Hawaii Kai’s Roxanne Cassidy (Punahou 2009, Boston College 2013) has reported to Baham, Cameroon, her Peace Corps station for 27 months, where she’ll help the villagers via health and nutrition education. The daughter of David Cassidy and Anne Namba, she’s already started a weekly Zumba class for about 50 kids — something she used to do at home …

Palolo Valley resident Catherine Caine recently was named Hawaii State Teacher of the Year for 2015. A nationally board-certified teacher at Waikiki Elementary, Catherine “brings out the best in her students” with real-life lessons and hands-on learning. She wins $500 (for being a candidate) from Polynesian Cultural Center, an additional $1,000 as state winner, and a one-year lease of a new car from Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association …

Catherine Caine

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Tim Leong, who grew up in Kuliouou, has entered his first season of playing water polo for USC, where he also studies business and cinema. A 2014 Iolani graduate, Tim’s following a Leong family tradition: His late dad Thomas and uncle Keona played water polo for the Trojans, too. And his late grandfather Tom earned a master’s degree at the school …

Kaimuki Business and Professional Association honored the life’s work of former state Rep. Barbara Marumoto by choosing her to be grand marshal of the Kaimuki Christmas Parade last week … Hawaii Kai 10-year-old Julian Ibarra was selected from 200 applicants to be a Scholastic News Kid Reporter last month, based on his original community news reports. (Hey, Julian! Come help me out at MidWeek.) As part of a team of 32 young writers, Julian will be filing stories for Scholastic News Online and its selected classroom magazines. He also wants to be an astronaut and fly to Mars. Can’t make deadline from there, or can he? …

When the Kahala Ross Dress for Less store officially opened Oct. 10 at Kahala Mall, it presented $1,000 each to Kalani Falcons Band Boosters and Boys & Girls Club Spalding Clubhouse & & & cchang@midweek.com

Hawaii State Ballet showcases some of its accomplished alumni — all previous, longtime members of Hawaii State Ballet Junior Company — in this year’s production of The Nutcracker.

Directed by John Landovsky, the ballet will be on stage Dec. 19-21 at Mamiya Theatre on the Saint Louis School campus.

Performance times are Dec. 19 at 7 p.m., Dec. 20 at 3:30 and 7 p.m., and Dec. 21 at 1 and 4:30 p.m.

Kamakoa Page Zablan, owner of Page Academy of Dance, will perform as the Sugar Plum Fairy. She studied at Hawaii State Ballet from an early age and had many lead roles, and was a teacher for the younger levels. Zablan also danced with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Erica Wong trained at Hawaii State Ballet from age 5 to 18. She danced with Ballet Theatre of Maryland and Milwaukee Ballet. She won first place at the 2010 American Ballet Competition in Austin, Texas. She also has competed internationally. She will take the Flower lead in Waltz of the Flowers.

Nicole Lam, founder of Prisma Dance in Kalihi, danced in the Junior Company for approximately six years and also taught at HSB. She will alternate as the Candy Cane lead.

Mareva Minerbi is working toward her MFA in dance at University of Hawaii, where she teaches beginning ballet and modern technique. She completed a BFA from University of Iowa, where she danced with various companies. She studied dance in Milan, Italy, and danced with Compagnia Italiana D’Opera. She will take the Arabian lead.

Also performing are alumni Molly Browning, Kelsey Sexton, Stormy Dodge, Hohono Rhine and Blake Yamasato, who is a part-time instructor at Hawaii State Ballet.

Tickets are available online at tututix.com/hawaiistate-ballet, or call 855-222-2849. Child, senior citizen, military and group discounts available. For more information, visit the Hawaii State Ballet Facebook page, go to hawaiistateballet.com or call 947-2755.

Christopher Kobayashi’s all-consuming commitment to basketball began at an early age and with the help of one of Hawaii’s most decorated players.

“I was 6 when I went to my first clinic at Holy Nativity and met (former Iolani and Washington State University standout) Derrick Low for the first time,” Kobayashi recalls. “Meeting him was my first basketball experience. He’s still a friend of the family. I was still trying to figure out what sport to play.”

