COMMUNITY NEWS for April 9 issue

Kimo’s restaurant recently hosted a luncheon for the state champion Lahainaluna High School wrestling teams. Earning seven individual titles at the recent Chevron/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Wrestling Championships, the LHS boys and girls squads are the first Neighbor Island teams to win state wrestling team championships. Chef Mike Devers prepared a complimentary feast for the Lunas that included burgers and Kimo’s Original Hula Pie. Assistant General Manager Jack Starr, Bar Service Manager Shaun Cunanan and the Kimo’s staff proudly served lunch to the team and their coaches. They even witnessed a short match between the wrestlers in the dining room.
West Maui Buddhists to celebrate Hanamatsuri
LAHAINA – Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, known as Hanamatsuri or the Flower Festival, will be celebrated by the West Maui Buddhist community on Sunday, April 12, at 9:30 a.m. at Lahaina Jodo Mission, 12 Ala Moana St.
According to Mahayana Buddhist tradition, the historical Buddha, Shyakamuni, was born on April 8 more than 2,500 years ago in Lumbini Flower Garden.
His teachings are a guide to realizing a universal spirit of wisdom and compassion as a foundation for humanity.
The celebration will consist of a service that includes offering of sweet tea to the infant statue of the Buddha enshrined in a flower altar, offerings of incense and flowers. Following the service, fellowship activities will be held.

On March 24, Kimo’s restaurant recognized the “Educators of the Month” — Steven Cornell, Barbie Otomo and Michael Sado — at Lahainaluna High School for their dedication to the youth of our community. Through TS Restaurants’ Legacy of Aloha program, Kimo’s is able to award the educators a custom plaque and $125 gift certificate to dine at the restaurant. Pictured, from left, are Kimo’s Assistant General Manager Jack Starr, Kimo’s Community Relations Coordinator Selyna Arciaga, Cornell of the LHS Science Department, Lahainaluna Principal Emily DeCosta, Lahainaluna Registrar Otomo, LHS Career/Technical Education Coordinator Sado, and Laura Blears with Kimo’s promotions.
The observance is co-sponsored by Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, Lahaina Shingon Mission and Lahaina Jodo Mission. All are welcome to join this celebration. For more information, call 661-4304.
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Meet LAS artists
LAHAINA – Come “Meet the Artists” at Lahaina Arts Society. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local artists will hold demonstrations in LAS’ Banyan Tree Gallery in the Old Lahaina Courthouse.
Next week, talk story with watercolorist Victoria Wundram on April 14, jewelry artist Terri Saunders on April 15 and fine artist Jerry Sullivan on April 16.

Pink Martini will perform on Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. “Pink Martini is a rollicking around-the-world musical adventure... if the United Nations had a house band in 1962, we’d be that band,” said their pianist. Pink Martini’s musical travelogue will take you to Rio, Paris, Rome and New York in a cocktail shaker mix of worldly cabaret music, from flirtatious samba music to sing-alongs with American favorites. Tickets are $30, $48, $58 or $68; call 242-SHOW. PHOTO BY AUTUMN DE WILDE.
Bring your friends and family to see how the magic is created by these talented local artists. For more information, call LAS at 661-0111 or visit www.lahainaarts.com.
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Free health screenings offered
WEST MAUI – For the fourth straight year, the Lions Clubs of Maui, Project Vision Hawaii and WE… A Hui for Health are collaborating to bring health screenings to the Valley Isle through April 18. All screenings are free and open to the public.
The events offer health-related informational materials, counseling and vision screenings to identify keiki eye disorders and early warning signs of cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, atrophy and diabetes for adults. Events also include free giveaways, such as reading glasses for adults, UV sunglasses for youngsters and Ohana Health Plan tote bags.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue will perform on Friday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.?New Orleans native Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) is the bandleader and frontman of the band that employs hip-hop beats, rock dynamics and improvisation in a jazz tradition. Together, Trombone Shorty and his band have recorded chart-topping albums, toured the world and appeared on television, at the Grammy Awards and at the White House. Tickets are $35, $45, $65 or $85; call 242-SHOW.
The Project Vision Hawaii bus will be onsite for free health screenings on April 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hana Health Fair; April 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Keokea Homestead Open Market located at the 16.9 Mile Marker of Kula Highway; April 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Salvation Army Lahaina; April 16 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center and Hale Makana at 15 Ipu Aumakua Lane in Lahaina; April 17 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Ka Hale A Ke Ola Wailuku and Hale Makana at 670 Waiale Road; and April 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Maui Lions’ “Race for Vision” event at Maui Raceway Park (there is a $10 admission to the races).
For information, contact Jessica Steele at jessica@projectvisionhawaii.org or (808) 464-2676.
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College fair set
KAHULUI – The Hawaii Association for College Admission Counseling will hold a College Planning & College Fair for Maui families on Monday, April 13, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Maui High School.

