News
JANUARY - 2019 STARTS OFF WITH A BANG!
JANUARY WAS VOCATIONAL SERVICE MONTH
 Vocational Service represents the opportunity that each Rotarian has to represent the dignity and utility of one's vocation as an opportunity to serve society. So when the call for expert “Hot Dog Help” was sent out by Bobbie Stivers-Apika, Club Vocational Service Chair, to help out at fellow member Chuck Porter’s Grand Opening of the Lex Brodie’s Car Wash/Fast Lube on Saturday, January 26. Two shifts of fast-footed club members arrived to take hot dog orders. (“Red or Brown dog?  With Mustand, Ketchup, Relish? And to drink?)
January 26 ~ Hot Dog Help at Lex Brodies
Cars were lined up out to the street on Kilauea Ave. and waited for a record 376 car washes. And club members hand delivered over 400 hot dogs to people in cars.
FYI Hilo preferred RED dogs to BROWN dogs... 3 to 1!
 
JANUARY WAS ALSO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH
What? Surely we don’t have Human Trafficking here on our islands!  Unfortunately, studies have shown that in 2018, people, including children, were being sold for sex in the state of Hawai’i. Sex buyer demand is the culprit of sex trafficking. Addressing sex buyers is a critical step to reducing sex trafficking in Hawaiʻi.Online Sex buyers create a market for victims to be bought and sold for sex and there is a tremendous incentive for traffickers to sexually exploit children and adults in Hawaiʻi.
 
MEMBERS "GETTING TO KNOW YOU"
January 12 ~ Hilo Civic Center Vulcans Tail-Gater Party
The Vulcan’s Basketball Team is HOT this year... and to get the party going, club members “reported” to the Civic to munch on hot dogs (wow! hot dogs, again!) and hamburgers under tents just outside the back doors. Must have worked... the Vulcans won that game! Thanks to club members Coach Jimmy Yagi and UHH Athletic Director Pat Guillen for the invite!
 
January 18 ~ Small Group Mixer at Hula Hulas
Pau hana is a great time to sit and talk with fellow members... and imbibe a drink or two along the way.
 
January 21 ~ Small Group Mixer at Café Pesto
Good food and good fellowship came together for a fun dinner out “with the gang”.
 
MISSING YOU...
January 4 ~ Stew Hussey Memorial
Stew, a really smart guy and former Seal, was one of the most gentle gentlemen of our club. Past President and Rotary member for over 20 years, Stew was passionate about International Service and was serving as that Director when he passed away.
You are missed, Stew!
 
CONGRATULATIONS!
January 29 ~ Rotary Foundation Dinner
Nancy Cabral (left) was presented with a special crystal award for her many years of giving to the Rotary Foundation. Beside her was Brenda Cressey, Rotary Foundation Trustee and Winton Schoneman, our Hawaii Rotary District Governor
 
AND JUST WHAT IS THE ROTARY FOUNDATION...
AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
Rotarians from around the world contribute to this International Foundation that transforms the money into projects that change lives. This well managed Foundation has received the highest marks from CharityNavigator. Since the first donation of $26.50 in 1917, the Foundation has received contributions totaling more than $1 billion.
DECEMBER - HELPING OTHERS AND HAVING FUN!
2018 ROTARY
KAMA'AINA CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR
 
Nearly 40 local crafters selling hand made items
 
Club members and Salvation Army Angel Tree
 
High School Interacters wrapping presents
 
2018 HILO BREWFEST AWARDS $26,700+
TO THREE LOCAL BENEFICIARIES
 
Dec. 7 ~ $8,902.18 to Puna Lava Relief
 
Dec. 7 ~ $8,902.18 to Hilo Medical Foundation’s
Residency Program for new Doctors
 
Dec. 7 ~ $8,902.18 to The Friends of the
Children’s Justice Center of East Hawaii
 
HOLIDAY DOINGS
Dec. 8 ~ Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army
 
Dec. 14 ~ Our annual Kamana Senior Luncheon
 
Dec. 20 ~ Stockings to Hawaii Island Home for Recovery
 
AND DON'T FORGET OUR YOUTH!
Dec. 27 ~ Supporting STEM research for students
NOVEMBER... ROTARY GIVES THANKS!
NOVEMBER...  HELPING OTHERS IS THE KEY!
 
