Public Invited to Free Pāhoa Art Exhibit November 26

The County of Hawai‘i’s new Pāhoa Senior Center will host its inaugural art exhibit from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, November 26.

The new gate to the Pahoa Senior Center

Holiday pupu will be served at the free event, which will feature art work presented by eight students of the county’s SoulCollage® classes. Parking will be available at the adjacent Pāhoa Neighborhood Facility.

As a way of discovering their inner wisdom, SoulCollage students create deeply personal cards that help them navigate through life. These unique cards will be shown for display purposes only and will not be available for purchase.

The exhibit will give students and the class facilitator an opportunity to share the SoulCollage experience with the public.  A new 10-week SoulCollage class will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays at the Pāhoa Senior Center starting January 7, 2013.

People interested in registering for the next class may call Valarie Matinjussi at 965-6000 or email her at valariematinjussi@yahoo.com.

The Pahoa Senior Center Opens

The long awaited opening of the Pahoa Senior Center became a reality today as close to two hundred community members came together to help launch the opening of the center today.

Mayor Kenoi and Fred Blas as well as many other current and former politicians were on hand today.

The location of the new center is next to the Pahoa Community Center at the old Pahoa Fire Station that has been remodeled by many folks that volunteered their time and money to get this to become a reality.

Folks got to tour the facility and everyone was impressed with what had been accomplished.

Mayor Kenoi told me that he was willing to work with Oceanic Cable to help get internet services provided to the center… as Oceanic has been looking at projects such as this to possibly help out with.

It was great to see so many folks come out in support… especially 106 year old Pahoa resident Saramae Landers.

The center even has a small kitchen!

I sure hope that the facility is taken care of… it is something that this community has needed for a long time… and yes… Elvis was in the house.

Media Release:

Puna’s kūpuna were swinging to the oldies Monday morning during the blessing and dedication ceremony for Hawai‘i County’s new Pāhoa Senior Center.

Mayor Billy Kenoi and Puna Councilman Fred Blas welcomed more than 200 people, many of them area seniors. The Senior Center, in the heart of Pāhoa, is the former Pāhoa Fire Station which Hawai‘i Carpenters Union apprentices and County personnel transformed into a community gathering place. The station was vacated when Pāhoa’s firefighters moved to a new $5.3 million fire station in 2009.

The convenient location in the center of town will be used to provide a variety of classes and programs offered by the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Elderly Activities Division, including Senior ID, Senior Employment, and the RSVP volunteer program.

It’s the most beautiful facility of its kind on the island, Councilman Blas told the audience members.

“Our seniors can play, can work and can enjoy our center,” he said, adding Mayor Kenoi’s can-do attitude is responsible for completing the renovation project that frees up the Pāhoa Community Center for keiki Summer Fun Programs and other activities.

Mayor Kenoi said he’s proud of the County’s senior programs and the hard working employees who make them and projects like the Pāhoa Senior Center possible.

“Our senior programs in every community – Ka‘ū, Kohala, Kona, Hilo, Waimea, Puna – are fantastic programs because of fantastic people. It makes you really proud,” Mayor Kenoi said.

“All of this that we’re here today to celebrate is because of the wonderful people, both in the County and in the community, all working together. When people put aside differences and we work together to take care of our kūpuna, it’s a good thing,” Mayor Kenoi said, noting he’s proud to be from Puna.

He credited Councilman Blas, along with former Councilwoman Emily Nae‘ole and former Councilman Gary Safarik, for having helped deliver the improved services to Puna’s seniors.

Noting it was a day to give, Mayor Kenoi said work has started to develop a $5.5 million, 56-acre Pāhoa Regional Park that will be the “nicest on the island.”

Among those publically recognized was Puna’s own living legend – and the most senior member of the Pāhoa Senior Club – Saramae Landers, 106 years young.

Father Joey Ranjo of Sacred Heart Church delivered the blessing, while Dan Nicks aka “Elvis Presley,” Puna Men’s Chorus, Ernie Cruz, Alu Like Senior Group and the Pāhoa Senior Ukulele Class under the direction of Nohealani Sarong entertained the crowd.

The No. 1 Chinese BBQ, L&L Drive-Inn, Luquins Mexican Restaurant, Bryson’s Cinders, Paul’s Repair Service and Gas Station, Pāhoa Cash & Carry Store, Sanford’s Service Center Inc., Madie Greene, and Councilman Blas all donated food for the event. Stanley Oishi from Big Rock Anthurium furnished flowers, while Nā Kāne volunteers helped with the event.

For more information, please contact Jason Armstrong, Public Information Officer, at 345-9105, or jarmstrong@co.hi.hawaii.us.

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Public Invited to Dedication of New Pahoa Senior Center

Puna’s kupuna will have a new gathering place starting June 18, when Mayor Billy Kenoi, Puna Councilman Fred Blas and other dignitaries welcome them into the Pāhoa Senior Center.

The public is invited to Monday’s 10 a.m. dedication ceremony that will feature a formal blessing by
Father Joey Ranjo of Sacred Heart Church, live entertainment and food donated by area businesses.

Volunteer apprentices from the Hawai‘i Carpenters Union teamed with Department of Parks and Recreation carpenters, plumbers and electricians to convert the former Pāhoa Fire Station into a convenient location in the center of Pāhoa.

Seniors, who have been using the adjacent Pāhoa Community Center, now can go to the new facility to enroll in weekday classes ranging from foreign language to dancing, sign up for the nutrition program and obtain picture identifications. Booths showcasing Senior ID, Senior Employment, RSVP and various other services will be assembled for public benefit during Monday’s dedication ceremony.

“It’s an honor and privilege to present this new facility to our cherished kupuna,” Mayor Kenoi said.
“Mahalo to the Hawai‘i Carpenters Union apprentices and Department of Parks and Recreation maintenance staff for working together to complete this project, along with the many Pāhoa businesses, groups and volunteers who have made generous donations for the dedication ceremony.”

The No. 1 Chinese BBQ, L&L Drive-Inn, Luquins Mexican Restaurant, Bryson’s Cinders, Paul’s Repair Service and Gas Station, Pāhoa Cash & Carry Store, Sanford’s Service Center Inc., Madie Greene, and Councilman Blas all donated food for the event. Also, Dan Nicks AKA “Elvis Presley,” the Puna Men’s Chorus, Ernie Cruz, the Alu Like Senior Group, and the Pāhoa Senior Center ukulele class instructed by Nohealani Sarong will entertain the attendees. Stanley Oishi from Big Rock Anthurium is providing flowers, while na kane volunteers are helping with the event.

For more information, please contact Jason Armstrong, Public Information Officer, at 345-9105, or jarmstrong@co.hi.hawaii.us.