philanthropic leadership in support of programs providing growth and learning opportunities for Hawaii’s families, and in particular for Hawaii’s children. Mr. Castle serves as the Executive Director and Treasurer of the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation.
Free Your Mind—Open-Mic Night is held the first Friday of every month from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and attracts youth of all ages from all areas of West Hawaii. On average 100 youth attend this positive alternative activity. With the cooperation of the Kona Coast Shopping Center, coffee and iced tea donated by Starbucks Coffee Co., and equipment loaned from Soundwave Music, youth are provided with a hip place to hang-out on a Friday night. Free Your Mind gives youth a venue to express themselves in a manner which they may not have been afforded otherwise. Performers range from local high school rock bands, to aspiring pre-teen poets, to teenage girls singing along with their favorite Britney Spears song. At any given Free Your Mind you might also be able to catch some confident regulars like DJ Pako and DJ Ice-C scratching away while the crowd dances along, or a sheepish first timer stepping nervously to the mic to read a monologue. Regardless of the performance, the predominantly teen crowd rewards each performer with cheers of encouragement and lots of applause. So, come on down to Kona Coast Shopping Center from 7 to 10 p.m. on the first Friday of each month and join in the fun. Open to all, especially teens!
You can also find us in Waimea. Free Your Mind / Open Mic Night is now being held in front of the Juice Shack in the Parker Ranch Shopping Center each third Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. Call Tutu’s House at 885-0995 for more information.
On July 26th a Parent Support Group for Healthy Start families was held at the Kona Acquatics Center and Old Airport Toddler Park. Parents from the Kona and Ka’u areas joined in the fun. Parents, their children, and the Healthy Start staff played in the kiddy pool while helping the children to learn swimming skills. All were excited and happy to be at the pool on a hot summer day. Most of the children were avid water lovers, jumping and playing in the kiddy pool. One child was reported to be fearful of the water, so fearful that he even has a fear of bathing. What a success for this boy when a skilled home visitor and a sensitive Mom and the fun of being amidst the joy of the other children helped him gradually inch his way into the water. Bit by bit he lowered himself into the pool. It took nearly 2 hours, but eventually he found his way into the water, splashing and playing with the other children. This was a first, reported Mom.
After the pool fun, the group went to the Toddler Park for lunch and playtime on the activities gym. Parents chatted with each other while the children played. Parents and their children made new friends in the process. Donations of clothing and toys were offered to the parents at the end of the day. Everyone left feeling tired but also refreshed and renewed. The facilities at the Old Airport and Kona Gym & Acquatics Center are a wonderful asset to our community and very well utilized!
This year’s winner of the 5th Annual Huggo’s Na Pua ‘O Ke Kai Wahine Fishing Tournament was team “Hooker Booker” aboard the boat Big Eddy with Captain Kurt Rose. The tournament, a women only event, was held on Saturday, July 22nd.
Laura Rupinski hooked a winning 265-pound blue marlin to earn first place and $4,800. Dr. Robyn Cook and daughter Katie, of team “Surgical Scrub” aboard the boat Red Opae with Captain Michael Shimamoto, caught the second-place fish, a 168.5-pound blue worth $3,000. Dr. Cook caught the blue in just 20 minutes using International Gamefish Association rules and earned a place in the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament held here in Kona in early August.
Additional winners were Joy Painter, of the team “Charter Desk” aboard the boat Ihu Nui with Captain McGrew Rice, who caught a 145-pound blue marlin for third place and $2,400. Gail Ranfranz aboard the boat Camelot brought in a 123.5-pound blue marlin for fourth place and $1200, and Caron Wasserman aboard the boat Eva Lele landed a 123-pound blue for fifth place and $650.
All in all everyone had a wonderful day of fishing in the sun and waters off of Kona! This annual fundraiser fields some 300 anglers in 75 boats. Family Support Services of West Hawaii is the lucky beneficiary and walked away with $8,000. The monies will be utilized to support unmet needs for families, youth, and children in our programs from Ka’u to Kohala and Waimea.
We’d like to take this opportunity to say Mahalo a nui loa to all those involved in the event. To all the anglers, boat captains and crews, volunteers and especially to the tournament directors, Sue Vermillion and Peach Springer, mahalo. Also a very special thank you to each of the sponsors: Huggo’s, Moosehead Bear, Banana Boat Suncare Products and Aloha Television Network – Farish Media. This wouldn’t happen without each of you. Thank you! We look forward to next year’s tournament scheduled for July 21st.
P.S. Anyone interested in any of the retail items or a Farish Media video from the event, please call Sue Vermillion at 329-7371.
