Events

Fire Chief Kazuo Todd is a 20-year veteran of the Hawai’i Fire Department. Chief Todd follows a “servant leadership” philosophy, believing that the goal of the leader is to focus primarily on the well-being of the people he leads and the community he serves. Prior to his appointment as Fire Chief, he held leadership roles in Fire Prevention and Auxiliary Services, including six years as Battalion Chief. He is the Chair of the Hawai’i State Fire Council, and a member of the Hawai’i Fire Chiefs Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The Rotary Club of South Hilo is pleased to announce our Fab-Yule-Ous Christmas Party to be held on December 19, 2024 from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM.  Prepare yourself for a night of great food, great fellowship, with games and prizes to boot.  Attendees are encouraged to bring a gift for gift exchange of not more than $20.00.  We hope to see you there!  Tickets are $50.00 per person and can be purchased by following the Event Link.

There is an optional discretionary donation that can be made to Zeffy, the platform that is hosting the ticket sales.  The amount can be any number.  Just scroll down to Other on the dropdown menu when making the ticket purchase.

As a joint service project with the Rotary Club of Hilo and the SMVF & First Responders Satellite Club, the Rotary Club of South Hilo will be participating in the Holiday Community Give Back by providing free holiday meals for veterans, first responders, and their families who are facing hardships.  The Rotary Club of South Hilo (RCSH) will be donating drinks and rolls, maybe a few desserts.  If RCSH members are interested in assisting or want to carpool to the event, please contact Claudia.

My interest in gardens most likely dates back to childhood in southern California where my grandparents had a Japanese garden at their Bel Air home. My education went in a different route: English major with minors in comparative religions and Spanish, I graduated with honors from St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame Indiana. I taught grade school and high school before moving back to California where, as a volunteer in a political campaign, I met my husband Bill.

I worked in the public relations business in California and Hawai`i in partnership with my husband for 30 years. We specialized in political campaigns and community economic development. During that time I ran oral history and photographic grant projects for an historic society on Maui. After moving to Hawai`i Island, I wrote newspaper columns on agriculture and thew economy for 10 years.
My interest in landscaping led me to return to school in the Master Gardener program at UH-CTAHR in Hilo. For the next 11 years I designed, installed and maintained residential gardens. One of my clients in Volcano village had an old landscape designed and installed by the Japanese gardener who designed Lili`uokalani Gardens more than 100 years ago. Through a somewhat circuitous route, a maple tree on that estate led me to become a founding member of North American Japanese Garden Association.

After years of watching me go off to Japanese gardens and conferences, my husband Bill got on the bandwagon with his brand new Nikon D3x in 2012. Together we participated in the inaugural edition of the NAJGA Journal which I edited for two more issues. Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens was formed in 2012. I served on the board of NAJGA until 2023. I still serve as president of Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens.
 

Julie Mitchell has been the Executive Director of Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center in East Hawai‘i since 2012. The non-profit community mediation center offers mediation, facilitation, and training to strengthen the ability of diverse individuals and groups to resolve interpersonal conflicts and community issues.  Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ms. Mitchell graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Sociology and minor in Philosophy from the University of California, Irvine.  After moving to East Hawai‘i in 1998, she worked as Education Coordinator of Volcano Art Center and General Manager of Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.  Ms. Mitchell holds a Certificate in Professional Development for Not-for-Profit Management from Hawai‘i Community College and is a graduate of The Hawai‘i Island Leadership Series—Ulumau, The Leadership Works Experience, and The Weinberg Fellows Program. She received a 2016 AIM For Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Non Profit Management.  In addition to her administrative duties, Ms. Mitchell is also a mediator, facilitator, and trainer for
Ku‘ikahi. The mediation center’s mission is to empower people to come together—to talk and to listen, to explore options, and to find their own best solutions.