It's Back-To-School Time! 8 Waimea Schools To Share 23-24SY News

Waimea Community Association News

8 Waimea Educators To Share Back-To-School

Excitement & Opportunities During Town Meeting

Thursday, August 3 - 5:30-7PM

In-Person @ Tutu's House

Streamed "Live" to FB and YouTube

Please Join Us!

Waimea Community Association’s Thurs., Aug. 3, 2023 Town Meeting will once again spotlight back-to-school news for eight of Waimea’s schools – public, private and public charter.

Representatives of Waimea Elementary, Waimea Middle, Kanu o Ka ‘Aina, Waimea Country, Parker, Hawai’i Preparatory Academy and ʻAlo Kēhau o ka ʻAina Mauna - a satellite emersion school of Ke Kula o Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Iki – plus Honoka’a High School will all participate in providing an overview of the year ahead including keeping students safe, cared for, progressing academically, socially and culturally, and how the community can support the next generation of youth.

New this year to what has become an annual focus on education for the August town meeting will be the introduction of Honoka’a High School’s new Principal Erika Blanco, who will share a glimpse of the year ahead at the school which is attended by several hundred Waimea 9^th thru 12^th graders.

There is no charge to attend WCA Town Meetings and everyone is invited, said WCA President James Hustace.

As usual, WCA’s town meeting will be in person at Tutu’s House and concurrently streamed “live” on WCA’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WaimeaCommunityAssociation) and may also be viewed “live” via YouTube by going to www.WaimeaTown.org for a link. The meeting will be saved to Facebook and YouTube for on-demand viewing thereafter.

Also, as always, questions are welcome – ideally in advance – by emailing: WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com.

Also on the town meeting agenda will be an update by Waimea Community Policing representatives.

The month's spotlighted not-for-profit will be the Friends of Thelma Parker Memorial Library – the all-volunteer group headed by recently re-elected President Alice Jenkins, who will discuss the group’s long-standing support for library services and facilities upgrades.

For more info about the meeting or community association, including the WCA-hosted MAHALO First Responders dinner on Wed., Nov. 15, and 63^rd Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade on Dec. 3, email WCA President Hustace at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or go to www.WaimeaTown.org.

School bus drivers are urgently needed here on Hawai'i Island and across the state. For employment information, go to Roberts Hawaii's website or contact individual schools. For the Hele-On bus schedule for schools: https://tinyurl.com/ythkvrjkP

Waimea Road Safety Planning Continues...

Last week's community meeting was the 8th hosted by State DOT on much needed road safety improvements through Waimea town. Mahalo to all who have participated in these important planning discussions. There's still time to ask questions and provide input.

Please use this QR Code to the website or this Link to review proposed options, ask questions and provide comments: http://www.waimearegionalsafetystudy.com/services/#JulyMtg

Community Input Sought on UXO Clearance Proposed Plan During Meeting Sat., Aug. 12 in Waimea Elementary School Cafeteria - 2PM

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) published a Proposed Plan last week that Sector 15 of the Waikoloa Maneuver Area (WMA) — an 11,200-acre area encompassing grazing land and several dozen residential parcels south of Hwy. 19 in east Waimea. It is comprised primarily of Pu’ukapu Hawaiian Home Lands including Kūhiō Village and Kanu o ka ʻĀina school. The Proposed Plan cites several analyses of Sector 15 from 2006 to the present, and concludes that military munitions operations were not carried out in the sector and recommends that No Further Action be taken to search Sector 15.

USACE will host a public meeting about the Proposed Plan at 2 p.m., Sat., Aug. 12 at Waimea Elementary School.

A public comment period about the Proposed Plan is ongoing until Aug. 25. The Proposed Plan can be viewed at tinyurl.com/2aykzy4y. Comments can be submitted via email to WMAUXOInfo@usace.army.mi l.

West Hawai'i Today: As for the rest of the former WMA, the search continues. The entire area is divided into 22 Munitions Response Sites, each of which are currently in varying phases of the cleanup process.

USACE staff will have maps of the entire WMA area but the focus of the Aug. 12 meeting is Sector 15.

Commemorating WCA's 60+-Year Legacy of Supporting Our Community!

We've incorporated Waimea graphic artist Monica Parker's striking WCA logo into several styles of t-shirts and they'll be available for pre-purchase at monthly Town Meetings and other WCA events, or contact WCA Secretary Nancy Carr Smith: nancy@alohakohalarealty.com.

Coming Events

Please click on the boxes below to expand for easier reading.

All of the Waimea food programs included in the above graphic need/welcome kokua - both funding and helping hands!

More info: WaimeaTown.org/Resources

Please Join & Support Waimea Community Association!

WCA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit supported by community memberships. All officers and directors volunteer their time and donations are spent on numerous methods of outreach to help connect community members, businesses, elected officials, government and not-for-profit agencies, services and programs. Funds also support several annual community events including our annual Christmas Twilight Parade. Your support is needed and most welcome! To learn more: Membership — Waimea Community Association (waimeatown.org)

2023 WCA Officers

James Hustace - President, WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com

Mary Beth Laychak - Vice President, mary@cfht.hawaii.edu

Nancy Carr Smith - Secretary, nancy@alohakohalarealty.com

Directors

Riley Smith - Membership Chair, rsmith@lanihau.net

David Greenwell, tgreenwell@hawaii.rr.com

Patti Cook, cookshi@aol.com

Whitney Harvey, whitneyharvey2@me.com

Chris Wong, chriswongee@gmail.com

Lani Olsen Chong - Christmas Parade Chair, olsenchong@gmail.com

Next Meeting - Thurs., September 7 - 5:30-7PM - (Hybrid) @ Tutu's House

DATES TO SAVE:

Wed., Nov. 15, 2023 - 5:30-7PM - MAHALO First Responders Dinner @ Mana Christian 'Ohana Kahilu Town Hall - All Invited!

Sat., Dec. 2, 2023 - 5:30PM - Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade

For more info about the association, please email WCA President James Hustace

at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or go to:

www.WaimeaTown.org

www.Facebook.com/WaimeaCommunityAssociation

Mahalo to all who participate in WCA meetings!

Please continue to stay COVID safe, get vaccinated and boosted (if not already), distance, mask up as appropriate, test when warranted and stay home if positive or not feeling well.

It's #Our Kuleana!