Honoka'a High School Leadership Students Host Community Dinner

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The Honoka'a High School Leadership Students hosted members of the community to their annual "night before Thanksgiving" dinner at the school cafeteria. While rain fell outside, those inside were treated to turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and strawberries served by the high school students. In addition to food and fellowship, community members were entertained by various members of the school community including students with even Principal Hao picking up his guitar to belt out a few numbers.
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The student leadership class is comprised of students in elected and appointed offices in the high school student government and are advised by Mrs. Angella Brandt. In addition to the members of the community who came out for the night of festivities, hundreds of dinners were distributed by numerous volunteers to elderly and other individuals earlier in the day.

Hamakua Youth Center Tea

Youth Center Staff - Venica Ftacek, Director; Honi Pahio, Program Director; Lanakila Mangauil, Cultural Coordinator along with students, alumni and beneficiaries of the center's programs share their thoughts and experiences on the present and future of the Hamakua Youth Center.
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Friends and community members gathered for a Sunday afternoon Tea to Celebrate the Past and Sustain the Future of the Hamakua Youth Center. Youth Center Board Members Jack Zimmerman and Stacy Disney emceed the event for the "standing room only" turn-out in the center's multi-purpose room.
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I was honored to represent the Nakashima Family and recounted the early days of the building which served as the Honoka'a Cash and Carry founded by my Great Grandfather in 1938. Great-Grandpa was born Kumahiko Nakashima, in Shimomashiki gun, Kumamoto, Japan on September 18, 1885. Because he was the eldest son, in order to come to Hawaii, he took his younger brother's name and arrived in Hawaii on January 5, 1906 as Suekuma Nakashima.
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The store's location across from the school made it a natural after-school hang out for students and provided a variety of candy, soda and ice cream snacks. There was even a "slush" machine that provided ice-cold strawberry and orange drinks for those hot summer days.

An injury in 1981 forced Suekuma to be bed-ridden and brought an end to the Hamakua Cash and Carry. Suekuma was 98 years old. While this brought an end to Suekuma's pride and joy, it made way for the infancy of the Hamakua Youth Center.
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I am told that this project started as a grant from the State of Hawaii Attorney Generals Office which was seeking out ways to provide support to Hawaii's youth and to provide them with positive alternatives.

YWCA Mahalo

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I am pleased to have been able to participate in "Walk a Mile In Her Shoes," a fundraiser for programs which provide services to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

House Finance and Senate Ways and Means Visit Big Island

Members of the Big Island Legislative Delegation joined with members of the House and Senate money committees as they visit various locations around the island to review state projects and programs that recieved legislative support in the past year. Above, legislators meet with tenants of the Natural Energy Laborabory of Hawaii. The site visitations included the Kamuela Vaccum Cooling Plant, Meahalani Agriculutral Experiment Station, Hawaii Community College, and the Hawaii Island Community Health Clinic.

November 2009 Newsletter