At our March 7, 2023, meeting, former State Senator Laura Acasio and former legislative aide Micah Alameda, shown here with club President Cat Rehberg (center), discussed how legislative bills are introduced and the process they travel to get passed into law or rejected by the legislature.-
Rotary Club of South Hilo Regular Meeting
Hilo Hawaiian HotelMar 21, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM -
Rotary Club of South Hilo Regular Meeting
Hilo Hawaiian HotelApr 04, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM -
Rotary Club of South Hilo Regular Meeting
Hilo Hawaiian HotelApr 18, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM -
Rotary Club of South Hilo Regular Meeting
Hilo Hawaiian HotelMay 02, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM -
Rotary Club of South Hilo Regular Meeting
Hilo Hawaiian HotelMay 16, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
At our March 7, 2023, meeting, former State Senator Laura Acasio and former legislative aide Micah Alameda, shown here with club President Cat Rehberg (center), discussed how legislative bills are introduced and the process they travel to get passed into law or rejected by the legislature.
At our February 21, 2023, meeting, Club President Cat Rehberg entices members to be creative in an interactive game like Truth or Dare in which members engage with each other to answer questions from another or ask the creator to elaborate… great fun.
At our February 7, 2023, meeting, District Governor Randy Hart inducts new members Micah Alameda, Pono Kekela, and Glenda Mitchell.
At our February 7, 2023, meeting, our guest speaker was Kristine Kubat, who was born and raised in Southeast Pennsylvania and has lived in Hawaii for the past 40 years. She feels blessed to live in close proximity to her two children and five grandchildren who reside in and around Hilo. Kristine brings a lifetime of experience as an environmental and social justice activist to her current position as Executive Director for Recycle Hawaii. She spends her downtime making art, gardening, and practicing yoga.
At our January 17, 2023, meeting, guest speaker Steven J. Santiago, recently retired from the Department of Transportation as the Hilo International Airport District Manager and with an impressive 25 years in the Hawaii Army National Guard as Master Sergeant of Operations, gave a presentation on the state of our airport.
At our December 6, 2022, meeting Dr. Kimo Alameda, Vice President of Business Development with Hawaii Island Community Health Center, spoke of an alarming and deadly issue in our community, the rise in fentanyl use in Hawaii County.
At our November 15, 2022, meeting, we welcomed guest speaker Brittany Zimmerman, CEO and Chief of Innovation at Yummet, a world-wide group of scientific innovators who are taking on major environmental issues such as carbon sequestration, green energy, clean water, and the teaching of innovative technology to youth, all major areas of concentration for Rotary International.
At our November 1, 2022, meeting, Sam Kalanikupua King II, a descendant of Samuel Wilder King, the first Governor of the Territory of Hawaii, addressed, via Zoom, issues surrounding the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, OHA, the Thirty-Meter Telescope project, and other matters of interest to native Hawaiians and the public.
At our October 18, 2022, meeting, guest speaker Michele Carvalho addressed Project Pilina. Project Pilina recruits and guides resource caregiver (foster parent) applicants through the first steps of the general licensing process to foster in Hawaiʻi. There are over 1,250 children and youth in Hawaiʻi’s foster care system and 50% are Native Hawaiian.
At our October 4, 2022, meeting, David Anitok, a healthcare and community activist, discussed via Zoom the fresh water needs of the Marshallese Community in Oceanview.
At our September 20, 2022, meeting, District Trainer and two-time past president of our South Hilo Rotary Club, Benson Medina, talks of Aloha Based Leadership and how to Serve with Aloha.
At our September 6, 2022, meeting, Guest Speaker James Akau spoke on Hawaiian Canoes and their cultural connection to the ocean.
OSMD Hawaii Foundation founder Daryl “Sammy” Sampaga and Rotary District Governor Randy Hart address our August 16, 2022, club meeting. Sammy spoke of living with muscular dystrophy and about his foundation. Randy outlined Rotary's structure and vision.
Rebecca Moore, Hilo Medical Center Stroke/STEMI Coordinator, addresses our July 2, 2022, club meeting, speaking of expanding stroke and cardiac services to the Big Island.
