Chaney Countryman graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego on May 24. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. Chaney was a valedictorian in the Class of 2011 at Lahainaluna High School. She plans to pursue her career in engineering with Caterpillar Corporation as a member of its Engineering New Design and Development Rotational Team. Her parents, Bill and Dianne, are very proud of her hard work and dedication these past four years.

Aikido seminar slated

WAILUKU – The Hawaii Ki Federation will hold its annual summer seminar from June 26-28 at Maui Ki-Aikido. The event will draw aikido practitioners from around the state and is free for members of the public to observe.

Maui’s Christopher Curtis Sensei, an Eighth Dan black belt, chief instructor of Hawaii Ki Federation and author of two books on aikido, will teach the seminar.

Classes will cover a wide range of topics, including meditation, ki development, aikido techniques and weapons training.

Maui Ki-Aikido is located at 194 S. Market St. in Wailuku.

Lahaina Jodo Mission will celebrate its annual O-Bon Festival on Friday, July 3. O-Bon is a traditional Buddhist summer festival held to honor loved ones and ancestors who have passed away. A service will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the lantern procession and Floating Lanterns Ceremony. Maui Taiko will perform in the temple courtyard during the lantern ceremony and provide taiko drumming and music for bon dancing. Food concessions open at 5:30 p.m. and will include rolled sushi, chow fun, nishime, teriyaki beef plate, caesar salad and more. All are welcome to join the festivities. Lahaina Jodo Mission is located at 12 Ala Moana St. next to Mala Wharf. PHOTO BY AI IWANE.

Founded in 1953, Maui Ki-Aikido is the oldest aikido dojo in the United States, with some of the highest-ranking instructors outside of Japan.

Learn more about the seminar and other dojo programs, including beginner classes, at mauiaikido.com, or call 244-5165 or e-mail “mailto:mauikiaikido@gmail.com”>mauikiaikido@gmail.com for information.

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WMTA to hold Breakfast with the Mayor

WEST MAUI – Join the West Maui Taxpayers Association and Slappy Cakes for a pancake breakfast with Mayor Alan Arakawa as the guest speaker on Monday, June 29, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Slappy Cakes at Honokowai Marketplace.

The American Cancer Society 2015 Relay For Life Committee is holding its second rummage sale on Saturday, June 27, from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at Lahaina Hongwanji Mission at 551 Wainee St. Rummage, plants and assorted baked goods will be on sale by several relay teams to help raise funds for the July 18 West Maui Relay For Life event. This year, the West Maui Relay will be held at Lahaina Recreation Center field from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. At the rummage sale, there will be an information desk to assist in team registration and sponsorships to support Relay for Life. For more information, contact Co-chairs Carmen Garcia at 665-1221 or “Noosh” Nishihara at 870-6478.

Breakfast will include Slappy Cakes’ pancake griddle experience, buffet with breakfast meats, and coffee, tea and juice.

Admission is free for WMTA members. The cost for nonmembers is $10 per adult and $5 for children 12 and under. Nonmembers can choose to join WMTA, which will then make breakfast free. Seating is limited. Register online at www.westmaui.org, e-mail wmta@maui .net or call 661-7990.

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Lahainaluna High School to implement new dress code policy

LAHAINA – Lahainaluna High School is implementing a new uniform T-shirt dress code policy for the 2015-16 school year.

Earlier this month, Kimo’s restaurant was able to team up with THERAsurf from Malibu, California. The vision of Kim and Jimmy Gamboa, THERAsurf is a diverse collective of parents, professionals and members of the surf community committed to the belief that there is healing energy in the power of the ocean. The organization’s goal is to provide children with special needs the opportunity to benefit from the positive energy by safely getting them into the water and up on waves. Kimo’s staff, management and longboard contest participants, along with the THERAsurf team, all volunteered their time to provide a great day of surfing for Maui’s local children with special needs. Over 30 families from all over the island came to the event held at Launiupoko Beach Park, which included a session dedicated especially for Camp Imua. In its third year here on Maui, the event was held in special commemoration of Biddy, a family friend of the Gamboa family who attended THERAsurf’s first Maui event at the age of 90. Kimo’s was able to donate a check for $2,500 to the THERAsurf cause, raised from Legacy of Aloha proceeds from Kimo’s 38th Anniversary Party. For more information on THERAsurf and Kimo’s Legacy of Aloha efforts, visit www.therasurf.org and www.kimosmaui.com.

Letters were sent to parents, incoming freshmen and current students of Lahainaluna. Included in the letter were the policy and shirt order form.

Waiver applications for the uniform dress code policy may be obtained from the Lahainaluna High School main office through June 26. Waiver applications will be due to the LHS main office by June 26 before 4 p.m.

Only one waiver application will be signed out to each student or legal guardian.

Submitted applications will be reviewed. If the application is complete, the School Community Council (SCC) secretary will contact the legal parent/guardian to set up an appointment to meet with the SCC members for a special session addressing the council as to why a waiver is being requested.

Special sessions will be held on July 13 from 8 a.m. to noon and 4 to 7 p.m., and July 14 from 4 to 7 p.m.

All other applicants will be notified in writing in early July. Shirts will be available for pick up during registration.

In related news, the Lahainaluna School Community Council seeks new members.

School Community Councils are forums for exchanging ideas about how to improve student achievement among the school’s stakeholders: principals, teachers, school staff, parents, students and community members.

Any community person interested in serving on the Lahainaluna High School SCC Board as a parent or community representative should submit their name via e-mail to Debbie_Rogers@ notes.k12.hi.us or Shannon_fields@ notes.k12.hi.us.

Members must commit to attend a monthly meeting held the first Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the LHS Library. Meetings are open to the public.

If you would like to present at a meeting, contact Shannon Fields or Debbie Rogers to be added to the agenda.