Newsletter for Week of September 3, 2025
Tim Hansen, President
Call to Order: President, Tim Hansen
Pledge of Allegiance: John Gapp
Inspiration: Chester Cabral
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.” ~Ghandhi
Obrigado – thank you in Portuguese. “Thank you for being my rainbow after the storm.” ~Portuguese quote.
Today’s Trivia: Question: How much has the Rotary Foundation invested in water, hygiene and sanitation?
Answer: $14 million
Birthday: Kim Keahiolalo, 8/26
Wedding Anniversaries:
- Kapena & Abby Lum
- Junichi & Chiaki
Inductions: Mike Carroll - Aug. 2014. Sponsor was Chester Cabral
Guest: Karl Gutknect, Rotarian & frequent visitor from Madison, Wisconsin
Mahalo:
- Mahalo to the Gapp’s for hosting our Club Social event at their home. Great time was had by all! (Story of their volunteer work in Guatemala & photos coming soon!)
- Certificate of Appreciation given by the Hawaii International Science Experience (HISE) as they spoke at our club meeting in August.
Announcements:
- Friends of Liliuokalani Gardens – 26th Annual Queen Liliuokalani Festival, Saturday, September 6, 2025, 10am – 3pm. Free! Live entertainment, hula (our own Miyuki Lee), craft booths, flower drop, food trucks, Hawaiian games and more! Overflow parking will be available at Aunty Sally’s with shuttle service to the park.
- Walk to End Alzheimer’s Hawaii Island – Saturday, September 20, 2025, 7:30am – 11:30pm, Liliuokalani Gardens. Register at: alz.org/hawaiiwalk
- - Friday, September 26, 6pm - 9pm Sangha Hall, Kilauea Ave. Hilo.
- James Tyrin - Preparing for our fundraising event that gives funds back to the community means all hands-on deck! Needed: Sponsors, donations; baskets, gift cards, services or other items for Silent Auction. Please reach out to your clients & friends! This is for a great cause, with proceeds from this event, directly benefiting the community through grants.
- Oktoberfest volunteers needed! Sigh-up with Bryan Lindsey to volunteer in assisting in the prep and set-up, on Thursday, amongst other responsibilities on the day of event.
This is our main event of the year!
- For ticket sales and more info, go to: www.hilooktoberfest.com
- $80 General Admission includes Beer, Pretzels and a delicious German meal!
- $105 – VIP - 5pm Early Entry, Access to Specialty Craft, Local & Imported German Beers, Appetizers, Pretzels & a Delicious German Meal.
- $1,500 - Munich Sponsor – 5pm Early Entry, Reserved Table for 8. Pre-Party with Specialty Beers, Vorspiels (pupu). Acknowledgement in Materials & A Hearty Thank You!
- $2,000 – Bavarian Sponsor – 5pm Early Entry, Reserved Table for 10. Pre-Party with Specialty Beers, Wines & Vorspiels (pupu). Acknowledgment in Materials, Special Oktoberfest Swag. Extra Hearty Thank You!
- Pres. Tim Hansen – Sept. 8, 2025, Hilo Rice Noodle – Sign up on the paper plate with Lorraine Davies.
- Pres. Tim Hansen - announced Oktoberfest and Rotary items, currently stored at David
De Luz’s will be moved to centralized location. More info about location to come!
- 4th Annual Peace Week – Sept.16-23, locations on The Big Island to be announced. Brought to you by Rotary Clubs of Hawaii Island. International Day of Peace is on Sept. 22, 2025. Honokaa Peace Day Parade & Festival is scheduled for September 20, 11am.
- Foodland’s Give Aloha Campaign – September 1-30, 2025. Support HRYF by making donations to assist seniors in furthering their university education. To donate, go to any Foodland, Sack N’ Save or Foodland Farms with the Maikai Card. Donation Code: 77199.
- Jr. Achievement – Volunteers needed to teach 1st & 3rd at Waiakea Elementary School. For more information, contact Sharon Scheele at scheele4rotary@yahoo.com
Happy Dollars:
$20 – JoB Balberde-Kamalii – September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.
Hope, Help and Healing instead of stigma, judgement and rejection.
$20 - Geoli Ng – Today’s Malama One presentation to our club and their willingness to build a recycling plant to save our environment.
$20 – Dwayne Mukai – Played Hapuna Round-Up Golf Tournament. Hooked up with old friends that are professional golfers. My team came in last place.
$20 – David DeLuz, Jr. – Celebrating Rotarians/Our Rainbows; Steve Jacunski, Kevin Hopkins, John Gapp, etc. 😊
$20 – Tom Witthans – First day of work!! For is son, Ryan and his daughter-in-law, Mehana. Both are new attorneys!
$10 - Alan Okinaka – Rotaract recruiting signed up 37 students at UH-Hilo!
Rotarian Claudia Boucher, Advisor
$10 – Bryan Lindsey – Steve Jacunski sought to find out who Patrick Bodell was, because he received a get-well card that had a picture of mule on it. The card read, “Get Off Your Ass and Get Back!
$10 – Kumiko Usuda – On Aug. 30th, the Tanabata Block Party was a success, despite the rain.
I am happy because many Rotarians remember this event and asked me about it.
Guest Speaker: Nick Doyle, Malama One Recycling - Concerns Affecting Our Aina
- Microplastic pollution
- Toxins associated with microplastics and their threat to human health and our public well-being
- Finding a long-term, holistic solution to the plastic pollution challenges we face every day
in Hawaii.
- Potential Emissions
Not All Plastics are Created Equal. Which can be recycled back into its original package form her in Hawaii?
- PETE – Polyethylene Terephthalate – soft drink bottles, mineral water, fruit juice containers, cooking oil.
- HPDE – High density Polyethylene – milk jugs, cleaning agents, laundry detergents, bleaching agents, shampoo bottles, washing and shower soaps
Goal: Malama One Recycling goal is for your Kokua in Hawaii to Malama Aina and Create Meaningful, Measurable Change so future Generations may Thrive!
For more info, Contact Nick Doyle, Malama One Recycling
Email: n.doyle@malamarecycling.org
Next Week’s Guest Speaker – Gail Ervin – Kenya Water
4-Way Test – Geoli Ng
Door Prize & Inspiration: (Sign-up with Lorraine Davis to fill 2025 Calendar)
Sept: 10 – Virginia Juettner
Sept. 17 – Mary Begier
Sept. 24 – Patrick Bodell