Retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka and his wife, Millie, smile after singing “Hawaii Aloha” with supporters. PHOTO BY THE MAUI DEMOCRATIC PARTY/TROY HASHIMOTO.

Volunteers sought for LIS School Community Council

LAHAINA – Lahaina Intermediate School seeks interested persons to fill upcoming vacancies on the School Community Council.

There are three positions open, each with a two-year term of service: student, parent and community member.

The School Community Council meets on a quarterly basis and is a major part of the overall leadership structure at the school.

The SCC is a group of people elected by their peers to advise the principal on specific matters that affect student achievement and school improvement.

Haleakala National Park has been seeing higher than normal vehicle strikes of endangered birds, which appear on park roads throughout the day and night. The endangered nene (Hawaiian goose, pictured) are typically along park roads during the day. The endangered ‘ua‘u (Hawaiian petrel) land along park roads at night and are difficult to see. These birds do not readily move because they are unable to walk or fly quickly. Park users are reminded to drive cautiously and obey the posted speed limits at all times

Anyone interested in volunteering for one of these very important positions should contact the school at 662-3965, or come by the school office any weekday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to pick up a nomination form.

Forms need to be submitted to the school by Wednesday, Sept. 12, for the names to be included on the ballot.

An election will be held at the school on Friday, Sept. 14. All community members are welcome to participate in the election by coming to the school and requesting a SCC election ballot.

The election will be held between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. The names of the new SCC members will be posted on the school website the following week.

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Members of the Lahaina Rotary Club recently donated school supplies to Lahaina Intermediate School. Rotarians also collected donations for King Kamehameha III Elementary School, Princess Nahi‘ena‘ena Elementary School and Lahainaluna High School.

MOPS meets in West Maui

WEST MAUI – MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a program designed to nurture mothers with children from infancy through kindergarten.

It is a safe, loving environment where moms have the opportunity to make new friends, share experiences and laugh together.

The group will meet the first and third Thursday of each month from Sept. 6 through May 16 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Join them for free breakfast and free childcare for your children in the “Moppets” program. The group is open to any woman who is pregnant or has a child newborn through kindergarten.

Lahaina Arts Society is featuring work by Eleykaa Tahleh in the Banyan Tree Gallery through Sept. 30. “A New Day” includes plein air paintings created on location around Maui. Tahleh paints with vibrant Japanese watercolors, mounts the paintings on wooden canvases and then coats them with resin. Meet the artist on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Located in the Old Lahaina Courthouse, the gallery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 661-0111.

For more information, visit www.mops.org, find them on Facebook at West Maui Mops or contact Angela Leone at (808) 419-1000 or angie@leonedesigns.com.

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Contract for school erosion control project awarded

LAHAINA – The state has awarded Maui Kupono Builders LCC the $260,094 contract for work to control erosion at Princess Nahi’ena’ena Elementary School.

The project will include site clearing, soil treatment for vegetation control, earthwork, excavating, back-filling and compacting, storm drainage, asphalt paving, cement concrete paving and pavement marking.

“Ku Mai Ka Hula 2012,” an international hula competition, will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. The seventh annual event will feature nine halau winners from Japan’s competition and halau from Hawaii and California in adult solo and group performances. The dancers compete in kahiko (traditional hula) and ‘auana (modern-day hula stylings) in both male and female categories. Celebrate the long-standing friendship between Hawaii and Japan — Halau Na Pua Liko Wai Ho‘ola under Kumu Hula Junko Wong of Japan is pictured — with a memorable and inspiring day of hula at its finest. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12.50 for keiki 12 years and under; call 242-SHOW.

“Maintaining a safe learning environment is critical for our public schools,” said Tenth District Rep. Angus McKelvey of Lahaina.

“These improvements will help to address some long-standing infrastructure problems and is part of our efforts to make continual upgrades for Lahaina schools.”

Money for this project was secured by West Maui lawmakers during the 2010 legislative session in the state budget for Fiscal Year 2010-11.

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Reinfeld to lead class

LAHAINA – Whether you are a meat and fish eater, vegetarian or complete vegan, a unique class could transform your life!

Coming Sept. 8-9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, noted world-traveling chef, author, radio and TV guest Mark Reinfeld will offer a hands-on Vegan and Raw Foods class in a private town home in Kaanapali. Seating is limited to ten people.

To register, go to www.veganfusion.com, e-mail info@veganfusion.com or call (808) 822-0820. The fee is $285 per student.

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Senior Fair welcomes community participants

WAILUKU – The County of Maui Office on Aging in cooperation with Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. (MEO) will hold its annual Maui County Senior Fair on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 8 a.m. to noon at War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku.

There will be entertainment, education, fun and fellowship for senior citizens and their families and friends.

Interested senior citizen clubs, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, for-profit organizations and businesses, and politicians and/or candidates may participate.

To obtain a booth application form and fee amount, contact Kecia Sakugawa or Gerry Lum at MEO Community Services at 249-2970 or e-mail kecia.sakugawa@meoinc.org.

The application form and booth fee must be received by MEO no later than Sept. 17.