NEW MEMBERS
Lara Hughes,
First Hawaiian Bank
 
Katie Wong,
First Hawaiian Bank
 
And speaking of MEMBERSHIP...
 
Rotarians are PEOPLE OF ACTION!
We are Community Builders locally and world-wide! We are Problem Solvers
Together, we apply our professional experience and personal commitment to tackle our communities’ most persistent problems, finding new, effective ways to enhance health, stability, and prosperity across the globe. Join Rotary’s 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Rotary is made up of more than 33,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. The members of these autonomous clubs are called Rotarians, and they form a global network of 1.2 million business and professional leaders, all volunteering their time and talents to serve their communities and the world.
 
November 10 ~ Benches at Rotary Park
Kalanianaole Ave. ~ Hilo

A place to sit down at this pocket ocean Park! New plaques dedicate these benches to Russ Oda, Bobby Fujimoto and Coach Jimmy Yagi.
 
November 17 ~ Gift Wrapping for the
Salvation Army Thanksgiving Luncheon

Cooked turkey was shredded, and small gifts were wrapped in preparation for the noon-time lunch.
 
November 19 ~ Fall Social

It’s always great to get together informally and have some fun. And fun was had with a craft project, followed by a Pot Luck and Margarita Bar!
 
November 22 ~ Thanksgiving Prep
at the Hawaii Island Home for Recovery

Turkey shredding (again!), ham cutting, pie slicing and other tasks were completed on time for a large luncheon for residents of this home.
 
November 30 ~
Exploring Africa with Susan and Kerry

We are often treated to interesting “travelogues” from our members world adventures. This year, in addition to Africa, we’ve “been” to The Maldives, Cuba and England. (They seem to be petting that lion in the photo!)
 
NOVEMBER WAS ROTARY FOUNDATION MONTH
Rotarians from around the world contribute to this International foundation that transforms the money into projects that change lives. This well managed foundation has received the highest marks from CharityNavigator. Since the first donation of $26.50 in 1917, the Foundation has received contributions totaling more than $1 billion.
KAMA'AINA CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR
KAMA'AINA CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR
Dec.6, 7 & 8 at the Civic Butler Building (Manono at Piilani Streets in Hilo)
Thursday and Saturday from 9am to 5pm; Friday from9am to 8pm for your late night shoppers!
The Rotary Club of Hilo is proud to host this annual Craft Fair that not only supports local crafters, but also has a "heart"!  The BISAC Food Truck and their clothing booth will be on board. BISAC helps people recover from addiction by teaching great real life job skills.  The Salvation Army Angel Tree project (Christmas presents for children whose parents are incarcerated) will also be there on Thursday afternoon and during the day on Friday.  And the Waiakea High Interact (that's Rotary Junior) will be on hand Friday night and Saturday for gift wrapping by donation.
OCTOBER, 2018 DOINGS!
OCTOBER, 2018
Focusing on YOUTH, CLUB ACTIVITIES and INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS!
 
ROTARY AND YOUTH
 
During October
Club members arrived at 8 local schools to distribute free age appropriate DICTIONARIES to enthusiastic third grade students... over 311 dictionaries were handed out! Most frequently asked question... “Is this mine to keep?”
 
October 12-14
NexTech 3-Day STEM Camp
Students from six high schools learned through robotics, coding, problem solving, leadership and their inspiring one-on-one Career Mentors.
 
October 20+
Waiakea Interact High School students help at KTA Haunted House
It takes a lot of hands to set up a Haunted House... and then to help be part of the fun. And what fun it was for little ones to visit the Spooky House... filled with Boo-worthy surprises!
 
