The Rotary Club of Hilo Bay: Meeting Notes – October 7, 2026
Call to Order
President Jan Haraguichi-Abundo called the hybrid meeting to order at 7:00. Four guests and twenty one of fifty four members of the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay were in attendance.
Opening Activities
The meeting opened with President Jan asking Dwayne Mukai to lead the Pledge. Virgina Juettner shared an inspiration—a newborn baby is so small it can crawl right into your heart/a brand new baby is so helpless that you want to protect it from all of life’s hurts/and no matter how many children and grandchildren are in your heart already there is always room for one more to crawl in
Trivia, Joke, Japanese and Spanish Word of the Day, Guests
Alan, which group smiles 20 times a day and which group smiles 400 times a day? Children smile 400 times a day and grownups 20 times a day. Each smile is unique and can be seen from 300’ away!
Joke ?
Japanese: Good night—Oyasumi or Oyasuminasai
Spanish: Buenas noches
Guests, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Inductions, Special Recognition
Birthdays: Sandra Sakaguchi, Martha Ridillo
Anniversaries: Ken Barnes
Inductions: Jessica Thompson
Guests: DG Benson Medina and Zetta Medina, Martha Radillo, Jeff Gray. Welcome back to Mike Marabuni and John Gapp.
Club Announcements & Community Service Opportunities, Club Recognition
President Jan made the following announcements.
- HRYF it is time for the matching contribution from Sak & Save remember 77199. Bring in you receipts next week. The goal for the year is $3K for HRYF and $5K to the U. of HI Foudation.
- The State of Hawaii issued the incorporation paperwork for the Foundation. Alan expects to complete the IRS 501C3 application in the next few weeks.
- Oktoberfest, several members made favorable comments about the celebration. Almost all of them can be summed up as the best Oktoberfest ever. If you did not make a financial commitment to Oktoberfest, you can access it from https://hilooktoberfest.com and donate.
- Food Basket is looking for volunteers to pack Kapuna Boxes. The next volunteer opportunity will be in November. See Janell for more information.
- Looking for a Sargeant of Arm. Will a worthy volunteer please stand up!
- Literacy Projects. Virginia Juettner reported that next week will require a few more volunteers as more teachers are requesting readers to visit their classroom as well as to participate in Birthday Books.
- Tim Hansen reported that the Kakou Event is scheduled for Oct. 16th on the U of H campus.
- World Polio Day is Oct. 24th. DG Bensen restated the importance of educating the public on the importance of finishing off polio. There is a generational problem in that most young people do not know what polio was like in this country. D 5000 will be posting a celebration and other activities on its website. In the meantime, FEED the PIG!
- Higashi Hiroshima 40th Installation is scheduled for May 23, 2027. Sign up if you are going to attend. David De Luz suggested that the RCHB woodworkers create a unique gift for this event. Richard Cunningham has a lot of wood and agrees.
- HOPE Services luncheon is the week before Thanksgiving. Club members will volunteer and support the memory of former Rotarian Chester Cabral.
- Salvation Army Bell Ringing and Angel Tree time is drawing near. JoB will be coordinating our participation.
- Tent & Treat was introduced by Anita Cunningham. It will be held at St. Joseph’s School and is open to students and neighborhood children. It will be on Oct, 28 from 5-8 pm. Volunteers are needed for setup of the tent. Contributions are also being accepted.
- Seaweed Removal will resume in Queen Liliuokalani Park on 10/24 from 9-11 am. Volunteers are needed to remove the seaweed by grubbing it out and other to move it to the composting site as well as support help. Looking for 50 volunteers from Rotary, Interact, Rotaract as well as University students and anyone who wants to help.
- Walk with a fellow Rotarian is a monthly activity of the RC of Hilo. Stay tuned for announcements.
Induction of Martha Radillo, Jeff Gray. President Jan asked Martha and Jeff to join her and DG Benson at the podium. DG Benson explained that he was doing away with the traditional induction text provided by RI. He recited a story of how he learned the Hawaiian values that are approximated by the Four Way Test from his grandmother. (I did write this down but can not find it among all the white paper.) After he completed the story, DG Benson asked Martha and Jeff if they would live by the Four Way Test and after they answered affirmatively, he welcomed them to Rotary. President Jan pined them and gave them the welcoming folder. They members then welcomed them to RCHB family.
Happy Dollars 
from October 7th meeting
$5 – Virgina Juettner announced that Sandra Wagner-Wright had reached the Major Donor level in the Rotary Foundation! More to follow.
$5-Richard Cunningham- for the great job of putting on the Oktoberfest.
$10 – Jeff Gray – he is Happy because it is his birthday month.
$20-Kathleen Rowden- we are having Camp Imua this weekend beginning at 6 am on Friday through Sunday afternoon. The camp is for children 3-17 whose parents are incarcerated. We ended up with 54 campers and 56 volunteers. Activities include ziplining among others. Some of our campers are returning as mentors this year. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Contact Dawn Tarares at 808 987 2053 with any questions.
Door Prize Winner: Anita Cunningham-$50 gift card from the Garden Exchange.
Final Reminders
Travel to Japan to visit our sister club will take place on May 23, 2027.
RI World Convention in Barcelona in June 2027.
Check your emails and the club website, www.hilobayrotary.com, for news and updates
Still looking for a Sargeant at Arms
Four-Way Test: Tim Hansen
Door Prizes and Inspirations for Oct & Nov
Lisa Lamonte-Willians Oct 14
Michelle Flemming Oct 21
Patrick Bodell Nov 4
Alan Okinaka Nov 11
Miyuki Lee Nov 18
You can’t be a door prize winner without door prizes. Patrick Bodell is looking for volunteers for door prizes and inspiration.