From the meeting of January 21, 2026
Call to Order: President Tim Hansen called the meeting to order at 7 am.
Pledge: Bryan Lindsey
Inspiration: Sandra Wagner-Wright: “Root out the aggression in your life and learn to live compassionately and mindfully. Seek peace. When you have peace within, real peace with others is possible. “Thich Nhat Hanh. 1926-2022 Vietnamese Buddhist Monk.
Trivia: How many muscles does it take to frown? 47 but only 12 to smile.
Guests: Victoria Adams, Kevin Rearden, Koa Roberts.
Birthdays: Tomo Saito
Anniversaries: Kathleen Rowden
Inductions: Ken Barnes, Jan Harahuchi-Abundo, Chester Cabral, Anita Cunningham.
Club Announcements:
- Meal Mixer wit Janell, Jan 30th, Hawaiian Style Café
- HRYF & U of H scholarships please contribute even though Richard is absent this morning.
- Literacy Projects, Alan is looking for some more readers at Waiakea Elementary school. Virginia reported that she had lunch with Shirley Wood of the Hio Rotary Club. They discussed the fact that we have overlapping projects and need to realign to cover more students. HRC contributes about 2,000 books annually. Birthday Book is kicking off that afternoon at Waiakea.
- RYLA, Anita reported on the need for volunteers to drive students to the camp and return them home again. The use of a donated van was being explored.
- Community Service. JoB reported on the projects for Navy Blue which is 3/9-3/12. The Admiral in charge of Navy Blue will be our guest speaker on 3/11.
- Charles is working on the D 5000 workday which will be 4/18 or 4/4 and 5/16 Rotary’s Epic Day of Service.
- President Tim also reminded us that we need a RCHB president in 2029-2030—just jump in. And please do not forget the Rotary Convention in Taipei coming up in June.
Happy Dollars
$25 – JoB – #1 - PCDA presentation (Rotary Grantee) #2 – Voluntarily in debt (mortgage) #3- Joy each day and every day!
$10 – Alan Okinaka – Why Rotarians never get lost? They always use the 4-Way Test when asking for directions.
$10 – Allen Novak – Opening of State Legislature, opportunity for everyone to register on the legislative website and submit testimony and introduction of his bills.
$5 – Virginia Juettner – #1 - For potential new members; Kevin Reardon and Victoria Adams, having attended their second Rotary meeting. $2 – For Tim Hansen & Jan Abundo helping with birthday books for elementary school students.
$5 – Anita Cunningham – Feeling grateful! Our oldest boy Charles, entered his second year of college at UH-Hilo, middle boy John is gainfully employed and our youngest, Noah is in 8th grade and is getting good marks.
Guest Speaker: Mary Begier introduced Molly Masaoka of Yoga Centered. Molly quickly told us what yoga is. It is a lifestyle. It is an awareness of self, connected to something greater which helps with mental health and physical wellbeing. We do yoga to break from the constant stimulation of modern life. Having said that, Molly began a chair yoga session with the members to demonstrate what she said. After 20 minutes or so, you could feel the difference.
She offered everyone an incentive to keep going at her studio. Mention the word Rotary and the first session if free.
Closing Announcements
- Next week’s meeting will be an Assembly as there are a number of decisions that need to be made.
- Check your emails and the Club website.
- Sign up for door prizes and inspirations with Lorraine.
Door Prizes: Kathleen Rowden won the $50 gift card to KTA.
Four Way Test: Bob Juettner
Door prizes and inspirations:
January 28 is Anita Cunningham’s
February 4 is Virginia Juettner
February 14 is JoB
February 21 is Deborah Beaver
February 28 is Bob Juettner
Next Guest Speak
February 4th TBA