The Rotary Club of Hilo Bay: Meeting Notes – March 4, 2026

Call to Order

President Tim Hansen brought the meeting to order at 7:00 AM. March is recognized as the month of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, underscoring the club’s ongoing commitment to these important Rotary themes.

Opening Activities

The meeting opened with Jan Haraguchi-Abundo leading the Pledge. This was followed by an inspirational moment delivered by Miyuki Lee, setting a positive tone for the gathering.

Trivia and Notes

Although a trivia question was asked, it was not included in the President’s outline for the meeting and, as such, remains unrecorded.

Guests, Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Inductions

Guest: District Governor Nancy Cabral
Birthday: Mike Mabuni
Anniversaries: None
Inductions: None

Induction of New Member: President Hansen asked Victoria Adams and her sponsor, Anita Cunningham to join him in the front of the room. After the usual induction ceremony, President Hansen invited the members to greet our newest Rotarian.

Club Announcements

Richard Cunningham, who is creating a jewelry box from a pile of wood demonstrated to the members the difference between a pile of wood and a jewelry box. The jewelry box is an incentive for HRYF and the University of Hawaii Foundation donations. The pile of wood is pile of wood. 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
Virginia Juettner announced sailors will be ready to children during Navy week. On 3/11, they will be at Waiakea Elementary School. Birthday Books will be on 3/2 5.
Patrick Bodell reported that the Dictionary Project went well last week. The Rotarians and students got right into the dictionaries looking up the meaning of words.
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 11^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.
JoB confirmed that the sailors will be reading at Hilo Union Elementary, working the Queen Lilu Okelani garden, volunteering at the Food Basket and possibly meeting with the Interact and Rotaract Clubs.
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 levels of volunteers.

Happy Dollars

$100 - President Tim Hansen - To establish a $2500 permanent grant to Hope Services for Thanksgiving Luncheon for Homeless each year.

$100 - Mary Begier - Closed a third transaction with doctor clients that were originally referred to her by Barry Taniguchi, at request of Virginia Henshaw, UH-Manoa Chancellor 10 years ago. Her son and my client were college roommates.

$20 - David DeLuz, Jr. - Celebrating - He and his wife will be traveling 3/11-4/7/26, on a Mediterranean & Rhine River adventure cruise!

$10 - Deborah Beaver - Going to Las Vegas to celebrate my great-granddaughter's 7th birthday!.

$5 - Virginia Juettner - Happy for newly inducted club member; Victoria Adams. Happy for the terrific readers/partners in literacy; Alan Okinaka, Anita Cunningham, Kathleen Rowden, Mary Begier, Patrick Bodell and Fannie.

Guest Speaker President Hansen rescheduled the guest speaker so Rotarians could share thoughts, remembrances, anecdotes of Rotarians Chester Cabral who passed unexpectedly a few days earlier. We learned that Chester

was a 49ers fan
was deeply connected to Hope Services, especially the Thanksgiving lunch
sponsored Mike Carroll
rolled into his BMW but had to crawl out

Smiles were shared, tears fell and we laughed. David de Luz offered a challenge grant of $1,000 to establish a memorial for Chester. Several Rotarians took up his challenge. Anita Cunningham offered to take over the Hope Services Thanksgiving Lunch to keep us involved. A life well lived, Chester.

Door Prize Kathleen Rowden

Closing Announcements

Next week’s speaker is Admiral Mahelona, and we will meet in one of the first floor rooms.
President for 2029-2030 is needed. Jump in before you get volunteered.
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.

Four Way Test Richard Cunningham

Inspiration & door prizes

March 11, a worthy volunteer to inspire us as Chester already contributed the door prize
March 25: Steven Sylvester