CLUB ACTIVITIES
 
October 5 - Congrats, Coach Jimmy!
At this Friday meeting we all found out that Coach Jimmy was awarded the LIVING TREASURES OF HAWAII recognizing his 60+ years of coaching youth basketball.
 
October 18 - Our Annual Chicken Hekka
Fun, food and friends and someone else cooking!
Well, actually it was several club members serving as Chefs for the night.  And hot sake topped it off!
 
October 27 - “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes”
Club Members put on ladies’ shoes to support the YWCA. And we won FIRST PLACE TEAM!
 
INTERNATIONAL
The Rotary Club of Hilo is joining other Hawai`i and worldwide Clubs to help communities internationally.
 
THAILAND
Six new kidney dialysis machines and a health awareness and prevention outreach program.
 
BOLIVIA
Renovation of the St. Vincent de Paul Educational Unit with school furniture and training for parents.
 
ROMANIA
Support to help start the first multidisciplinary Craniofacial/cleft palate medical team.
 
NEPAL
Help to continue the “Telemedicine” project that allows Nepalese Doctors access to world medical professionals
 
Busy times in September
Welcome to our New Member!
Michael Whitney, Agro Crop.
 
LEARNING IS IMPORTANT
 
September 15 - District Training
It takes TRAINED Rotarians to help in our communities and around the world. Over 35 Rotarians gathered together to learn about writing and applying for district and Global grants. Monies raised by club members can be doubled or even tripled by strategic grants. GREAT WORK!
 
September 21 -
Hawai’i County Fire Chief Darren Rosario
speaks to our club
Rotary meetings aren’t always about what we can do to help people in our community.  We also bring in interesting speakers to educate us. Fire Chief Darren Rosario wowed us with all the work our County Fire Department does. As a matter of fact, our County Department is the only one statewide that responds to all 5 areas of concern: Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Services, Search and Rescue, Hazardous Materials and Ocean Safety! GREAT WORK!
 
DEVELOPING YOUTH
 
September 29 -
Waiakea High School Interact helps out
at the annual Alzheimers’ Walk.
Interact (Rotary Junior) club members get to the Walk early, help get everything set up, cheer on the participants and then help clean up and store all the supplies and equipment. These students are learning early that all people need to “give back” to our communities to ensure that needed services get to the people who need them.  GREAT WORK!
 
A school year of reading to Kindergarten classes!

August to May, club members arrive each month in 14 local schools and read to nearly 470 Kindergarten students... leaving the book for the classroom and often leaving a copy of the book for each student. Learning to enjoy reading is critical to developing most all of the cognitive skills needed to succeed in life.  And... it’s fun for our club readers, too. The kids wave and get all excited when the reader comes into the classroom. GREAT WORK!
 
LET'S END POLIO THIS YEAR! October 24 is WORLD POLIO DAY

Rotary International Started Polio Eradication
In 1988 With 350,000 Cases World Wide
1905 Polio recognized as a contagious disease by Swedish Dr. Ivar Wickman.
1916 Huge Polio outbreak in New York City kills 6,000 people, cripples more.
1955 Dr. Jonas Salk develops vaccine.
1960 Oral Polio vaccine developed by Dr. Albert Sabin, approved for use.
1979 Rotary International begins the fight by immunizing 6 million children in the Philippines.
1985 Rotary International and World Health Organization launch the Global Eradication Initiative  with an estimated 350,000 cases in 125 countries.
1994 Polio eradicated in the Americas.
1995 165 million children in China and India immunized in one week.
2000 550 million children immunized.
2006 Only four countries in the world still report polio cases. GREAT WORK!
2018 Only 18 cases of polio WORLD WIDE!
14 in Afghanistan, 4 in Pakistan
Want to help? DONATE at www.endpolio.org/donate
 

Malama Honua
celebrating Our 95th Anniversary

The Hilo Rotary Club Foundation presents a donation to Pwo Navigator and Captain of the Polynesian Voyaging Canoe, Hokule'a, to help fund their educational programs on their Malama Honua worldwide voyage.  (Left to right:  Bruce Blankenfeld, Donald Demuth of the Hilo Rotary Club Foundation, and Club President, Wally Wong)
 

Edmund Olson is recognized with The Rotary Club of Hilo's Malama Honua award for his efforts in caring for our aina.
 