On the State House Floor on March 31, West Maui Rep. Angus McKelvey introduced Courtney Galarita (left), nominee from the Lahaina Clubhouse; Jamie Gomes (right), nominee from the Makawao Clubhouse; and Sarina Angel, nominee from the Central Maui Clubhouse, for the 2015 “Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year.” Galarita, 18, attends the University of Hawaii Maui College and has been a club member for ten years. Gomes, 17, attends King Kekaulike High School and has been a Boys and Girls Club member for seven-and-a-half years. Angel, 16, attends Baldwin High School and has been a club member for eight years.
Starting at 6 p.m., over 50 colleges and universities from across the United States and overseas will be in the gymnasium for the annual spring college fair.
This will be a great opportunity for students to learn from the experts about the various colleges, including admission and scholarship information. A general college advising and financial aid center will also be available to students and their families to answer specific questions regarding the college admission process and financial aid.
Prior to the college fair, from 5 p.m., there will be a college planning event for Maui families in Maui High’s B-Building. College planning workshops will include “Choosing a College For You,” “Applying for Scholarships and WUE,” “Translating Financial Aid Award Letters,” “Personal Finance and Budgeting for College” and “NCAA The Student Athlete.” There will also be information on financial aid, art school portfolios, and science, technology, engineering and math careers,
This college event is free of charge and open to the public. Students from all Maui schools are welcome to attend. For more information, e-mail college@mauihigh.org.
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Yard sale to support Somos Ohana Nicaragua
PUKALANI – A huge charity rummage sale will be held by Somos Ohana Nicaragua from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, in the Pukalani Elementary School Cafeteria.
Shop for treasures for kids and adults, plus a country store with fruits, vegetables and plants.
Proceeds help fund construction of a regional high school, scholarships and two-week summer camp for special needs youth in rural Nicaragua.
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Latest mapping software available free to schools
KIHEI – If you are an educator or student eager to try out the very latest, state-of-the-art mapping tools, here’s your opportunity.
Thanks to the ongoing partnership between Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology (WIT) and ESRI, ArcGIS 10.3 desktop software is available at no charge to all K-12 public, private and charter schools throughout Hawaii.
The goal of ESRI, the GIS industry leader, is to help young people discover new worlds through maps and data, and use this deeper geographic understanding to improve their communities.
To get started, ESRI encourages teachers and students to explore ArcGIS Online, an easier mapping alternative to the desktop software. Schools can find more information and register for an organizational account at connected.esri.com/.
For experienced users, the more robust ArcGIS desktop software can be requested by filling out the survey form at www.surveymonkey.com/ s/ArcGIS2015.
WIT is also excited to announce the kickoff of its new Hawaii K-12 GIS Community Hub, www.gishawaii.com. The new hub will engage educators, students and industry partners with school projects, pictures, collected data, lesson plans, news events, tips and tricks.
“We want it to become the Hawaii GIS Networking Central – the place for ‘geo techies’ to be inspired, stay connected and collaborate,” said Isla Young, WIT’s K12 STEM education director.
For questions about the distribution process, or to find out more about STEMworks, contact Young at 875-2307 or isla@medb.org.
The Women in Technology Project is a statewide initiative of the Maui Economic Development Board, funded in part by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, and Agriculture as a workforce development project.
- On March 24, Kimo’s restaurant recognized the “Educators of the Month” — Steven Cornell, Barbie Otomo and Michael Sado — at Lahainaluna High School for their dedication to the youth of our community. Through TS Restaurants’ Legacy of Aloha program, Kimo’s is able to award the educators a custom plaque and $125 gift certificate to dine at the restaurant. Pictured, from left, are Kimo’s Assistant General Manager Jack Starr, Kimo’s Community Relations Coordinator Selyna Arciaga, Cornell of the LHS Science Department, Lahainaluna Principal Emily DeCosta, Lahainaluna Registrar Otomo, LHS Career/Technical Education Coordinator Sado, and Laura Blears with Kimo’s promotions.
- Pink Martini will perform on Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. “Pink Martini is a rollicking around-the-world musical adventure… if the United Nations had a house band in 1962, we’d be that band,” said their pianist. Pink Martini’s musical travelogue will take you to Rio, Paris, Rome and New York in a cocktail shaker mix of worldly cabaret music, from flirtatious samba music to sing-alongs with American favorites. Tickets are $30, $48, $58 or $68; call 242-SHOW. PHOTO BY AUTUMN DE WILDE.
- Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue will perform on Friday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.?New Orleans native Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) is the bandleader and frontman of the band that employs hip-hop beats, rock dynamics and improvisation in a jazz tradition. Together, Trombone Shorty and his band have recorded chart-topping albums, toured the world and appeared on television, at the Grammy Awards and at the White House. Tickets are $35, $45, $65 or $85; call 242-SHOW.
- On the State House Floor on March 31, West Maui Rep. Angus McKelvey introduced Courtney Galarita (left), nominee from the Lahaina Clubhouse; Jamie Gomes (right), nominee from the Makawao Clubhouse; and Sarina Angel, nominee from the Central Maui Clubhouse, for the 2015 “Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year.” Galarita, 18, attends the University of Hawaii Maui College and has been a club member for ten years. Gomes, 17, attends King Kekaulike High School and has been a Boys and Girls Club member for seven-and-a-half years. Angel, 16, attends Baldwin High School and has been a club member for eight years.