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Welcome to The Rotary Club Of Kona!

Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change. We have club activities, social events, and volunteer projects which offer networking opportunities that build personal and professional connections while at the same time serving the community. And Rotarians can extend those networks by visiting other clubs around the globe.

Please JOIN US! Thursdays at 12:00 Noon.

Lava Java Restaurant (Upstairs), Coconut Market Shopping Complex

75-5801 Alii Dr, Bldg 1-A, Kailua Kona, HI 96740

Since the Covid-19 Pandemic were are also meeting on Zoom.

To meet on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81824267706

Opt Phone: 253-215-8782. No Zoom This Week

On the 1st Thursday of each month, we meet at Cheers Tapas Bar, 74-5563 Kaiwi Street, Ste 112, Kailua Kona, HI 96740. No Zoom for Cheers meetings.

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Rotary Club of Kona Community Foundation
Scholarships for 2023

The Rotary Club of Kona Community Foundation has the following scholarships available for 2023:

The Ken and Marge Clewett Scholarship in the amount of $8,000 paid to the recipient annually in $1,000 increments per semester*
The Jim and Sis Bedingfield Scholarship in the amount of $6,000 paid to the recipient annually in $750 increments per semester*
The James Lightner Scholarship in the amount of $4,000 paid to the recipient annually in $500 increments per semester*
The Ron and Kathy Hawkes Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 paid to the recipient annually in $1,000 increments for 2 years*
Scholarships are available to full-time students attending Hawaii Community College – Palamanui Camus and working toward their associate degree or associate of applied science degree. *

*The annual payment of the scholarship requires compliance with a specific GPA, number of credit hours and continuation of enrollment.

Each scholarship has specific guidelines and criteria.

The applications are fillable PDF files and can be downloaded from the home page of the www.RotaryClubOfKona.com website in the Downloads section on the left side of the home page.

Presidents Message 2021/22

Aloha Rotarians,

We have been meeting at Lava Java for a month now and I don’t want to jinx it, but it looks as if we will continue to do so. Nothing peaks your appreciation like a two year shut down. We meet in such a beautiful place and I have been enjoying seeing everyone in person and sharing time together, learning about current events and things of interest on our island.

Ben Noyes has been bringing us great speakers, now and through the covid times. Thank you Ben! We are having a members alumni meeting next month, a great opportunity to see and check in with past members in person or via zoom if they are no longer on the island. Another example of the positive things that have been instituted since covid.

As Peter and I enter the final stretch of our term, I am so grateful that the club has managed to survive the last 2 years, and the incoming president and board are so willing and enthusiastic to lead us into endless opportunities. I have learned so much about the far reach of Rotary and the potential for meaningful change in the world. I look forward to serving on the board and seeing our club reach new heights.

A few things we are looking forward to is the dedication of a peace pole by the Rotary club of Kona Sunrise on April 30 from 10:00am to noon at the Daifukuji Soto Zen Buddhist Temple. This will be such a lively event, with Taiko Drumming, Dedication, Happy Strummers and Fellowship. Kudos Kona Sunrise.

On May 6th the Rotary club of North Hawaii will honor the North Hawaii health care workers with a free food truck event from 7am until late afternoon. Kimo-Jim Becker and other members have worked with Peter and our club to co-sponsor this wonderful event. Drop by Kohala Hospital and show support and appreciation to these dedicated professionals. Kudos Rotary Club of North Hawaii.

May 20-22 is our district conference at The Aulani Hotel on Oahu. This is a great opportunity to see the district 5000 clubs and learn of activities past, present, and future.

It’s a time to celebrate our achievements and pass the torch on to Scott Unger. We will install Scott as our new president in June and the club couldn’t be in better hands. Details are still in the planning phase, but no doubt it will be fun and memorable.