     “Malama Honua” (to care for our earth) is the theme that we have chosen to celebrate our club's 95th anniversary.  Along with Rotary International's theme -- “Be a Gift to the World” -- we are inspired as we start this new Rotary year.
     President Wally Wong has sought out community service projects that will build a more sustainable community.  Projects such as building a vegetable garden for residents of a shelter to clearing illegally dumped trash in a vacant cul-de-sac area in Hilo.  We hope to be an example to other organizations and the community, that in order to stop and smell the flowers, we have to occasionally bend down to pull the weeds or pick up the trash.
     These are just a few of the many projects that the Rotary Club of Hilo has planned as it follows the Polynesian Voyaging canoe, Hokule’a, on its Malama Honua sail around the world.  On its worldwide voyage, the Hokule’a will grow and join the global movement towards a more sustainable world.
     Two individuals who embody the principles of Malama Honua were honored at our Officer Installation:  Bruce Blankenfeld, Pwo navigator and Captain of the Hokule’a for his leadership and efforts to educate our youth and  Edmund C. Olson of the Edmund C. Olson Trust II for providing agricultural opportunities and building a sustainable future for Hawaii Island.
 
 

Please Join Us

Service Above Self - Since 1920

We meet Fridays at 12:00 PM
Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
71 Banyan Drive
Hilo, HI  96720
United States
VenueMap
Venue Map
 
February 2019
S M T W T F S
27
28
29
30
31
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
01
02
 
Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
 
Upcoming Events
 
Meeting Responsibilities
February 22, 2019
Reporter
Kennedy, Biff
 
Photographer
Breyfogle, Treena
 
Greeter
Bray, Patty
 
Greeter
Heikes, Beverly
 
March 1, 2019
Reporter
Munro, Susan
 
Photographer
Anderson, Eric
 
Greeter
Guillen, Patrick
 
Greeter
Tajiri, Helene
 
March 8, 2019
Reporter
Osborne, Katie
 
Photographer
Takaki, Gail
 
Greeter
McGilvray, Kathleen
 
Greeter
Anderson, Eric
 
March 14, 2019
Reporter
Poirier, Maureen
 
Photographer
Dugar, Bobby
 
Greeter
Cheney, Jim
 
Greeter
Becker, Kimo-Jim
 
March 22, 2019
Reporter
Hemmes, Helen
 
Photographer
Glass, Kerry
 
Greeter
Tajiri, Helene
 
Greeter
O'Brien, Sally
 
April 5, 2019
Reporter
Cheney, Jim
 
Photographer
Hanley, Bob
 
Greeter
Dugar, Bobby
 
Greeter
Heikes, Beverly
 
April 12, 2019
Reporter
Chu, The Don
 
Photographer
Meyers, Charlene
 
May 3, 2019
Reporter
Munro, Susan
 
Photographer
Liu, Anna
 
May 10, 2019
Reporter
Kennedy, Biff
 
Photographer
Meyers, Charlene
 
 
Speakers
Chris Honda, Battalion Chief HFD
Feb 22, 2019 12:00 PM
Hands Only CPR Training
Lani Weigert - Hawaii Care Choices
Mar 01, 2019
Our care, our choice
Mayor Harry Kim
Mar 08, 2019
County of Hawaii
View entire list...
 
Connect with us
Twitter bird logo blue 16x16 
 
 
Link to Our District
 
Rotary International News