Football and basketball eventually won out as his primary interests, but it is the hardwood that Kobayashi is most focused on at present, with the Interscholastic League of Honolulu ready to begin its 2014-15 basketball season.

Kobayashi had an immediate impact for the Buffanblu last season as the only freshman to earn a varsity roster spot, and continued to hit his stride over the summer when he competed with Lanakila Basketball Club (U16 division) at the “Fab 48″ National Tournament in Las Vegas.

“The tournament was a coming out for me, and it helped that it led right into the (high school) season,” said Kobayashi, who also maintains a 3.8 GPA. “I really tried to focus on my defense and my midrange (shooting) game. I was training a lot beforehand.”

Kobayashi averaged 17 points a game for Lanakila at the Fab 48 trip, and his efforts earned him a spot in the November issue of Sports Illustrated Kids Edition.

In addition to playing football and basketball for the Buffanblu, Kobayashi works as a “Luke Leader,” and he also is a member of the Punahou Academy Choir.

As his sophomore season got underway late last week, Kobayashi was hoping to regain his touch from behind the arc. He connected on 29 three-pointers as a freshman last season.

“My role was to provide a spark off of the bench,” he said. “The biggest thing was hitting shots.”

Kobayashi recently took some time away from the practice floor and his studies to visit with MidWeek’s East Oahu Islander.

Who’s had the biggest impact on you in your life?

I’d have to say Derrick Low again because he’s been a big part of my life. When I made the team as a freshman, he gave me some valuable tips.

What Internet site do you frequent the most?

YouTube. I love to watch Vines.

What is your least favorite household chore?

Probably taking out the trash. It’s an everyday thing.

If you were planning a trip, what would be your destination of choice?

I really like the Miami Heat, so I would want to go to Miami and catch a Heat game and (Dwayne Wade) D’Wade.

What movie could you watch over and over?

I’d have to say Remember the Titans. I love that movie.

Who are three of your favorite musical artists?

Drake, Hoodie Allen and Tyga.

When you have free time, how do you like to spend it?

I really like hanging out with my little brother (12-year-old Andrew), playing video games and throwing around the football.

You’re stuck on Kaho‘olawe. You can have an endless supply of one food. What would it be?

My favorite food is curry rice.

If you could have your pick, what celebrity would you most like to meet?

I’d probably like to meet (professional basketball player) Ray Allen. I’d want to ask him a few questions, like how he improved his shot.

jackster.1969@yahoo.com

Send East Oahu items to cchang@midweek.com by Dec. 15 for the Dec. 24 edition. • VEGGIES Author Patti Breitman discusses “Never Too Late to Go Vegan: Why and How to Make the Switch for a Better Life” at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at Ala Wai Clubhouse as part of the Vegetarian Society meeting. The public is welcome. Call 944-8344.

• RED CROSS Hawaii Red Cross offers a variety of first aid training in December at its East Oahu headquarters, ranging from pediatric CPR to CPR and AED for professions rescuers, starting Dec. 9. For fees and dates, call 733-2767 or visit redcross.org. Course completion comes with two-year certification.

• NEIGHBORS Palolo Neighborhood Board meets at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at Palolo Elementary cafeteria. (All other area boards are in recess for December.) Call 768-3710.

• MALL MUSIC Kalani High School’s orchestra performs a free concert at 4 p.m Dec. 11 at Kahala Mall. Call 732-7736.

• MORE MUSIC Musician Kuana Torres Kahele takes Kahala Mall Center Court stage at 2 p.m. Dec. 13.

• MALL WRAPPING Starting Dec. 13, Kahala Mall offers free gift-wrapping at the Gift Wrap Center located between Macy’s and Champ Sports. It continues Dec. 14 and 18-24 during mall hours. The first gift wrap is free with same-day receipts from mall vendors. Proceeds go toward area Project Grads and other nonprofits.