My closing thoughts are of humble gratitude. Rotary has been a beacon of inspiration, continuity, support and comfort. At the last president’s meeting I was reminded that our club is a satellite club for all the clubs around us, like a big brother. I like the idea of us being a big brother to Rotary clubs and look forward to sharing future events with the Rotary Clubs of the Big Island. I will now become a “long-time Rotarian”.

YIR - Becca Hamar - President, Rotary Club of Kona

Meet N' Eat

The Rotary Club Of Kona Sponsored Program - Meet N' Eat

is a program that feeds underserved families at the:

Kealakehe Elementary School

74-5062 Onipaa St, Kailua, HI 96740

Meet N' Eat is every Tuesday at 6:00 PM. Hot Food & Food Baskets are picked up in the parking lot in front of the Admin Building.

Please JOIN US and help out from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Contact Scott Unger: ScottAliiGas@Gmail.com.

MAHALO NUI LOA

A BIG Mahalo Nui Loa to all who have donated to help the Rotary Club of Kona feed those in need during this Pandemic.

We’d like to acknowledge those individuals who have so graciously donate to our cause –Kona Castle Ranch, LLC, Tom Fine, The Gustins, Becca Hamar, Peter Schonberg, Tom Daniel, Renee Kraft, Brian Riley, Mahlon Whittle, Chrys Yamasaki, Brian Asbjornson, Jenny Rasmussen, Alysia Dinneen, Preston Crowl, Scott Unger, Tom Beirlein, Dani Knapp, Darlene Daboling, Alan Clark, Linda Jane Kelley, Barbara Stahly, John Spicer, David Rees-Thomas, Shirley Stoffer, Shirley Seal, Gretchen Watson-Kabei, Susan Tanaka, Don & Shirley David, Geri Eckert, David Glass, Kate & Neil Sims, David Brooks, Douglas Perrine, John & Zola Ingram, Mary Ellen Smith, Morris Branch, Greg Ogin, Kelly Fliear, Thomas Myers, Janie Peterson, Kris Hazard, Diane Yeh, Jane Galante, June Masada, Allen Sullivan, Alan Hale, Daniel Hale, Judy Armstong-Burger.

How we are using those funds –

Due to school closures, we have modified our Meet N’ Eat program rather than closing it. We are providing 400 take out lunches and a bag of groceries on each Saturday at 2 schools – Kahakai Elementary and Kealakehe Intermediate.

Secondly, Salvation Army’s food supply was quickly dwindling with the large increase of those needing meals., and their sources of obtaining food have dwindled as well. Salvation Army is providing take away dinners on Thursday and Saturdays and at this time that is about 490 meals and the numbers are increasing. They are also distributing at least 650 baskets of groceries each week that last 5 days. We are trying to keep their food pantry stocked so they can continue the feedings and grocery giveaways.

For April Salvation Army Kona served 2801 hot meals, gave out 4111 Baskets of food, gave out 2457 snacks, 3222 beverages, and 208 meals to Kapuna.

Third, some of the homeless are being sheltered in a hotel and we are providing a weekly bag of lunch items which is about 287 lunches per week.

And last but certainly NOT least, a BIG thank you to all our members and the members of Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise who are putting themselves at risk, and putting in the time and the labor needed for this cause.

Mahalo Nui Loa to ALL from the Rotary Club of Kona!

The attached photo shows some of the truckloads of food your donations have allowed us to purchase so these programs can continue to feed those in need during this pandemic.

Scott's 4-Way Test in Pidgin

MAHALO to all who already donated to the Interact Club for Scott's 4-Way Pidgin Test!

Thank you Scott for doing this and entertaining us!

If you can donate to help the Interact Club so they can support the orphanage in India, please click on "Donate." Let Janice know what your donation is for. jnjgustin@outlook.com

Club Donates $35000 to Palamanui

The Thursday, October 10, 2019 weekly meeting was held at the Hawaii Community College Palamanui Campus. The Rotary Club of Kona and the Rotary Club of Kona Community Foundation presented a check for $35,000 to the campus for furniture, fixtures and equipment for the Physics classroom.