Meeting Details

Opening Activities

Guests, Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Inductions

• Guests: Victoria Adams
• Birthdays: Tim Young
• Anniversaries: None
• Inductions: None

Club Announcements

• The Hale ‘Oluea Club House visit was being postponed due to scheduling conflicts.
• Richard Cunningham is creating a jewelry box as a donation incentive for HRYF and the University of Hawaii Foundation. For those of you who contributed, Richard said thank you but he expects more of us to step up and contribute before April 1^st. Richard also promised to reach you if you have not contributed.
• President Hansen thanked Deborah Beaver for her table decorations and weekly table flyers.
• Virginia Juettner announced sailors will be ready to children during Navy week.
• Alan Okinaka was still looking for three volunteers to assist with readings at Waiakeawaena Elementary School.
• Anita Cunningham reported that the St. Joseph’s Interact Club was sponsoring a gently used clothing drive to support the Friends of the Children Justice Center. Gently used clothing was defined as used but only to the extent that you would not be embarrassed to regift it. Donation items and cash will be accepted at the March 6^th meeting.
• Admiral Mahelona will be our guest speaker on March 11^th. We are inviting all Rotarians, friends and would be Rotarians to this meeting. It will be held downstairs in the Sandalwood Room, and the cost of breakfast will be $25 for this event. A flyer was prepared and sent to HBRC members via email. You must respond to the QR Code to reserve and pay for space at this meeting by March 6^th.  It was also mentioned that several other organizations are working to sponsor events during Navy week. What we think we have scheduled for the sailors is subject to change.
• James Tyrin is seeking volunteers for the D5000 workday which will be April 18^th.  The project will be the removal of invasive seaweed from the ponds at Lili Okalani Garden. There will be volunteer activities for all level of volunteers. Finally, James said the volunteers to distribute Dictionaries at Hilo Union Elementary will leave immediately following the end of today’s meeting^.
• The Epic Food Fight to End Hunger is scheduled for May 16. A coordinator is needed for the event.

• Phillip started by giving us the history of the Palace Theater which was built by Adam Baker in 1925. Mr. Baker built a unique theater with 813 seats, an ammonia cooling system and a pipe organ to screen English silent movies—something that is still done monthly complete with an organ accomplishment.
• Over the decades, the Palace Theater went through several changes including ownership and a reduction in the number of theater seats to 500.
• By 1980s, the theater was being used for the storage films owned by Consolidated Theaters. This phase ended in the 1990s.
• The public began a drive to revitalize the theater in the early 2000s. Age, building codes and a lack of performances slowed down the building’s renaissance. During this period, the theater was limited to only 299 seats even though it still had 500 seaters.
• Intense effort got the sprinkler system back online, revitalized the 1,800 feet of the organ’s piping and installed air conditioning and fans.
• The best fundraisers are theater performances. However, it is only one of many revenues streams which include ticket sales, fees for tours of the theater and traditional fundraising.
• For more information go to hilopalace.com.

• Next week’s speaker is canceled considering Chester Cabral’s passing. Bring pictures and memories of Chester instead.
• On a happier note, we will have two inductions next week—Victoria and Kevin.
• President for 2029-2030 is needed. Jump in before you get volunteered.
• March 11^th we will be hosting Admiral Mahelona and several Navy personnel. Use the QR on the attached flyer to register for this event. Please bring friends, neighbors and prospective Rotarians.
• May 2-9, Pohnpei Health Service Project, sign up on the D5000 website.
• June is the RI Convention in Taipei.
• 2027 will be an exchange visit to our sister club in Japan.
• Don’t forget to check your emails, website and sign up for inspiration & door prizes with Lorraine.

• March 4, Miyuki Lee
• March 11, available
• March 25: Steven Sylvester