• POINSETTIAS Livable Hawaii Kai Hui takes orders for poinsettia plants until Dec. 13, with the last pickup from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at Koko Marina Center courtyard. Cost is $35 (large) and $10 (small). Proceeds support building a native plant nursery at Aloha Aina O Kamilo Nui. Call 864-8081.

• WINTER CONCERT Oahu Civic Orchestra plays its free public winter concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at Ala Wai Golf Course palladium. Call 261-6127.

Leanza Toves

Five area students recently were announced as winners of Hawaii Meth Project’s 2014 “Break the Ice” art contest, nearly sweeping the competition.

The third annual contest invited middle and high school students throughout the state to submit art for this year’s theme, “Cherish.”

“The goal of the ‘Break the Ice’ art contest is to engage Hawaii’s youths to think about the dangers of methamphetamine in a more complete and creative way,” explained Julie Nguyen, Hawaii Meth Project program coordinator.

“Ultimately, the purpose of this program is to continue to open up dialogue about meth prevention and emphasize the benefits of leading a drug-free lifestyle.”

In the Traditional & Digital Art category for grades 7-9, winners were Kapolei Middle School eighth-grader Leanza Toves, seventh-grader Melia LaFleur and eighth-grader Leya Leliaert in first, second and third place, respectively.

For her piece “Mirror, Mirror,” Toves also was declared winner of the People’s Choice Award. The win, she said, came after continuously sharing her drawing and encouraging friends and family to do the same on Facebook.

“They got behind me and the message that I was trying to convey, and gave me the boost I needed to win this award,” said Toves.

For her entry, Toves strived to answer the question: “What if a meth user could see the consequences of their choices reflected in front of them in a mirror?”

“I used the concept of the mirror in Snow White as a jumping-off point and did my best to portray the harmful effects of meth use,” she said. “My teacher, Mr. Daryle Mishina, helped me to develop the idea and create the piece.”

In the Traditional and Digital Art category for grades 10-12, Kapolei High School junior Nicole Jane Tagalicud took first place for “Don’t Give Any Time To Meth,” while Campbell High School senior Ciara Mariel Batulan took third place with “Life is Short.” Tagalicud also won the Sticker Design category for “Meth is Death.”

The judges’ panel for this year’s competition included Michele Navarro Ishiki, Mrs. Kaneohe 2014; youth urban artist Akira1; and Allison Wong, deputy director at Honolulu Museum of Art.

“The posters that were selected as winners had a great sense of composition, excellent artistic skills and a solid message that would deter kids from getting involved with meth,” declared Wong.

Ideal submissions for its “Break the Ice” art contest conveyed its “Not Even Once” message through traditional and contemporary art. To gather inspiration for the contest, contestants were encouraged to visit Hawaii Meth Project’s website. There, they were able to view more than 350 pieces of content, which included facts, personal stories, information from experts and more.

“It’s a process that encourages understanding of the highly detrimental nature of meth and is rooted in education,” explained Nguyen.

Hawaii Meth Project seeks to prevent the use of methamphetamine with research-based campaigns in the community.

For more information, visit hawaiimethproject.org.

Shifu and Tigress of ‘Kung Fu Panda’ will make an appearance Saturday at Kapolei High School’s teddy bear drive. Photo from Audrey Swift.

Kapolei High School will host a teddy bear drive from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday in front of the flagpole, where new and gently used stuffed animals of all kinds are welcome.

Costumed characters, such as Kung Fu Panda‘s Shifu and Tigress, will make a guest appearance at the collection drive and will be happy to pose for photos, if you donate a stuffed animal.

The school is working with Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund and its One Strong Ohana program to provide happiness and comfort to abused children in Hawaii this holiday season.

The high school’s goal is to collect 3,000 stuffed animals for the cause.

For more information or to donate, email teddybeardrivekapolei@gmail.com.

Janel Higuchi has been hired as business office manager for The Plaza Assisted Living at Pearl City. She will be responsible for overseeing The Plaza at Pearl City’s front desk operations, human resource management and all accounting operations for the community.

