150 Volunteers, 700 Pilgrims

Volunteers clear the grounds at Lawai International Center

Lynn Muramoto thanks 155 volunteers for helping make the grounds at Lawai International Center sparkle, and welcoming to a record 700 pilgrims who attended the annual Pilgrimage of Compassion. Read more about the activities surrounding this lovely sanctuary at lawaicenter.org …

Chucky Boy Chockreleased his CD, The Music of Chucky Boy Chock, Volume 1. Features include theme songs to the OC16 Television series Hawaii Skin Diver – Sonny D in EMinor and Ta Pua Elama. Chock is the songwriting talent behind many of Hawaii’s favorite melodies, and his work was recorded by Bruddah Iz, the Brothers Cazimero, Kapena and Namolokama. Check it out at your favorite store. For more, see Music Montage on page 13 …

Jerry Brocklehurst is leaving KKCR as of Sept. 30, and in his farewell letter he writes, “Over the past two years, I have made well over 100 new friends and cherish each and every new friendship made.” There’s an opening for a full-time station manager at the Princeville-based station. Applications are available at kkcr.org …

Same place, different topic: The Kekahu Foundation, which operates KKCR, seeks candidates for its board of directors. A guideline and applications are on the website, same one as above, and due in by Sept.15. Or call 826-7774 Monday through Friday …

Great news: Our teens are reading! Pizza Hut sponsored a teen summer reading program that wrapped in late August with Kaua’i’s Lyahna Kai Rathje, the Kapaa Public Library finalist, winning the grand prize award of an Apple iPod Touch. She won the lucky drawing from among six finalists. Pizza Hut has been the corporate sponsor of the program for 18 years …

Jerrod Perry and Theresa Ouano dance the swing Aug. 21 at Moonlight & Music in the Garden

Yipsy doodle, it’s animated movie time in September at the Lihue Library Film Club. Coming up: Sept. 1, Chicken Run, and Sept 15, Spirited Away. Spirited Away is the first Japanese animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (2002) …

Attention students who still need some bucks for school, possibly up to $2,000. You may apply for the Daniel Moriarty Memorial Scholarship offered by the Kilauea Point Natural History Association if your focus is in the broadly defined fields of botany, zoology, natural history and related subjects concerning the Hawaiian environment. Also included: the fields of wildlife management, interpretation, conservation and environmental education. Deadline is Sept. 15. Download an application from kilaueapoint.org or call 828-0384. Two recipients last year are Erin Pickett,a graduate of Kapaa High School, class of 2006, and Troy Wooton, a graduate of Kula High and Intermediate, class of 2007 …

It was jumpin’ and jivin’ time Saturday at the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s fundraiser Moonlight & Music in the Garden. Guests danced under the moon to swing music, enjoyed lessons and performances by Jerrod Perry and Theresa Ouano, feasted on pupus by 22º North, Sheraton Kauai Resort, and Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club with champagne and wine, and toured the garden by moonlight, topped off by oohs-and-ahs on a ride through Maidenhair Gap hung with festive multicolored lights. This is the third year NTBG has held the fundraiser in support of its mission to save endangered plant species …

The DLNR has begun constructing sewer improvements at the Kaumualii and Old Smith’s Landing sections of Wailua River State Park. Comfort stations at these sections have been temporarily closed. Portable toilets are provided. There may be some temporary inconvenience for kayak and canoe launchings at the boat ramp because of entry roads and parking areas being partially blocked off during construction. Work will occur during the week-days and daylight hours. The project should be completed by January 2011 …

Paul Clark, president of Save Our Seas, one of the organizations that teamed up to present an ocean awareness day at the St. Regis Princeville, lauded the turnout for the event, saying, “It brought together people from all walks of life to learn how they can monitor and protect coral reefs they visit. We greatly appreciate the resort taking a proactive step in reef conservation by placing educational signage urging guests to not walk on the live coral reef.” …

Sept. 21 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Peace, according to Howard Shapiro: “I hope that you will celebrate the International day of Peace in whatever way you wish to express your gratitude for the peace in your life. Our organization Performing and Fine Artists for World Peace is partnering with Odyssey Networks in the Million Minutes for Peace Campaign. Together we’re working to collect 1 million pledges to pray for peace for one minute at noon on the International Day of Peace.” Go to amillionminutesforpeace.org …