February 27, 2021
In this issue:
  • Member Spotlight
  • Recent Activities
  • Mark Your Calendars!
  • Favorite Recipes
 
  • Pet Selfies
  • Editor's Corner
  • Links to Events, Speakers, "Birthaversaies" and Club Info
The Whymans: Barbara, Andy and Chiquita are doing well in California!
Interview with Barbara Perlman-Whyman by Mariko Higashi
 
Mariko: Barbara, it’s almost one year since you left Maui for California with your husband Andy (our Club member) and your dog Chiquita, thinking you will be back in a few weeks. What has it been like that a few weeks away-from-home plan became almost a year?
 
Barbara:  Andy and I went to California for a family emergency and thought of leaving Chiquita behind on Maui with a dog sitter but decided at the last minute to take him with us. I’m so glad we took him with us because circumstances evolved and we have been in San Francisco and Incline Village, Nevada (Lake Tahoe) for almost a year. During the year we sold our house in Incline Village, and our son Zach got married. We are driving to Santa Barbara soon to celebrate our daughter Jessica’s birthday. As Andy and I already had COVID vaccine shots (2nd dose for me on Feb. 24th, and for Andy on Feb. 25th!), we are very much looking forward to the family get together.
ADDENDUM: Andy took a fall while out for his morning walk with Chiquita on Feb. 26th, hitting his head. He was aided by a good samaritan working nearby who saw the fall, and after a 7 hour stay in the emergency room, Andy is back home recovering. The photo below shows the resulting bandages from his ordeal.
Mariko:  You have been involved in the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD, www.nacdnet.org) for a long time, including your election to represent Nevada at the national level and currently the President of the Presidents Association, which is an affiliate of NACD and whose members are all living current and past State and National Presidents of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts as well as the Association of Conservation Districts. Can you tell us a little more about NACD and your work?
 
Barbara:  NACD is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that represents America’s 3,000 conservation districts and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. Conservation districts are local units, established under state law to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level. Districts work with cooperating landowners and operators to help them manage and protect land and water resources on private and public lands. There are 12 Conservation Districts in Hawaii, including 4 on Maui.
 
We just finished the virtual Annual Meeting last week, and several thousand people attended the meetings over the two weeks - a record number because it was held virtually! Our CAANDO (Committee Assisting After Natural Disaster Occurrences) will address food sustainability issues and opportunities, which will resonate very much with the situation in Hawaii. 
 
I am also a Trustee on the National Conservation Foundation, which sponsors the International Envirothon competition for high school students as well as the New Generation Leadership Institute, which provides yearlong training for rising leaders in Conservation. I’m the Senior Advisor for mentoring for this program. It’s very exciting to see the young generation’s involvement in conservation.
 
Mariko:  You have been very busy during the pandemic!  What is your plan of returning to Maui?   
 
Barbara: We are finally coming back to Maui on May 18th!  Everybody around our house in Kaanapali - our neighbors, landscapers, pool maintenance team etc - has been so helpful in making sure that our house stays in good shape. It’s this Aloha spirit that we truly treasure, and we are really looking forward to coming back after all the quarantine paperwork is done for Chiquita!
 
 
Liz May Milestone Fundraiser
Shared by Joanne Laird 
As part of her 60th birthday celebration this year, Liz May hosted a Facebook fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset. The check has been received ==> $1,140.00!
 
Mahalo to Liz for organizing this, and a big Mahalo Nui to all the contributors!
 
 
Great Grandparents (#3), The Lairds
Submitted by Larry Laird, proud G'G'Pa
 
Joanne and I have a new addition to the Laird family. Introducing Nash Wilder McGrady, born Friday, February 12 at 9:30 am, weighing in at 8 pounds and one ounce (one day old in photo). Nash is our third great grandchild and will be spoiled rotten by his two older sisters Lily age 8 and Delilah age 6. 
 
The Laird family can date their heritage back to the sixteenth century of Northern Ireland. Nash's grandmother married a Kelly and mother is in a relationship with a McGrady so the Scotch Irish ancestry will be strong as he matures to an adult. Of course, it is helpful to have a great grandmother, Joanne, with a birthday on St Patty’s Day!  Please welcome Nash Wilder McGrady to our world!
 
 
Uncle George Shares a "Family Story"
Submitted by George Kahomaku, Jr, Honorary Member RCLS

Mr. Kama lived alone on the South side of the Big Island, known to all as Ka'u. He wanted to dig his taro patch, but it was very hard work because the ground was too hard (no nuff rain). His only son, Kimo, who used to help him, was in Kulani prison. The old man wrote a letter to Kimo and explained his predicament...

Dear Kimo,

I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my taro patch this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up this hard soil. I know if you were here you would be happy to dig the patch for me and it wouldn't be a problem.