Greg Cha of Waikele has joined Honolulu HomeLoans as senior loan officer. In this role, Cha will specialize in residential mortgage loan origination and refinancing. “Greg has a diverse background in lending, escrow and marketing, so he will be a great resource for our borrowers and Realtor partners,” stated HHL chief production officer Andrew Kim.

Bryan Balisacan

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Paul “Kalama” Kim has been appointed principal broker at Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties. In addition to serving in that capacity, he will continue to lead the firm’s Kapolei office as branch manager. Kim will be responsible for ensuring all Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties licensees are current and active, and that they are provided information and training on the latest amendments to real estate laws and Greg Cha Paul ‘Kalama’ Kim Bryan Balisacan Richard Rapoza rules.

Bryan Balisacan (R) has been named Sales Person of the Month at Prudential Locations’ Pearlridge office. He also received the award for Listor of the Month in May 2011, and was named second runner-up to Sales Person of the Month in June and September 2011 and July 2009. Balisacan earned second runner-up to Highest Producer of the Month in March 2011.

Richard Rapoza has been named director of strategic communications for Hawaii Pacific University. A Pearl City High graduate, Rapoza will work closely with university leadership and is responsible for building, implementing and managing HPU’s comprehensive communication outreach strategies. He has more than 25 years of experience as a communications professional and previously was director of communications for the Hawaii State Senate.

Linda Schatz has been appointed development manager for Forest City Hawaii. She is responsible for directing the marketing and branding efforts of Forest City’s new $140-million Kapolei Lofts residential neighborhood, which began construction Oct. 27 on the 17-acre parcel at the corner of Kapolei Parkway and Wakea Street.

Anela Joseph (RA) MRP of Ewa Beach has been hired as a military relocation professional and RealtorAssociate with Century 21 Liberty Homes. She will work with veterans and active-duty military buyers and sellers to ensure that homeownership remains affordable and accessible.

Honolulu Property Management has welcomed Kapolei’s Terri Rodrigues as property manager. Rodrigues been licensed as a Realtor-Associate since 2002 and has nearly 20 years of property management experience. She specializes in properties from Central Oahu to Waikiki.

Stephanie Dureg of Waipahu has been hired as an e-marketing and communications specialist with Prudential Locations. In her new role, Dureg will develop and manage the firm’s e-marketing communications and email marketing campaigns. Most recently, she worked as a production assistant at PBS Hawaii.

Lamont A. Scott (R) of Waipahu has joined Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties’ Kapolei office as an independent agent. Previously, he worked as a Realtor for Marlene’s Realty Inc. Scott has a bachelor’s degree in health care management from University of Phoenix and is studying for his MS in international real estate from Florida International University.

Makakilo’s Paris Monti (RA) has joined Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties’ Kapolei office as an independent agent. Prior to joining CBP, Monti worked for C21 All Islands as a Realtor-Associate and earned his MA in economics from New York University.

Pictured at the cleanup at Lourdes Torres’ home are (from left) Jomar Gapusan, Ryan Cabanilla, Kurt Fevella, Torres, Reggie Knowels, state Rep. Bob McDermott, Christian Corpuz and Campbell JV assistant basketball coach Joe Atinma. Photo from Rep. McDermott’s office.

McDermott’s Message …Rep. Bob McDermott

Lourdes Torres didn’t know who to call for help. Her yard had become seriously overgrown. But at her age, she no longer had the energy to take on the rigorous work of climbing, trimming and hauling the clippings from her yard.

“It is just too much,” said Torres when she called me. “You are the only person I could think of calling who might be able to help me.”

Although I normally don’t see yard service as part of my legislative job description, I always try to help my constituents, no matter what their problems might be. I have been known to clean roadsides, haul old mattresses, corral stray dogs and even guard crosswalks. I also know a great network of community volunteers who help their neighbors in Ewa, and I can always count on them to be there when called upon.

I knew the answer was to call District 50′s Ewa Beach Lions Club. So I picked up the phone and called the president, Kurt Fevella. He immediately contacted his friend Joe Atinma, who in turn rounded up some of his JV basketball players from Campbell High School.

