The Rotary Club of Hilo Bay: Meeting Notes – July 15, 2026
Call to Order
President Jan Haraguichi-Abundo called the hybrid meeting to order at 7:00. Seventeen of the fifty four members of the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay were in attendance, which included one online. Two guests were also in attendance.
Opening Activities
The meeting opened with Alan Okinaka leading the Pledge. Richard Cunninghtam provided the inspiration-“Believe you can! You are halfway there”
Trivia, Joke & Japanese Word of the Day
Alan Okinaka presented several facts on the circulatory system of the human body including three are 60,000 miles of blood vessels in your body and the number of calories burnt by your heart to pump the blood through the system.
Why should you never play poker in a zoo? Too many cheetahs.
o kudasai, please as please I would like coffee.
Guests, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Inductions, Special Recognition
- Birthdays: Kathleen Rowden
- Anniversaries: Dwayne Mukai
- Inductions: Curt Sharp, Barbara Hasting, Dwayne Mukai
- Guests: Jeff Gray and Martha Rodillas
Club Announcements & Community Service Opportunities
President Jan made the following announcements.
- Volcano Run Hydration stop, July 25th, see Mary Begier for sign up
- HRYF, Richard Cunningham stated his goals for the year. $3K to HRYF and $5K to the Nursing Scholarship in the Club’s name. Richard will accept cash or checks
- Club Foundation , no updates
- Oktoberfest, 2026 planning is ongoing with Steven Sylvester leading the committee. President Jan wants to increase the visibility of the event well in advance of the actual date
- Food Basket is looking for volunteers to pack Kapuna Boxes on Wednesday, August 5th. See Janell for more information.
- The Relay for Life is on 7/18. See Jan to run and or contribute
- The Friends of the Children Justice Center will hold a gala event in conjunction with the Orchid Show. See Kathleen for more information
- Peace Day will be celebrated on Aug. 2nd at 9 am at Honpa Hongwanji. For more information, see Art Taniguchi
- The D 5000 conference committee requested donations of hygiene kits for Vets. After discussion, the Club thought it was a good project for the St. Joseph’s Interact Club as they had both experience making hygiene for the cuts, had money in their budget and are returning to school at the right time.
- Hilo Huli Luau will be held on Aug. 2, 11 am to 2 pm at the Hilo Hawaii Hotel. It is the Rotary Club of Sout Hilo fund raiser. The profit from the event will go to local organizations.
Happy Dollars
$20 - Kathleen Rowden - Camp Imua (formerly Camp Agape) on The Big Island, has begun their online volunteer registration process. Camp Imua will be held Oct. 9-11, 2026. Reservation for campers has also begun with the deadline for applications on Aug. 21, 2026.
Volunteer meeting is on Sept. 22, 2026. Contact Dawn Tavares at 808-987-2053.
Camp Imua reaches out to the children of Hawaii's incarcerated, many of whom are hurting. We call the children (7-17) who attend "our angels." These angels’ parental separation often creates a painful disconnect, of which we all can help share the love and help these kids to overcome. Many of the youth that have grown up, serves at Camp Imua members.
- $10 Alan Okinaka - 1) Met with cohorts of research project 50+ years ago. 2) Visited Sharon Scheele at Hale Anuenue and she looks well.
-$5 Bryan Lindsey - A young woman asked if I knew Joan Lindsey. I said yes, she was my mother and the young woman said she took hula from her when she was 3 years old!
-$5 - Mary Begier - We can visit Sharon Scheele! Fred from HCC (ESL) was a bartender at Hilo Brewfest. Funny moment!
Guest Speaker President Jan Lisa introduced Lise LaMorte.
- Lisa outlined moving to Hawaii in 2002, Bay Area upbringing, education at San Francisco State (BA in liberal arts and communication, emphasis family studies), and family immigrant background (mother from El Salvador, father from Italy).
Career path described: preschool substitute → YWCA roles (home visiting program for eight years) → sexual assault support services advocacy and program director → Victim's Assistance Unit at the prosecutor's office (current, ~1.5 years).
Community and sustainability work highlighted: started a luffa business to reduce sponge waste, engaged in beekeeping (took bee classes, manages hives), and emphasized pollinator importance after observing crop drop when an apiary moved.
Personal notes: family travel priorities (Australia, Switzerland, Italy, upcoming Canada trip), bilingual background (Spanish first language), parenting choices about language, and strategies for self-care when working in advocacy.
Q&A and details about beekeeping practices (hexagonal comb efficiency, mite control techniques using dry wipes and oil traps, not harvesting honey in first year) were discussed with practical tips.
.
Doorr [BJ1] Prize Winner Kathleen Rowden
Closing Announcements
- July 29th will be the monthly social meeting at the Wailuku Brew Works
- The district 5000 Conference is August 21–23 in Honolulu.
- Travel to Japan to visit our sister club will take place in May 2027.
- Check your emails and the club website, www.hilobayrotary.com, for news and updates
Four-Way Test: Richard Cunningham
Door Prizes and Inspirations for July & August
Mike Carroll July 22
Dark July 29
Anita Cunningham Aug 5
JoB Aug 12
Aug 19
Tim H or Kevin R Aug 26
You can’t be a door prize winner without door prizes.
AI Synopsis
Event planning and logistics
Wiluku Brewer Works social scheduled for July 29 at 4:30 p.m.; club covers first drink and will arrange a short brewery tour; members asked to RSVP and indicate beverage preferences. (24:15)
Volcano Run planned for July 25 (weekend); members should check in with Jan to confirm who will attend and logistics for water distribution. (18:42)
District 5000 conference set for Aug 21–23; club encouraged members to attend; conference lodging and venue details discussed (airport hotel / Best Western references). (61:23)
50th anniversary event mentioned for Sept 10; members notified more details to come and to watch email for updates. (19:51)
Octoberfest planning: initial planning meeting July 30 at 5:00 p.m. at James's office; members asked to start sourcing silent auction donation items and $6 value items. (21:22)
Fundraising and ticketing
Helo Bay Foundation website updated by Jeff; event page live with links for tickets, sponsorships, and donations; club can start selling tickets via the single club runner page. (20:43)
Relay for Life fundraising: club set a $1,000 goal and reports the goal has been met; luminary bag placement and photos were prepared for the event. (28:50)
Silent auction solicitation requested ahead of October event; members to bring items to club and prepare a plan during the July 30 meeting. (21:47)
Discussion of whether to collect physical hygiene items or money for District conference kits; decision to leverage Interact clubs and existing grant funds to assemble kits. (22:26)
Members instructed to send ticket and sponsorship traffic to the club runner page; Jeff credited for updates and successful live deployment. (20:52)
Service projects and volunteer activities
Kupuna food box packing resumes first Wednesday monthly; next session Aug 5 at 9:00 a.m.; location and parking details provided and volunteers requested. (30:52)
Hilo Honpa Hongwanji Peace Ceremony Aug 2 with origami crane folding and an invitation to attend; club offered to staff a table at the Hilo Huli function same day to promote Rotary and Octoberfest. (29:26)
District conference hygiene-kit initiative proposed to assemble kits for veterans; club to coordinate with Interact clubs (Cedro, St. Joe) and consider donating funds to support kit assembly. (22:26)
Campamua (formerly Camp Agape Big Island) announced: camper registration deadline Sept 21, volunteer meeting Sept 22, camp Oct 9–11; contact Don Tavaris provided for volunteers. (34:01)
Members are encouraged to support other clubs' events (e.g., Hilo Huli) and to volunteer for shared promotional activities and staffing tables. (30:13)
[BJ1]Standardize formatting