Relay for Life

Today, the 6 of May 2011 marks Honokaa's annual Relay For Life. Relay for Life is an event under the American Caner Society, where schools or corporate businesses holds for the fight against cancer. It gives cancer survivors the opportunities to celebrate their life and the battle they have fought. Everyone in community comes out to walk the night away. In Honokaa, Relay for Life is held at the High School. Many tents circle the inside creating a path to walk you laps. Many of the tents sell goods, such as popcorn, cotton candie, soda, t-shirts, and many more. All proceeds raised is donated towards the American Cancer Society to help find cures for the many diseases there are out there in the world today. It will also be a night of fun filled entertainment from local bands. So please everyone out there, take sometime to walk few laps in the battle of cancer and donate to help those who are in battle. May god bless each and everyone with the strength and wisdom to push forward in the fight of the battle.

After 70 years of serving Honokaa, T. Kaneshiro Store will end the grocery business that started by Tomisei and Tomimasa Kaneshiro in 1940. T. Kaneshiro Store, Inc. has announced that is has entered into a long-term lease agreement with The Kalama Beach Corporation, changing its name to Malama Market starting early September. T. Kaneshiro store was founded more than 70 years ago by brothers Tomisei and Tomimasa Kaneshiro. In 1974, management of the store passed to Roland and Gary Kaneshiro, show also operated the Honokaa’s, Stop ‘n Shop and T. Kaneshiro in Kamuela. These changes really affected me because I refer to that store as T.K.S., and now i will have to get used to calling it Malama Market

Valleys, Flowing Water Falls, Pastures, Country! HAMAKUA

Hamakua is along the northern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is about 50 miles long ending with the famous Waipio Valley. Hamakua coast is the name for the areas between lands just outside of Hilo to the valleys of Waipio. Hamakua is made up of ten different communities; Ahualoa, Hakalau, Honokaa, Honomu, Kukuihaele, Laupahoehoe, Ookala, Paauilo, Papaaloa, Pepeekeo. These rural communities grew up around the sugar plantation. 100 years later all these unique communities lay nestled along the road that links this windward coast. In the ancient times, the lands of Hamakua were a well known area for the right feathers of birds and the canoe logs. Now there sections are used for Kaloing (the farming of taro). Hamakua is known today as “ALL COUNTRY”!

by Jasmine
The little town of Pepeekeo has so much beauty. The beautiful lava coastlines, gorgeous gushing waterfalls, lush countryside, many secret flowing streams, and deep rich forests are what make up of this beautiful place called Pepeekeo. It takes 10-15 minutes to get to Pepeekeo from downtown Hilo. Because of its perfect cool weather, Pepeekeo remains a great place for a summer getaway. Pepeekeo was known for its sugar industry. During the era, the Pepeekeo Sugar Company was one of the biggest producers of sugar cane. Pepeekeo was once a sleepy town but flourished because of the sugar industry.

Many people like to go on the famous scenic drive that is 4-miles long. It meanders through beautiful lush parts of forests, flowing streams, and past little shops. One of the most visited places in Pepeekeo is the Botanical Gardens. My favorite place to go in Pepeekeo is a place called Six Tons. It’s a place where many of tourists like to stop and take pictures with the water fall as a backdrop. I personally like to go and swim there!

For people who haven’t been to Pepeekeo, I advise them to go and fall in love with the area.

Honokaa Renovation

by Jonathan

Honokaa is located on the Hamakua Coast forty mile north of Hilo. According to HAMAKUA'S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER, one hundred years ago, the Honokaa Community was a Sugar Cane Plantation. Later on the years Honokaa evolved from a Sugar Cane Plantation to a suitable town. In recent days Honokaa has gone through numerous road renovations which have improved the safety of the roadways through the Honokaa town. Honokaa has been receiving an upgrade in it’s sewer main systems installed on the following streets, Plumeria, Lehua, Koniaka, Puakalo, Pakalana and Mamane. Businesses along Mamane, residences, Honokaa School and the Hawai’i Public Housing Authority facility will be able to connect to the new sewer once the treatment plant has been upgraded. Construction work for the upgrade of the treatment plant is expected to commence in October 2010. The first phase would be paving all county roads before school starts to avoid any inconvenience.

Beaches around the island

by Nate

The Big Island of Hawaii is a perfect escape for a run away of the whole family that everyone will always remember forever. Unlike the busy city of Honolulu, Waikiki and downtown, the tourist that tours in Maui, Hawaii’s biggest island, known as the Big Island is special. Allow your self to explore the island by hiking the trails at Volcano National Park, playing in snow at the top of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, to having a Bar-B-Q in your back yard to soaking up the sun on a white sandy beach in paradise, enjoying the water and watching the sun sett.The Big Island has some of the best beaches, but not only in Hawaii, but also in the whole world. Big Island beaches vary in many colors, black, white, green, gray, and white. One of the most popular beaches is Hapuna Beach, right in the back of Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel and Mauna Kea Beach, all along the Kohala Coast. This beach is good for snorkeling, boogie boarding, as well as all the sun you could ever ask for. If you get lucky, on some days turtles whirl by and soak up the sun also on the shore. According to Jonathan Ancheta he recommends “Waipio Valley” located just about a mile out of the heart of Honokaa Town. Waipio Valley is known as the Valley of the Kings. This flourishing valley of hundreds of cascading waterfalls, miles of running rivers flowing from the top of the mountains, acres if taro patches is about two-thousand feet in elevation. After taking long hikes up the cliffs of the valley or horseback riding and riding ATV along the rim, its black sand beach is always a perfect relaxation sanctuary.