The team of community volunteers was hard at work when I arrived at Torres’ house. With hedge clippers and other yard work paraphernalia in hand, everyone was hacking and hauling away. There were overgrown hedges, dead branches and weeds. The yard was indeed overgrown and needed a lot of attention, but the team met the challenge with gleeful hearts. Mrs. Torres was so happy to have her yard in order.

As we finish celebrating this holiday season, it’s reassuring to know that when the call goes out, the Ewa Beach community is full of members who always stand ready to help their neighbors. I’m proud to be part of this community, and I’m thankful for generous people like Kurt, Joe and the young high school boys from Campbell who are willing to step up and do the right thing. In Ewa Beach, this spirit of caring and giving is not just a holiday ritual, it is a daily practice!

From Ewa, let us be among the first to wish you Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou!

Should the Pearl City High School girls basketball team’s best offense be its defense this season, it will be just fine with first-year head coach Kara Taniyama.

The former Konawaena High School (on Hawaii island) standout’s approach is not unlike when she was starring for the Wildcats and coach Bobbie Awa.

“I think our defense is what will spark us in the long run,” said Taniyama, who spent the past two seasons as head coach of Mid-Pacific Institute’s girls junior varsity team in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH), before taking over the Charger program in the spring.

“That’s what we rely on, and it is what has been holding us up (in preseason) because we haven’t worked a lot on offense yet.”

The commitment to being strong on defense began in the fall during preseason conditioning, according to Taniyama, who also played two years at City College in San Francisco following her prep career with Konawaena.

“From spring to summer to our preseason conditioning, the kids never gave up,” she said. “I don’t know much about their conditioning in the past, but it was a learning process for them, and they slowly bought in, and now their hearts are 100 percent into the program.

“It’s nice to know they want to win and do better,” she added. “Making progress is success in and of itself. They had a hard time transitioning (to the new staff’s directives), but they began to understand why they needed (conditioning) so much.

“Conditioning was a big thing for me in taking this position. I can see great things happening here in the future.”

The Chargers are only three years removed from winning the 2012 OIA Red title.

They have been in the heavy rebuild mindset ever since huge losses to graduation from that team, which has left the program with unusually youthful rosters of late.

Miles Okamura, who was Pearl City Chargers’ head coach back in the late 1980s, returned to the program and was head coach again the past two seasons.

Pearl City Chargers were 2-9 last year in the OIA White Division.

The team is in DII again now, making Thursday’s OIA opener at Waipahu a critical game for both schools in their long-range quest to make the post-season.

“It’s a key game for us,” said Taniyama, whose staff includes assistant coaches Nikki Takai (head JV coach), Ben Cardoza and Jerry Gapol. “No. 1, it’s a game in our division, and we also want to get off to a good start.

“The girls’ attitudes will be more positive (with a win).”

On the heels of Thursday’s game at Waipahu High School, the team will visit Mililani High School for a game Saturday.

Its home opener is set for Dec. 23 versus Campbell High School’s Sabers team.

The Chargers also will start the new year strong and host games against both Nanakuli’s Golden Hawks Jan. 6 and Waianae High School’s Seariders Jan. 10.

jackster.1969@yahoo.com

If any team deserved a better fate in the win-loss column last season, it was the Campbell boys soccer team.

While the Sabers posted another winning season at 6-5, it was a collection of missed opportunities on the offensive end, in head coach Randy White’s view.

“We had great possession time and a great defense, but we couldn’t finish (scoring plays),” said White. “We hope to improve on that this year.”

The Sabers’ OIA first round playoff loss to Kahuku last season was telling, according to the coach, who recalled Campbell outshooting the Red Raiders 20 to 4, only to lose (2-1 in overtime).

Hopes are high for Campbell this time, in large part because of the return of nine seniors.

Interest in the program among the underclassmen also is at an all-time high.

“We had 20 freshmen come for tryouts and were able to keep seven (on varsity),” said White. “We’re balanced and can have a competitive team for the next few years.”

Four-year seniors Bryson Maximo and Kamekona Reiny-Aloy highlight the list of returnees.