Love, Dad

A few days later he received a letter from his son Kimo:

Dear Dad,

No dig up the dirt in the taro patch. That's where I buried the body.

Love, Kimo

At 4 A.M. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and an army of men dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. Later that same week Mr. Kama received another letter from Kimo..

Dear Daddy,

You can go ahead and plant your taro now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances. Take care of the taro and make choke Poi.

Love you to da max, Kimo

 
Virtual Junior Mini RYLA - February 13th
Posting the Press Release dated Feb 21
54 students from three islands and 17 adult facilitators and organizers participated in the very successful first-ever Virtual Jr. RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) event held on Saturday February 13th. This two-hour workshop featured a combination of both short “keynote” presentations and time to connect students from across islands through the “Zoom Room” breakout sessions. The keynote presenter, Rochelle Whellams, inspired students to take action on the 3 C’s: Their Character, Connections, and Contributions. The three Zoom Room breakouts were comprised of 6 students from different schools and were led by 10 young Rotarians and former RYLA facilitators.
 
At the conclusion of the workshop students and adults were asked to share some of their “takeaways” from this leadership training event. Some of their comments are:
  • Amanda Tshua, Hawaii Baptist Academy (Oahu):  I learned that we need to step out of our comfort zone and grow.
  • Sophie Villarosa, Iao School (Maui):  I learned that I am not alone and there are people going through the same thing.
  • Jayla Parker, Lahaina Intermediate (Maui):  Thank you for helping me feel like it’s okay to open up, not being judged, but listening and helping me feel welcomed
  • Kaia Reader, Maui Prep (Maui):  I learned to be more confident
  • Gay Young (adult observer), Honouliuli Middle School (Oahu):  I got to experience students making heartfelt connections and sharing their stories in a safe place
  • Jonathan Ibanez (Zoom Room Facilitator):  I got to work with motivated middle schoolers and helped them realize that they have the power to build connections with each other to improve our community.
Other activities are planned by the Rotary Clubs of Hawaii to connect middle school students across the islands in training and leadership development. For more information about this workshop, contact Director, Joanne Laird, Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset at mamalrd01@gmail.com
PHOTO:  Rochelle Whellams from Sparks Nevada provided the inspiration via short keynotes for the small group “Zoom Room” interactions at the Virtual Jr. RYLA event.

Sneakers For Scholarships Run/Walk - February 14-28
This VIRTUAL fundraiser to benefit the RCLS Scholarship Fund is nearing the finish line. The final "lap" is on February 28th. There's still a little time to participate by running or walking or just donating funds. Visit the registration site ASAP!
Click here for the press release.
 
Below, the Lairds decided that their 5K Walk would be a unique one — Larry drove his scooter and Joanne walked from their condo to the Harbor and back. They discovered that the scooter’s battery life just made the 5K before running out of juice! Fortunately, they made it back home. Joanne said, "We had a great time for a good cause!"
 
Rotarians Plant Food at Ka Hale A Ke Ola - February 19th
Submitted by Karen Krenz

Members of Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, including Uncle George Kahumoku Jr., planted a variety of trees and edible plants at the Ka Hale A Ke Ola Resource Center. Trees planted included avocado, breadfruit, papaya and navel orange. Ti, okra, herbs, ginger, banana and other food plants were also planted. The new food garden is part of the Ohana Gardens Project with a goal to install 1,000 new gardens on Maui and 10,000 new food-bearing trees in 2021. 

The raised beds had already been cleaned out and weeded by the wonderful and enthusiastic staff at Ka Hale A Ke Ola. We thank them very much. When the Rotarians arrived at 8:00am, the beds were turned, enhanced and filled with the new plants and trees.

Jenny Pell, Project Manager for the Ohana Gardens Project, and pictured in the top center of the photo collage below, will be our speaker at the March 2nd RCLS virtual meeting. We hope you will "Zoom in" to hear her talk story!

 
Go Green Saturday Recycling is an ongoing event for members to either volunteer or drop off items (or both). The February 20th event welcomed a steady stream of drop-offs that included scrap metal, appliances, bicycles, car batteries, tires, TVs, computers and printers. Thanks to Malama Maui Nui for continuing this west side recycling service!
 
 
Salvation Army Lunch Service - February 23rd
Liz May and her husband cooked up a delicious meal for lunch service at the Lahaina Salvation Army. About two dozen people were served to-go containers that were pre-packaged by a small group of RCLS volunteers. Much aloha and appreciation is shared by the patrons. Thank you to everyone who helped out!
 