Magin Patrick, Project Hawaii, Inc., co-founder addresses our Club's July 19, 2022, meeting while co-founder Cliff Kama, Sr. and President Cat Rehberg follow along. The children present were attending summer camp and broke away to join us.
During its July 5, 2022, meeting, Rotary Club of South Hilo welcomed three new members, L-to-R, Michael Hauben, Laura Acasio, and Gerry Baldwin.
Newly inducted Rotary Club of South Hilo President Cat Rehberg asking the audience to breathe during her July 1st, 2022, acceptance speech.
Newly installed District Governor Randy Hart swearing in new presidents Connie Ichinoise, Rotary Club of Hilo; Cat Rehberg, Rotary Club of South Hilo; Susie Osborne and Ron Cutler, co-presidents of Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset
Outgoing Rotary Club of South Hilo President Benson Medina and his wife, Zeda Medina, blessing the July 1st, 2022, District Governor Change of Command event.
Since our first in-person/hybrid meeting on July 6, attendance has been steadily growing both in person and online. Yesterday's meeting featuring United States Coast Guardsman Peter Wilson, was attended by sixteen of our members in person and six more online. As our club continues to rebuild from a year where COVID-19 shut down most of our activities, it's been really encouraging to see people participating again.
Among the attendees yesterday was Karen FitzGerald, the wife of our late member John FitzGerald. She came to let us know that she will be having a Celebration of Life for John on Saturday, August 28th. John was one of our most active members and his ranch in Hakalau was the site of many Rotary functions. More details on this function will follow.
Join us next week when our own Elena Cabatu will be our speaker and will give us an update on COVID-19 and the new Delta variant.
Speaker Peter Wilson, his wife Megan, daughter Pohai, son Gunnar, Marissa Guerra, Zeda Medina and Karen FitzGerald after the meeting.
Legacy Member Valta Cook with Past President Rosemary Linden and guest Michael Hauben
South Hilo members Keith Marrack, Doug Adams and Tom English join our meeting online.
Club Secretary Tracy Klask and Past-President Tom Yeh
Past President and Zoom Master Benson Medina trying to keep all the technical pieces of a hybrid meeting moving.
Great News! With pandemic restrictions easing and with the approval of the County Civil Defense and the Mayor's Office, we have been approved to open up our inaugural event for President-Elect Keith Greer up to 50 people. This means that we can now bring spouses, friends, invite officers from other clubs, etc. The event will now take place at Nani Mau Gardens on Tuesday, June 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
We have a bountiful prime rib buffet planned and a really exciting program (with our lovely Marissa Guerra as the MC) that will include special awards, a tribute to John Fitzgerald, a preview of one of our big service projects, a presentation by Cat Rehberg on our newly designed Hilo Huli, plans to re-start our Satellite Club, the induction of our new president Keith (including his vision for the next year) and even some door prizes for some of the lucky attendees!
The festivities start at 5:30 with a no-host bar and pupus. The dinner and program will start a few minutes after 6 and we should all be heading home by 7:30. Cost per person is $40 and can be paid in advance by Venmo (email me and I'll walk you through it) or you can pay by check at the door.
What we need at this point is a head count as soon possible. I know a lot of you have already RSVP'ed but if you could indulge us one more time and let us know if you plan to bring your spouse, partner, family, children, neighbors, grandchildren, etc. To RSVP, please reply to this email.
This will be a great opportunity for us to come back together again (in-person) after a year of being locked down! Hope to see you there!
The Rotary Club of South Hilo and the Rotary Club of Pahoa Sunset welcomed new presidents in the first joint inauguration ceremony for both clubs. Because of the COVID pandemic, Rotary club meetings were moved online in April 2020. Assistant Governor, Doug Adams (and RCSH member) did the honors of inaugurating RCSH incoming president Keith Greer and incoming Pahoa club president, Kirk Bailey.
