Making Plans For Project Grad

Paula Fuga

Offering teenagers safe alternatives to going out late and being on the road isn’t easy. But thanks to the work of people such as Brenda Jose, Darnelle Aquino, Cassie Camara and Renee Gaspar, events such as Project Grad are flourishing throughout the island and helping ensure students are safe on graduation night. Gaspar and Jose are looking for volunteers and support for Waimea High School’s Project Grad, which since 1997 has provided a hosted graduation party to more than 2,000 students, many of whom as alumni continue to volunteer for the program. Those involved with the non-profit help by providing a drug-, tobacco- and alcohol-free environment graduation night. With graduation coming sooner than you think, plans for the class of 2012 are well underway, which means fundraising through “sweat-equity,” Jose says. Since the cost of Waimea’s Project Grad is roughly $150-$200 a student, Jose says the way the program is able to flourish is getting people involved. For more information on how to volunteer, call Gaspar at 651-4314, Jose at 3469722 or email waimeaprojgrad2012@gmail.com …

November seems to not only be the time of year to overeat, but to dance off those calories. Several high-profile music gigs will be filling up the weekends this month, including the 11th annual Kauai Homegrown Music Festival, a two-day event starting Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. on upper Kealia Road. It doubles as a fundraiser for Kea DavisMilo, a Hawaii entertainer (of Fab 4) who recently was diagnosed with a rare cerebrovascular disease called Moyamoya. The fundraiser is being put on by Life 4 Kea, a group that’s united to raise awareness and for her need for artery bypass surgery, which costs around $150,000. This disease prevents proper blood flow to her brain, which has caused her to have several strokes. Artists include Paula Fuga, Mike Love, The Throwdowns, Skunkdog, Sashamon, Iris Downey, Jeff Caldwell Band, Millicent Cummings, Battery Alley, Fab 4 (Sunday only), Burning Bush, Torture Town, Animal Dream, Paradox Lockdown, Island Grass, Lava Rock, I’o, Sleep When You’re Dead, Preeta, Anjela Rose, Tone II, Charity Faith, Manaka, New Oldschool, Malama Pono Allstars, Jivan, Gypsy Rose Belly Dancers, Soul Fire and Kalalea Fire. The event is all-ages, and alcohol-free. Two-day passes cost $30 and can be purchased at Koloa Progressive Expression, Kapa’a Papaya’s Natural Foods, Kilauea Healthy Hut and Hanalei Strings and Things. For more information, call 635-5556 or go to: www.dovepresents.com …

It’s also the time of year for the 19th annual Hawaiian Slack Key

Admission is free thanks to sponsorship from MidWeek Kaua’i but a $10 donation is requested, as it benefits the nonprofit Ki-ho’alu Foundation, aimed at promoting, preserving and perpetuating the 181year-old art of slack key guitar. Everyone who donates $10 has a shot at winning a brand new Taylor guitar that will be given away before the end of the festival …

Chief Perry with Kapena Wilson and Bruce Nance. Photo from Cyndi Ayonon

Leave it to Bruna Stude of galerie 103 to wax poetic about the meaning of the word “what,” the focus of her next curated exhibit opening Dec. 10, which highlights provocative local and traveling artists. The show will bridge a wide range of work, of which Stude says an initial disconnect will remain, but the connecting thread between them will be revealed. Citing the word inspiring the exhibition as defining the true nature or identity of something and the sum of its characteristics,” Stude says the show will explore the identity and nature of different manifestations of art, unique forms and their raison d’être as individual objects or a sum total. Large-scale art by local artist Tom Lieber will be highlighted along with the work of reclaimed materials master Doug Britt. Visiting artist Louda Larrain, who makes gowns from handmade fabrics and embroidery, will feature her couture work. Also noteworthy is prominent New York artist Gilles Larrain, well-known for his portraits of Salvador Dali, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Sting, Miles Davis and Billy Joel. Stude says in a mixed-media installation of tulle, clay and steel, New York and Kauai artist Roberta Griffith references human mortality with her suspended doll remnants symbolizing universal shortcomings and disasters. For more information, go to www.galerie103.com …

Congratulations to Kapena Wilson and Bruce Nance, Kauai Police Department’s Officers of the Month for October. Wilson was on duty in Hanapepe when he spotted two cars and noticed that the male sitting in the driver’s seat of one vehicle was in possession of a crystalline substance and a digital scale, and intervened in a drug deal that was going on between the men in the two cars. Both men were arrested and charged with nine felonies related to the incident as a result. Nance was lauded for making 11 arrests during July, issuing 38 traffic tickets, and initiating and serving a search warrant that was drugand weapon-related. Both officers are assigned to the Waimea District. Well done! …

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church kicks off an event-filled fundraising weekend, beginning with a benefit concert and silent auction themed “Remembering Coco Palms” at 6 p.m. at 4364 Hardy Street at Umi in Lihu’e, honoring the founders of the Episcopal Church in Hawaii, Queen Emma and

King Kamehameha IV. Pupu, live music by Wally and Polei Palmeira and celebrity bartenders serving the favorite Coco Palms beverages will pay homage to the hotel icon. Of course, what would a concert about Coco Palms be without Coco Palms staple Larry Rivera, who will be performing shortly after 7 p.m. Other artists include Edward Punua, Mark Rossi, Henry Adam Curtis, Jeff Mira, Haunani Kaui, Linda Tani, Pua RossiFukino and the Kauai Community College Dancers. Dessert is at 8:15 p.m. with a silent auction at 9 p.m., so don’t leave early. Tickets cost $25. St. Michael’s Holiday Craft Fair also will take place this weekend, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, and will feature ono baked goods, lau lau plate lunches and homemade chili, and, of course, crafts.

All proceeds benefit St. Michael’s Loaves & Fishes Ministry, a food pantry onisland serving more than 120 families each week. Finally, the Festival Services Honoring Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV will take place at 9:45 a.m. November 13 at 9:45 a.m. Hula will be led by Pua Rossi-Fukino with Mark Rossi on ‘ukulele. The St. Michael’s Ukelele Choir will also perform. St. Michael’s Church is the home of the Queen Emma Chalice, from which communion is served each week. The chalice was a gift from Queen Emma to the Episcopal Church on the island of Kauai. For more information go to www.stmichaels-kauai.org or call 245-3796 …