The Rotary Club of Hilo Bay: Meeting Notes – September 9, 2026
Call to Order
President Jan Haraguichi-Abundo called the hybrid meeting to order at 7:00 in the Palm Room of the Grand Naniloa Hotel. Twenty of the fifty four members of the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay were in attendance.
Opening Activities
The meeting opened with President Jan leading the Pledge. Janell Kuamoo shared an inspiration -- If you believe in yourself, anything is possible.”
Trivia, Joke, Japanese and Spanish Word of the Day, Guests
Alan was absent but will be back with more trivia soon!
What did one plate say to the other? Dinner is on me.
Gochisoosama—Thank you for the meal.
No Spanish this morning
Guests, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Inductions, Special Recognition
Birthdays: Ken Barnes, Lisa LaMorte-Willians
Anniversaries: Tim Hansen & Kevin Readon, James & Misti Tyrin
Inductions: None
Guests: None
Club Announcements & Community Service Opportunities, Club Recognition
President Jan made the following announcements.
- On September 23rd we will be dark due to a scheduling conflict at the hotel.
- The monthly social was held at the Big Island Meadery with seven friendly Rotarians.
- HRYF it is time for the matching contribution from Sak & Save remember 77199.
- Club Foundation organization is continuing. Kim Keahiolalo asked if anyone had a policy of how the Foundation Board interacts with the Club Board to please send it to her.
- Virginia Juettner reported on the literacy projects. Birthday Books will be today at noon and reading aloud sessions are scheduled. Just a reminder that September is literacy and basic education month.
- Planning for Oktoberfest 2026 is underway. Banners are up, and tickets are on sale. The Board of Directors agreed that each member will be charged for two tickets unless they are a sponsor. Tickets and event information are available at https://hilooktoberfest.com/. Members who do not purchase two tickets will be invoiced after the event, so buy yours and help fill the house.
- Food Basket is looking for volunteers to pack Kapuna Boxes. This morning or Thursday morning at the Food Basket starting at 9 am. See Janell for more information.
- Looking for a Sargeant of Arm.
- Walk to End Alzheimer’s is Sept. 19th. We will have an information table at the event.
- Sept. 27th the Juettner will host a baby shower for Hirona at their house in Hakalau.
- Hurricane Lala Relief is ongoing. Jan and Patrick are delivering meals to victims on Wednesday and Friday from the Salvation Army.
Virginia Juettner spoke to the Nepal disaster and the need for water filters. You can contribute filters through waterhandshope.org. She also spoke to the need of sheltering people in Nepal and the role of ShelterboxUSA which is a disaster relief partnership with RI. Interested donors should write a check to ShelterboxUSA and give them to Bob Juettner who will bundle the contributions and mail them in next week. President Jan offered to contribute $100 from the Club from the social event.
Happy Dollars
$20 - Bob Juettner - 1) Last bon dance of the year is 9/12/26, 6pm at Hakalau Jodo Mission. 2) Shelter Box for Nepal.
$20 - Kevin Reardon - 1) Great birthday celebration for my dad. 2) Anniversary of 27 years with the love of my life, Tim.
$20 - Tom Witthans - RV trip on the mainland with his son, and attending a rock concert in Las Vegas, Deep Purple!
$5 - Victoria Adams - Interact Club at St. Joe.
$5 - Anita Cunningham - Met wonderful, hard working Rotarians at the District Conference in Honolulu, and there wasn't an ego in the house.
$5 - Lorraine Davis - On 9/24/26 at 7pm, at Church of the Holy Cross, there will be an organ concert featuring Walter Greenwood & Rick Mazurowski. They will perform Wagner, Strauss and Morricone on the Mighty Allen Quantum Renaissance Organ. For more info, go to: KAMAAINACONCERTSERIES.COM
$5 - Tim Hansen - Big Island Mental Health Summit, 9/21/26, 8:30-4pm, UH Hilo UCB 100. Register at: tim@namihawaii.org
$5 - Virginia Juettner - Happy to be healthy again!
$5 - Janell Kuamoo - Completed 9 months of Business Cohorts, Hawaii Founder & Leeward College, Aina to Makeke.
So grateful for the opportunities.
$2 - Art Taniguchi - Hilo Seniors Resource Fair - Wednesday, 9/9/26, 9am-12noon at Sangha Hall.
Guest Speakers were Patrick Bodel and Tim Hansen discussing RYLA and the role of RCHB. Patrick banged the drum while Tim provided the narrative.
- RYLA started in Australia as part of the activities around the visit of Queen Elizabeth to showcase young Australians.
- In the 1960s, it became a part of Rotary International’s youth program.
- It took several years to gain traction in D 5000 with very small attendance was almost a casualty of Covid. Mary Begier reminded the members that even before Covid, it would have ended had it not been for a Hilo Bay Rotarian who paid for the program anonymously for two years.
- RYLA on the Big Island is the poster child of D 5000. Big Island clubs sponsor 50 Rylarians at a cost of $275 per scholarship.
- A unique feature of BI RYLA, developed through Fire Chief Todd’s efforts, is that participants organize and run the program. Youth Facilitators supervise groups of nine participants, while Youth Coordinators design and deliver the program. This creates a clear progression from participant to Youth Facilitator to Youth Coordinator.
- Of course, there are Rotarian volunteers to act as bus chaperones, dormitory night watchers etc.
- One of the best ways to experience RYLA is to visit on Sunday morning when the participants present their solutions to contemporary problems such as food security, homelessness, etc.
Another good way to experience RYLA is to join a talk story session. Younger local people are needed to interact with the participants.
Door Prize Winner: Tom Witthans received a $50 gift card from Big Island Delights.
Final Reminders
Travel to Japan to visit our sister club will take place on May 23, 2027.
RI World Convention in Barcelona in June 2027.
Check your emails and the club website, www.hilobayrotary.com, for news and updates. Oktoberfest tickets and information at https://hilooktoberfest.com/.
Still looking for a Sargeant at Arms
Four-Way Test: President Jan. led the Four Way Test
Door Prizes and Inspirations for Sept & Oct
Kathleen Rowden Sept 16
Hirona Sylvester Sept 23
Virginia Juettner Oct 7
Lisa Lamonte-Willians Oct 14
Michelle Flemming Oct 21
You can’t be a door prize winner without door prizes. Patrick Bodell is looking for volunteers for door prizes and inspiration. His calendar needs additional names and commitments.
SAVE THE DATE!
Join us for the 26th Annual Hilo Bay Oktoberfest!
Saturday, October 3, 2026: 5:30pm - 8:30pm at Sangha Hall in Hilo
Authentic German Food • Beer & Wine • Refreshments
Live Entertainment • Silent & Live Auctions • Costume Contest, Games and More!
Tickets start at $75.00!
https://hilooktoberfest.com/.