Hilo Bay Rotary Club Newsletter for the week of October 8, 2025
Tim Hansen, President
Rotary theme for October—Community Economic Development
Call to Order: President Tim Hansen called the meeting to order at 0700
Pledge of Allegiance: Bob Juettner
Inspiration: Steven Sylvester
Trivia: When is Mental Health Awareness Day? Answer: October 10th
Guests: Preston & Ken Barnes, Cedric Mitsui
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: Ken & Ryoko Barnes
Inductions: None
Announcements:
- The Polio Pig needs to eat! President Tim set a goal of $3,000 for Polio Plus and the current balance is $2,757! $243 is needed to meet the goal.
- Our HRYF advocate is traveling the world, but he wants us to remember HRYF still needs $$. Way to go Richard!
- Junior Achievement is moving along. Sharon Scheele is still looking for a few good volunteers.
- Reading to Keiki is coming up. Virginia Juettner distributed a sign-up sheet for this literacy project.
- Kakou—Let’s Work It Out is scheduled for Oct. 17th, 5 pm @UH Campus Center.
- JoB and Anita Cunningham announced that there will be a Tent or Treat at St. Joseph school field, on 10/29/25, 5pm-6:30pm. Donations were accepted for candy, stickers etc.
Happy Dollars Our meetings are fast-paced and packed with information. To ensure that we get the intent of Happy Dollars right, we will only list those who provide a description for their Happy Dollars. If your name does not appear below, we did not get a form for your Happy Dollars.
$50 - Cedric Mitsui - For seeing Sharon Scheele & Tiara at a funeral.
$50 – Cedric Mitsui - Enjoyed this year’s Oktoberfest after meeting at James Tyrin’s place.
$50 - Bob Juettner – Glad to be back at the Rotary meeting. Thank you to Anita
Cunningham for doing the newsletter.
$20 – Jan Abundo – JCCIH – 27th Annual “A Taste of Hilo” event on Sunday, Oct. 19,
2025, 1:00-3:00pm, Sangha Hall.
$20 – Michelle Flemming – YWCA Preschool Haunted House Fundraiser - Friday, Oct.
31, 2025, 6pm-10pm. 145 Ululani St. Hilo.
$20 – JoB – Much to be grateful for. 😊
$20 – Ken Barnes - $17 for 17 years of marriage. $3 - one dollar for each kid we have…all
healthy and teenagers, (ugh) 😊
$14 – Anita Cunningham – Our youngest son turns 14-yrs on Friday!
$10 – Alan Okinaka – Universe is expanding!
$10 – Deborah Beaver – Finally got my cabinets installed!
$10- Steven Sylvester – For the consolation prizes for when Chester Cabral wins.
$10 – Janell Kuamoo – Smiles for Miles
Guest Speaker: Duryn Zumo, Managing Director of The Food Basket. Duryn provided the history of the Food Basket. In 1989, The Hawaii Island Food Bank was Barry Taniguchi, Chairman of the Board, KTA and Carol Ignacio, Board President. Carol delivered food from the trunk of her Toyota Corolla. It was like taking a drink from a fire hose.
In 2007, there was an Island-wide contest for 7th-12th graders, to create a new logo and re-name the Food Bank. It was changed to The Food Basket, Inc. The winner of the contest was Tiara Inouye, a 7th grader from St. Joseph School. Ever since, the name has been The Food Basket, Inc. (Photo of Tiara’s logo pictured left.) A status check of 2024 activities and a picture of future Food Basket activities: The Food Basket has a board of directors of ten, a paid staff of 50 and they are striving to end hunger on Hawaii Island. There is also a network of 100 non-profits packing boxes, distribute them, stocking food pantries etc.
In 2004, The Food Basket distributed 3.1 million pounds of food island wide. 1 million pounds of food was rescued from stores and diverted from the landfills. The food was distributed through the Kapuna Pantry, food pantries and soup kitchens, shelters & snack program etc. They served the equivalent of 600,000 people during the year. Looking to the future, the Food Basket is: Working to expand their ties with local farmers. Stem the loss of local farms. Increase the Kokua harvest. Develop the Agricultural Innovation Park to increase food security. Further education and improve community resilience.
Door Prize Winner: For a $10 Amazon gift card—Lorraine, Anita Cunningham and Chester Cabral. For a very interesting and provocative bottle of imported vodka - Mary Begier.
Four-Way Test: __
Inspiration and door prize for October 2025
Oct. 15, 2025 – David DeLuz, Jr.
Oct. 22, 2025 – JoB
Oct. 29, 2025 – Art Taniguchi
Vocational Speaker for Next Wednesday: Mary Begier, Realtor