 
Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset Virtual meetings in review: 
 
February 2nd - Our guest speaker was David Wolman, Author of Aloha Rodeo. In addition to reading an excerpt from the book, David described his writing process, including what was involved in the research and how important it was to conduct interviews with living relatives of the paniolos he writes about. David also shared some anecdotes about his writing partner and how they were able to write independently about different aspects of the story and meld the two together for this entertaining and historical account of events leading up to the 1908 rodeo competition in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 
 
February 16th Neel "Bubba" Murarka, founder of Eleven Prime Venture Capital, recently moved to Maui with his family. Not many of us live or work in the realm of venture capital experts, however, it was interesting to learn about Bubba's professional career highlights, and at least try to understand the high-stakes world of investing. He is an obvious success story, and has connections to Joanne Laird from her days teaching in California, as well as Bubba's involvement in Rotary youth programs at that time.
A second highlight of the Feb 16th meeting was the induction of newest RCLS member, Jenny Worth (pictured above with Vanessa and Mariko during a socially-distanced delivery of membership materials)!  
 
The Board of Directors met on February 9th. Here are a few take-aways not already mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter:
  • Six RYLA Scholarship applicants (4 from Moloka'i, 2 from Hana) will be interviewed on Feb 21st.
  • D5000 International Service Project to Nepal and Butan October 22 to November 4, 2021. Mariko plans to attend. A flyer will be shared with RCLS members to test interest.
  • Rotary Foundation donations are up this year.
  • A second $2500 Go for The Green scholarship is available this year.
A big mahalo to our Board members for their dedication and enthusiasm! If you are interested in being considered for a position on the Board in 2021-2022, contact our current Board President, Vanessa Moreno.
 
 
Go Green Recycling Saturday: The next event is scheduled on March 20, 2021. If you would like to volunteer, visit the Malama Maui Nui website to sign up. If you have items you would like to drop off, you must schedule an appointment HERE.
For those interested in a healthy sandwich, this Chickpea Salad Sandwich is easy to make. Yes...it's vegan, and it's actually very tasty. Click here for the recipe.
 
 
 
 
Say Aloha to Bubby, Judy Bishop's beloved pup. She tells us he is the "King Charles Cavalier of his castle", and if you've visited Judy's home, you'll understand the castle reference here. The photo above shows his favorite kingdom vantage point. Judy says Bubby was added to the "no fly" list shortly after arriving on Maui, which has kept her from moving back to New York!
Bubby often attends Zoom meetings with Judy, but as the second photo above shows, he isn't all that interested.
Thank you so much for sharing, Judy!
We're excited to include a list of non-RCLS sponsored Volunteer Activities and Things to Do for your consideration if you're ready to get back out there (following appropriate COVID protocols as needed). Thank you to Karen Krenz for spearheading this effort.
 
Maybe you have ideas you'd like to share with members, too? Please send email to Karen anytime and she has offered to maintain a master list for reference. Mahalo!
  • Volunteer at Ka Hale A Ke Ola resource center
  • Volunteer at the Salvation Army feeding the hungry
  • Visit Kula Botanical Gardens - a local business for 40 years - $10
  • Walk on the Kealia Pond boardwalk (wheelchair/scooter accessible)
  • Visit the Scared Gardens of Malika - free, donations accepted
  • Leilani Sanctuary in Haiku - visit or volunteer
  • East Maui Animal Refuge, also known as the Boo Boo Zoo
  • Volunteer at the Maui Humane Society
Just For Fun - Hidden Pictures
Want to play? Click here to download a printable PDF document. 
 
Upcoming Events
Board of Directors Meeting
Mar 08, 2021 5:00 PM
 
Go Green Recycling Saturday
Lahaina Civic Center
Mar 20, 2021
 
Board of Directors Meeting
Apr 12, 2021 5:00 PM
 
Go Green Recycling Saturday
Lahaina Civic Center
Apr 17, 2021
 
View entire list
Speakers
Mar 02, 2021
Gifting Tree Project and Climate Action for Maui
Mar 16, 2021
Nisei Veterans Memorial Center
Mar 30, 2021
Foster Families Program
Apr 06, 2021
Mahi Pono
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Spouse Birthdays
Joanne Laird
March 17
 
Join Date
Andrew Whyman
February 20, 2020
1 year
 
Barbara Perlman-Whyman
February 20, 2020
1 year
 
Erica Gale
February 20, 2018
3 years
 
Kristy Gund
March 4, 2020
1 year
 
Monte Gund
March 4, 2020
1 year
 
Allen Inda
March 21, 2017
4 years
 
Club Information
Lahaina Sunset
We meet on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE WE ARE VIRTUALLY MEETING VIA ZOOM
Royal Ocean Terrace Restaurant
2780 Kekaa Drive
at the Royal Lahaina Resort
Lahaina, HI 96761
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