Pa'auilo Mauka Kalopa Community Association - Newletter August/September 2008

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Pa'auilo Mauka Kalopa Community Association
August/September 2008 Newsletter

President`s Message

What a wonderful time we all had at our annual picnic which was held on July 26, 2008 at the Kalopa State Park. Our day started with a few of our members cleaning and digging the garden that sits at the bottom of the park where edible Hawaiian foods are grown.

Mr. Russell Tanji from Homeland Security in Honolulu presented some real facts concerning our security and what we can do to help ourselves should we or our community be faced with a disaster. Thanks to Steve Vujnovich who invited Mr. Tanji to speak to us. We also had one of our own, Assistant Fire Chief Glen Honda, show us a film on a program called CERT [Community Emergency Response Team] which also deals with the first steps of a disaster. Five of our members--Mary Souza, emergency chairperson, Dave Jackson, Carl Pinahs, Paul Donoho and I took the course. There were two members from Ahualoa and one from Laupahoehoe. We met for eight hours at the NHEC for four Saturdays. These classes are given by the Fire Department and the Civil Defense. We all worked hard and each of us received a certificate of accomplishment. Each community would be ready for a disaster if more people got involved and the Fire Department and the Civil Defense would be happy to set up more training classes.

After our business meeting, we had so many good things to eat and then our annual bingo game with lots of prizes--what fun. We laughed and talked and all had such a good time getting to know our neighbors.

Linda Gallano and her team have been busy at the Kalopa Park and we want to express our aloha to all who serve with her. The signs look good and the invasive weeds are disappearing.

Hamakua Alive! will be happening October 25, 2008 at the Pa`auilo School grounds again and we will be a part of this activity and maybe have a bake sale. It was such a successful event and we look forward to your help this year.

I received a call from the Public Works Dept. that they will be repairing the wooden bridge on Kaapahu where it runs into Ho`okahua. They plan to have a public meeting which will be announced later.

We have a website managed by John Lindelow at pmkca.org. The site has lots of information and you can sign up to receive our e-newsletter if you haven't already done so. You will be able to have news when it happens. Dianne Higgins put our last survey together by subject and number of members who have the same interests and the different groups have started to communicate with each other. A plan to get together will be announced for those who want to learn more about our area. You too can voice your desire by going to our website at pmkca.org to fill out a survey or join the association.

Our next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the Vanilla Company. Members of our community are welcome to attend.

I know if we all work together we can make our community a place that is safe and desirable to live in. May we be mindful of the beauty and freedom that surrounds us.

Dolores S. Ramos
PMKCA President