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BHS Class of 1972 to hold reunion

KAHULUI – The Baldwin High School Class of 1972 will hold a 40th reunion and stag night on Saturday, Oct. 6, at Cary & Eddie’s Hideaway in Kahului.

Spouses and guests are welcome to attend. The buffet dinner is $50 per person.

For registration and information, call Jo-Ann Kunishige at 269-2264 or e-mail joannbhsclassof72@gmail.com. The deadline for registration and payment is Sept. 15.

A reunion golf tournament is also planned for the morning of Oct. 6 at King Kamehameha Golf Club. Call Mark Beauchamp at (808) 264-4017 as soon as possible to register.

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Maui Democratic Party honors Sen. Daniel K. Akaka

MAKENA – More than 400 supporters and well-wishers gathered last week at the Makena Beach & Golf Resort to celebrate the career and accomplishments of U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka.

The event hosted by the Democratic Party of Maui featured remarks by Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey and union representatives, presentation of a Congratulatory Certificate by Maui County Council Chairman Danny Mateo, a Proclamation by Mayor Alan Arakawa presented by Managing Director Keith Regan and an introduction by Hawaii Senate President Shan Tsutsui.

Akaka was welcomed with a standing ovation and thanked the crowd for their support through the years.

First elected to the U.S. House in 1976, Congressman Akaka was appointed to the Senate when Sen. Spark Matsunaga passed away, subsequently winning election to the office in 1990 and reelection in 1994, 2000 and 2006.

He will retire in January after 36 years of congressional service.

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Park accepting comments on Kipahulu plan

HALEAKALA – Haleakala National Park has released draft alternatives for the Kipahulu Comprehensive Site Plan and is making these alternatives available to the public for comment.

The plan will identify the overall direction for the future managament of the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park. It will take into consideration the opportunities, issues and vision for the Kipahulu District identified by park staff, the public and other stakeholders.

Topics for consideration in the plan include the protection of resources, visitor experience and safety, and location of operational facilities, utilities and sustainability.

The alternatives can be found at www.nps.gov/hale. Comments are sought by Oct. 5, 2012, via parkplanning.nps.gov/hale or by mail to Superintendent, Haleakala National Park, P.O. Box 369, Makawao, HI 96768.

Public hearings are slated for 5 to 7 p.m. at Helene Hall in Hana on Tuesday, Sept. 11; Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani on Wednesday, Sept. 12; and Kipahulu Visitor Center on Thursday, Sept. 13.

For information, visit www.nps.gov/hale or call 572-4402.

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Lahainaluna to host Open House

LAHAINA – On Wednesday, Sept. 12, Lahainaluna High School will hold an Open House in the new Hale Pa’ina Dining Hall at 5 p.m.

The Parent Teacher Student Association will provide a free chicken dinner for the first 100 attendees. The PTSA board will also be present to sign up new members for $10 per person and distribute membership cards.

A brief meeting and announcements will follow. Parents will hear from Principal Emily De Costa, PTSA President Kimberly Scott and Student Activities Coordinator Art Fillazar.

At 6:15 p.m., parents will hear four 15-minute presentations from department heads with teachers present in a new open house format. Parents may choose their own departments for each round of presentations.

E-mail lahainalunaptsa@gmail .com or call 662-4000 for information.

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Hotel Coastal Cleanup Challenge set

KAANAPALI – The International Coastal Cleanup is coming up, and on Saturday, Sept. 15, people all over the world will participate in cleanups and use a simple form to document their findings.

Kaanapali Makai Watch and CORAL will host a cleanup at Kahekili Beach Park in Kaanapali beginning at 9 a.m.

The event will also serve as a supply distribution site for any Kaanapali area hotels or condos that would like to participate in the Hawaii Hotel Coastal Cleanup Challenge. Resorts may go to www.coral.org/cleanupchallenge for information.

In past years, The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort, Honua Kai Resort & Spa, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Marriott Maui Ocean Club, The Mahana, Royal Lahaina Resort, The Whaler, Lahaina Canoe Club and community volunteers have come out to help.

For more information on the International Coastal Cleanup and “Get the Drift and Bag It,” check in with the Community Work Day Program, which coordinates these efforts locally on Maui.

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Writing group forming

LAHAINA – Do you have great ideas for your blog, book, column or other project but have trouble making time to actually write?

“Write Now” is an informal writing group whose primary focus is to get the gears moving, creative juices flowing and to offer some motivation to write.

This group is for all writers – professional, amateur and those who write simply as a creative outlet for themselves.

For that reason, feedback will initially be amiable and supportive. As the group begins to gel, members may request more structured analysis.

For the first meeting on Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Lahaina Education Center, Room 104, at 60 Kenui St. in the Front Street Apartment complex, members will introduce themselves and discuss their writing experience and goals.

Participants will take turns reading a short piece or excerpt of their own work for feedback and exchange. After that, each member will set a goal to be completed by the next meeting.

Members can bring copies of their piece to distribute to the others.

If you would like to attend, sign up via meetup.com or contact Marti Wukelic at 662-3911 for more information.