Maximo was the leading scorer a year ago as an attacker with five tallies, while Reiny-Aloy has played multiple positions during his career.

“Our offense and defense will go through Bryson, who will be our centermid(fielder),” White said of Maximo, who was a First Team All-Conference pick in the OIA West last year.

“He’ll dictate much of what we do. He’ll be our point guard, if you will.

“Reiny-Aloy is going to be a solid player for us this year,” White added.

“He’s a leader who the kids voted on to be their captain.

“He’s played everywhere for us, but this year we are going to have him spearhead our back line with his toughness, leadership and maturity.”

In another position switch, highly regarded defender Chay Mattos likely will move to midfield, according to White.

“He has such great ball skills, we hope to improve our goal scoring this year with him there (at mid-field),” he said of Mattos, who was a Second Team All-Conference selection in 2013-14.

White also is high on sophomore midfielder David Tupper, who had a great preseason camp.

“Even though he’s only a sophomore, he’s one of our captains,” White said. “He’s been a positive influence and a hard-working player who constantly motivates his teammates.”

Campbell is hoping for a return to the state soccer tournament, after missing out last winter.

An upset of eventual Division I Champion Kalani in the OIA playoffs had lifted the Sabers into the state tournament two years ago.

The Sabers opened their 2014-15 OIA West slate at Nanakuli last weekend and will be on the road for every game this season while their field is being restored.

“This adversity should help us at playoff time, when we play every game on the road,” White said.

jackster.1969@yahoo.com

Santa Claus will make an appearance Dec. 24 at Battleship Missouri’s Center Pier and will pose for photos. (It’s free of charge, but bring your own camera).

St. Nick will be perched on a special sleigh that resembles the bow of the USS Missouri.

From 8 a.m. to noon, families can head down for the photo op and write a cheerful holiday message to members of our armed forces. Letter-writing supplies will be provided next to Santa’s special sleigh.

The “Million Thanks” letter-writing campaign is designed to garner support for active-duty members and veterans this holiday season.

For more information, visit USSMissouri.org.

(Please note that Battleship Missouri Memorial will be closed Christmas Day.)

Send West Oahu items to cchang@midweek.com by Dec. 17 to be considered for the Dec. 24 edition, or call 529-4850.

• CAROLS Karol’s Karolers sing holiday songs from around the world at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Ewa Beach Library. Call 689-1204.

• PUPPET SHOWS Puppeteer Christy Lipps presents holiday stories and songs at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at Kapolei Library (693-7050) and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 17 at Ewa Beach Library (689-1204).

• SNOWFLAKES Aiea Library’s Festival of Snowflakes competition winners are on display Dec. 18. Call 483-7333.

• ROTARY TALK Rotary Club of Kapolei meets at 7:30 a.m. Dec. 18 in Kapolei High’s faculty lounge for breakfast and to hear from Alan Oshima, Hawaiian Electric CEO. Email htnedd@gmail.com.

• BASEBALL CLINIC Coach Lester Akeo conducts the Pilikoko Baseball Clinic Dec. 20 at Central Oahu Regional Park, Baseball Field 4. Children 11 years and younger play from 9 a.m. to noon; 12 and older from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is a donation of canned food. Call Les at 861-2488.

• MARSH CLEANUP Hawaii Nature Center volunteers conduct a cleanup of Pouhala Marsh in Waipahu from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 20. Call 955-0100, ext. 118.

• WAIMANO HIKE Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club leads a 13.6-mile advanced hike along Waimano Trail to the Ko‘olau summit at 8 a.m. Dec. 21. Visit htmclub.org.

• MOVIE MARATHON Ewa Beach Library presents a marathon screening of holiday-related films from 1 to 8 p.m. Dec. 22, from Elf to The Polar Express. Call 689-1204.

• SOVEREIGNTY Makakilo’s Kioni Dudley co-hosts The Sovereignty Conversation: Community Forums from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 22 on ‘Olelo channel 53. Visit thesovereigntyconversation.org.

