Getting Lucky With MidWeek

It was Hunter S. Thompson who said, “For a loser, Vegas is the meanest town on earth.” It seems the opposite holds true for Kalaheo resident Lawrence Dolan, who was in Vegas when he found out he won another trip to Sin City, courtesy of MidWeek Kaua’i. Dolan won the prize for voting for Kaua’i’s Best awards this year. I caught up with Lawrence and Darlene, who were having a celebratory beer at Duke’s Canoe Club. Cheers! Hope the luck continues …

Congratulations to winners of the 2012 HMSA Teen Video Awards, an event that included participation by hundreds of Hawaii teens, their parents and their teachers. Hawai’i Medical Service Association (HMSA) honored winners at a gala at the Hawaii Convention Center, and placing third was Broken Heart Bullying by Kapa’a High School students Courtney Brede, Lawson Fernandes, Paulina Felcher Cameron Williamson and teacher Michelle Rundbaken, and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School student Kasey Emoto with teacher Kevin Matsunaga. Voter’s Choice awards also went to MyEverything by the aforementioned Kapa’a High School students and teacher Rundbaken, along with IWill Take Your Life Away by Kapa’a High School students Ilona Oliver, Rachel Farias and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School student Laura Koga. Well done! For more information, visit hmsa.com …

Wilcox Hospital has announced Kids Summer Fest is right around the corner, from 9 a.m. to noon June 2. The event will be held at Kaua’i Beach Resort, and will feature plenty of family-friendly activities, including free sports physicals and nutritional and health information. Quoting one organizer, “It’s a great way for ‘ohana to spend the day and learn how to better take care of themselves, plus it’s a lot of fun for the keiki, too.” For more information, call 245-1198 …

It was so nice to hear about the women volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and hammered away on the Kaua’i Habitat for Humanity construction site in recognition of National Women Build Week May 5 to 13. The nationwide initiative had a theme this year of “The Build Generation,” reflecting the event’s goal to recruit and train women volunteers, as well as welcome the next generation of women builders. More than 20 women volunteers in Kekaha worked with the Naka’ahiki family to make repairs on their house, which is part of the repair and renovate program. Lowe’s is the underwriter of Habitat’s Women Build program, and has committed more than $1.3 million to the effort. Since 1992, Kaua’i Habitat has built 106 affordable homes and has made critical repairs to three existing homes for local families with a household income between 30 percent and 80 percent of the median income. For more information, go to kauaihabitat.org, or visit its Facebook or Twitter page …

Speaking of social media, a great way to keep track of the good news that’s happening on-island is to “like” our MidWeek Kaua’i page on Facebook, where you can tag yourself in photos, invite us to your events, post your mana’o or simply share local stories. Of course, you also can follow us on Twitter: @MidWeekHawaii, or read the online version of our current print edition Wednesdays on our website, midweekkauai.com …

Those wanting to gear up and start training for the Sept. 2 Kaua’i Marathon may be happy to learn about the partnership with Boot Camp By Stacy and Work it Out in Kapa’a. Trainer Stacy Ricciardi is offering a discounted 14-week program to get new participants to train for the Kaua’i half marathon (cost is $129 and includes four boot camp classes). In addition, through May 28, registrants who sign up for the race at the Work It Out store will receive $40 off a full- or half-marathon entry ($65 and $95, respectively). Signing up at the shop also provides an opportunity to get some athletic clothes. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., phone is 822-2292. For more information on the boot camp, call 635-1143 …

Kaua’iAgency on Elderly Affairs has scheduled another round of the popular workshop series “Better Choices, Better Health,” a program that began four years ago. Designed and tested at Stanford University, the workshop series aims to improve the health of older adults by empowering them, teaching them how to better manage their chronic conditions and to work toward achieving personal health goals. There are two categories in the program: Chronic Disease Self-Management and Diabetes Self-Management. The six-week workshop series is from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays, beginning May 31, at the Church of the Pacific community hall, 5-4280 Kuhi’o Hwy. Beginning June 6, the series is held from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Kaua’i Care Center in Waimea. Registration is limited to 16 participants and their caregivers. To register, or to request materials in an alternate format or an auxiliary aid for the workshops, contact Charlyn at the Agency on Elderly Affairs at 241-4470 at least five business prior to the start date. To learn more, go to kauaiadrc.org or call 241-4470 …

The theater in the Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall will be closed from June 1 to Aug. 31 while its seats are replaced. This marks the first time that the original 1,095 seats in the theater will be replaced since the convention hall opened in 1964. Horak Construction was awarded a $230,000 contract for the project. Arrangements have been made with the operator of Puhi Metals Recycling Center to recycle the old seats. Other areas in the convention hall will not be affected by the project and will remain open to the public. Call 241-6623 for more information …