Having Very Artsy Holidays In Poipu

on November 29, 2012 at 2:08 am

‘Lureâ€™ by Carol Bennett

I’ve always enjoyed perusing a museum or gallery instead of joining the holiday shopping craziness early on (as in during November). So I was excited to learn of the new galerie 103 exhibit that explores two artists’ views of water. Curator and owner Bruna Stude tells me artists Carol Bennett and Deyana Mielke will be offering “unique views of this life-giving source.” Bennett, who swims and patrols the ocean for inspiration, used recycled wood, giving a nod to the preciousness of our environment. The exhibit also includes “Beacon,” a study for one of Bennett’s public art installations, commissioned by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and completed in 2012. (Bennett’s “Cycles” on the University of Hawaii West Oahu campus, is a wayfinding beacon that rises 70-100 feet in the air).

On display too is the work of Mielke, which Stude describes as delicately balancing humor, tenderness and at times “brutal honesty.” Mielke recently returned to Kaua’i from a Chicago solo retrospective exhibition of her work spanning more than 20 years. A number of Mielke’s paintings being exhibited at galerie 103, along with more recent works, will be featured in the MTV series Underemployed, which filmed during Mielke’s Chicago retrospective. Having opened last week, the exhibit runs through Jan. 19. Galerie 103 is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. at the shops at Kuku’iula…

The sound of the ringing of the Red Kettle bells will be heard at Kmart, Times Big Save supermarket and Longs Drugs in upcoming weeks. All money raised will be used for Salvation Army programs, including the Kokua Soup Kitchen, children’s programs, year-round emergency food pantry, assistance programs and more. The Salvation Army of Kaua’i is asking schools, businesses, service clubs and churches to adopt a kettle site. To do so requires six volunteers working two-hour shifts from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to manage a kettle for a day. Site options include Kapa’a, Lihue, Koloa and Waimea. The Adopt-A-Kettle program runs through Dec. 24. To volunteer at Eastside locations, call 245-2571. For Westside, call 335-5441. To donate to The Salvation Army, mail your gift to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1431, Lihue, HI 96766, or P.O. Box 540, Hanapepe, HI, 96716, or make a donation online at salvation-armyhawaii.org. For more information about Christmas programs and events planned by The Salvation Army, call Major Reyes at 245-2571 or Lt. Austin Anderson at 335-5441…

Pono Tokioka (in lei) with sister Emma and parents Beth and Jimmy

Pono Tokioka has signed a National Letter of Intent to receive a scholarship and play on the UH men’s golf team beginning in the 2013-2014 academic year. He plans to study business-accounting. He signed the NLI at a family gathering last week in Wailua. Mayor Bernard Carvalho stopped by to offer his congratulations, and reminisced about signing his own NLI 34 years ago with UH …

Congratulations also to Kalaheo Elementary School, which was recently honored with the 2012 Green Leaders Award by Reynolds Recycling. The school was recognized for its long-standing beverage container recycling program, which has resulted in 38,021 pounds of recyclable material being diverted since 2006. (That equates to more than 490,000 beverage containers).

“Kalaheo Elementary School has been a recycling leader and a model for teaching students the importance of living sustainably not only here on Kaua’i, but across the state,” Terry Telfer, president of Reynolds Recycling, stated. “KES has consistently placed in the top two spots in our statewide Cans for Cash Challenge since 2007, proving to be among the recycling elite in our public and private schools,”

Each Nov. 15, the nation celebrates America Recycles Day, with millions across the country pledging to increase their recycling both at home and at work. As a member organization of Keep the Hawaiian Islands Beautiful, a local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Reynolds Recycling marks the occasion by honoring those who make every day America Recycles Day. Reynolds Recycling is a locally owned and operated company with 41 locations statewide, including three on Kaua’i, that has been helping Hawaii recycle for 31 years …

(from left) David Craddick, Gary Heu, Jeff Griffin, Dustin Moises, Jeff Orsatelli, Keith Perry, Nadine Nakamura and Anthony Silva at the blessing of the new water line. Photo courtesy Mary Daubert

The county Department of Water held a blessing last week at the completion of its pipeline replacement project along Fernandes and Hoi roads and Fuji Beach in Waipouli. Concurrently, a blessing took place at the ground-breaking of phase two of the project, which will extend along Kuhio Highway from Keaka Road to Ohia Street. The existing 5-inch galvanized steel waterline will be replaced by a 12-inch C-900 PVC line. DOW manager and chief engineer David Craddick welcomed the group, which included representatives from Earthworks Pacific Inc., Goodfellow Bros. Inc., state Department of Public Works, SCS Archaeology and the Kaua’i Burial Council. Also there were managing director Gary Heu, Councilmember Nadine Nakamura, and the DOW operations, engineering and administrative staff. DOW project manager Dustin Moises said the project is a collaborative effort between DOW staff and its consultants and contractors. Moises expressed his gratitude to Jeff Chandler, a cultural monitor, and Jim Powell and Mike Dega of SCS Archeology for their care and diligence in handling the ‘iwi and other cultural and historical items that were encountered during phase one of the project. A new site at Lihi Park was created so these finds as well as future finds could be properly interred. He also acknowledged Nathan Kalama, Kaua’i Burial Council and the state Historic Preservation Division for their part in ensuring that iwi were treated with great care and respect. Funding for both phases of the project came from the Build America Bonds program, $2.1 million and $2 million, respectively. For more information, call the Department of Water at 245-5461 between 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. …

Having Very Artsy Holidays In Poipu

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