HBRC meets every Wednesday at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in the Palm Room at 0700.
Hilo Bay Rotary Club Newsletter for the week of April 6, 2025
Steven Sylvester, President
From the meeting of April 2, 2025
President Steven convened the meeting at 7 am.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Guests: Patrick Bodell, Jeanne Balberde Kamalii, Tim Flynn and Ashley Kierkiewicz.
Inspiration: Tim Hansen offered the following: “Listen to your heart and trust the direction you are being pulled. Something inside you already knows what to do.” Spring Washam.
Announcements:
- Virginia Juettner announced the Foundation Event was a success thanks to everyone who pitched in whether during set up or take down. A big thank you to Benson Medina and friends for the entertainment.
- President Steven announced that Tinkerbell was taking a break for a few weeks. However, whe Richard Cunningham returns he will be look for some more checks for HRYF and the U. of H foundation.
- The dates for the D 5000 conference. They are 5/30-6/1. It will be held at the Ala Maona Hotel in Honolulu.
- President Stevn announced that we are dark on April 23rd due to Merry Monarch evens at the hotel.
- Mary Begier informed the members that the Friend of the Children’s Justice Center fundraiser table purchased by Hilo Bay Rotary Club was full for the event on April 12th.
Guest Speaker: Our guest speaker was Ashley Kierkiewicz. Ashley began by asking for topics to discuss and quickly covered several subjects. She started by explaining that she was serving her last term on the County Council and feeling a little risqué about her last term. Ashley then turned to her role with Na Leo which started 23 years ago in Hilo and expanded island wide because of the broadcasting and production facilities in Kona. Community Access promotes the training of community members to tell their stories. At the same time, community access is training young people in the technical aspects of broadcasting and content creation. Students are now responsible for producing HS athletics, a Merry Monarch channel and live high school graduations. All of this is made possible by a thirteen cent per month billing on cable TV services. However, this revenue stream is at risk and Na Leo is looking to introduce another revenue stream directly from viewers. Documentaries like Sew Hilo should attract viewers to Na Leo.
On the County Council front, Ashley was critical of the revised building permit system and the costs it inflicts on home builders and buyers. Any future revision should include more public and builder involvement. Another important revision is the animal control ordinance now that the County has assumed that responsibility. It is a tough subject that requires balancing the interests of pet owners and the responsibility to protect the public! Then there is Pahoa. It has been seven years since the eruption and much work still needs to be started. How do tourist exist in Hawaiian space and culture? This is the fundamental question that should drive redevelopment in Pahoa. Finally, Ashley wants to make the Preservation of Open Lands a reality. The fund has $36M in it and has little to show for it. It is funded by 2% of every real property tax bill in the county. Ahsley believes now is the time to make a major move to acquire and preserve open spaces.
Raffle Winner: Tom Wittens
Meeting invocations and raffle responsibilities for April:
April 9 is Lorraine D
April 16 is Kim K
April 23 is Sandra W
April 30 is Dwayne M
Speakers for April
April 10th Toni Higa Director of Nursing, Hilo Benioff Medical Center
Upcoming D 5000 Training:
|
12
Apr.
2025
|
Action Plan: Working the Plan |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
HI
United States of America
|
|
|
All D5000 Rotary members will find tons of information
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94810456899