Pahoa Club Members (from Left to Right), Past President Ron Cutler, President Susie Osborne, Glen Calvert, incoming President Kirk Bailey, Fran Calvert and Libby Oshiyama.
Doug Adams, Zeda Medina, Zoe Medina, Mistress of Ceremonies Marissa Guerra and incoming President Keith Greer start the celebration. President Keith outlined his goals for the coming year including a return to community service and in-person meetings (starting July 6th) at the Coconut Grill Restaurant. The event was first Rotary event that many of our members had attended in over a year including:
Past President Keith and Sally Marrack
Pat Aiona Sr and wife, Annette
The Bouchers: Olivia, Claudia and Peter
Guest of honor, Karen FitzGerald and son, Kimo with wife Megan. The program included a special tribute to Karen's late husband, John, a long-time member of the Rotary Club of South Hilo.
Past President Rosemary Linden and guest Michael Hauben
Past President Randy Kurohara, Kimberly Kobayashi and daughter, Dani
Past President Brenda Ho and Debbie Ono
Past President Tom Yeh and Rotary Service Award winner, Charlene Iboshi
Membership Chair Lani Weigert and Joe Capellas
Our new President-Elect, Cat Rehberg and our Sargent-At-Arms and Social Media chair, Marissa Guerra
Our Club Secretary, Tracy Klask
Club Treasurer Zeda Medina and Board Member Margaret Stanley
Zeda and Past President Benson Medina Incoming President and Assistant Governor Doug Adams
Tuesday, April 27 Monica Rott Stone, Founder of In Harmony Hawaii LLC, a waste reduction and zero waste event consulting business and West Hawaii Coordinator of Zero Waste Hawaii Island, will discuss source reduction strategies to address our plastic pollution and waste issues and an upcoming event for Big Island (and beyond). Monica lives in Kona and is an avid surfer and devoted mom.
Tuesday, March 9 Melina Rajaei Founder and President of Ulana Museum which aims to provide a space dedicated to perpetuating Hawaiian culture, both I ka wā kahiko, as expressed in Hawaiian traditions of old, and its ever evolving in a modern-day context— mea awana. Currently, all exhibits and activities will be available online. Rajaei discusses the advancement of the knowledge and appreciation of cultural heritage and natural history of the Hawaiian Islands and how those will be experienced through dynamic exhibitions, the presentation of artifacts, and engaging, interactive and innovative workshops open to all.
Next meeting will be April 27 @ 12pm (HST)
Join us:
Meeting ID: 812 0189 2467
Email: Maurice4Rotary@gmail.com for password
Email: Maurice4Rotary@gmail.com for password
Tuesday, February 16 - We will learn more about "How Rotary will be Moving Forward in 2021-2022" from Sandy Matsui, Governor-Elect (District 5000). We'll watch a video from our incoming Rotary President, Shekhar Mehta who will let us know the new Rotary theme for the upcoming year. Sandy and Benson will discuss what's ahead for the District and our own incoming club President Keith Greer discussed his plans and ideas for the coming year. Sandy has been a proud member of the Rotary Club of Kāneʻohe since 1992. After she served as Club President in 2011-012, her Rotary journey led to new adventures serving District 5000 as Assistant Governor for three years, District Secretary, District Trainer and as a member of the Host Organizing Committee for the Rotary International Convention that was scheduled to be held in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi in 2020.
Tuesday, February 9 - Agronomist and Farmer, Bob Shaffer, will talk to us about compost, its influence on our island, global warming, as well as food security and quality. He has a wealth of knowledge and may cover other topics that fit in with our Club's new focus.
Tuesday, January 12 - Tom Kabat, who consults on federal hydropower improvements, and with local non-profits and start-ups on efforts fight climate change, will be joining our meeting from Palo Alto, CA. This talk frames the climate crisis as something ordinary citizens can act upon working together to implement and demonstrate ideas and actions. This gives policy makers the courage to take those actions and make them the new sustainable normal. We will talk about ways to make low carbon living easy, affordable, and meaningful!
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Welcome to the Rotary Club of South Hilo
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Service Above Self
Hilo, HI 96720
United States of America