• BLOOD DRIVES Hawaii Blood Bank has donor drives from 7 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 22 at Waikele Center, 7:30 a.m.-noon Dec. 26 at Kapolei Shopping Center and 7 to 11 a.m. Dec. 28 at Foodland in Ewa Town Center. Call 848-4770.

Ongoing

• GATHERING Prince Kuhio Community Center hosts The Gathering Place market from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. each Monday at 91-1270 Kinoiki St. in Kapolei, offering food, crafts and entertainment to bring Westside folks together. Vendors may call Megan at 772-6682.

• YOGA Free classes in Holistic Energy Yoga meet at 10:45 a.m. Wednesdays at Waiau District Park. Call 381-4376.

• AIEA HULA Hula classes on five skill levels are offered at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church hall in Aiea, conducted by Halau Hula ‘O Kala Kapeka. The church is located at 99-312 Moanalua Road. For schedule and registration, call 255-4001.

• SLACK KEYYameen Fong will conduct spring 2015 classes in beginner slack-key guitar in four weekly meetings at 9 a.m. Thursdays, and ukulele picking at 10 a.m. Thursdays, both at Ewa Mahiko District Park, 91-1145 Renton Road. Classes start Jan. 22. Call 685-6035 or visit fongsmusic.homestead.com .

• WAIPAHU ZUMBA Zumba classes with Sexy Crew are back every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at United Visayan Community Hall, 94-833 Awanei St. in Waipahu. Drop in fee is $5. Call 393-8073.

• AIKIDO Aikido Yuishinkai Honolulu leads ki and martial arts classes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at Halawa District Park, second floor. Classes follow the teachings of Koretoshi Maruyama and Morihei Ueshiba. Students 12 years old through adult are welcome. Call James Peters at 256-9944.

• SELF-DEFENSE Austin Streadbeck leads a self-defense class from 6 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday at Makakilo Community Center, 92-1140 Makakilo Drive, based on the teachings of Henry Okazaki’s Kodenkan/Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. Call 383-1480.

• WELLNESS Shizendo Ki method founder Hideo Kimura teaches Ki Wellness from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Mondays and Fridays at Soto Mission of Aiea, 99-045 Kauhale St., and Shizen Aikiwaza class from 7:30 to 9 p.m. the same nights. Free trials are allowed. Call 671-1422.

• CRESTVIEW CLUB Crestview Seniors Club meets from 9:30 a.m. to noon each Friday at Crestview Community Park for planned fun activities and outings. All residents age 55 and older are welcome. Call Guy at 671-4838.

• ALZHEIMER HELP An Alzheimer’s support group meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 98-939 Moanalua Road in Aiea. Call 591-2771.

• FLEA MARKET Hawaii Self Storage conducts a flea market/swap meet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday and Saturday at 2009 Lau-wiliwili St. in Kapolei with new items daily and plenty of vendors. Email rrennoe@gmail.com.

• HULA WAIPAHU No Kealoha O Hula halau offers adult beginner classes at 6 p.m. and intermediate classes at 7:10 p.m. Wednesdays in Village Park. Fee is $25 plus a refundable $25 deposit. Call instructor Desiree Numango at 478-0404.

• ADOPTING PETS Hawaii Dog Foundation sponsors pet adoptions from noon to 2 p.m. every Sunday at Petco Pearl City. Call 782-8387.

• HABITAT HELP Habitat for Humanity Leeward Oahu seeks volunteers to help with its mission of self-built housing for low-income families in Kapolei, Ewa Beach and Waianae. Call Toni Anduha at 696-7882.

• FITNESS Fit Wiz Hawaii offers classes in Pilates, yoga, Tabata and TRX Beach Boot Camps (suspension training) in Kapolei and Ewa Beach for ages 12 and older, with the first class free. For details, visit fitwizhawaii.com.

• VEGGIE COOKS Down to Earth offers free vegetarian cooking classes at 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at its Kapolei store. Call 947-3249.

• MCC MARKET The Momilani Farmers Market at Momilani Community Center has about 20 vendors plus a family activity from 3 to 6 p.m. Fridays at 715 Hoomoana St. Call Kasey at 341-0568.

• MAKEKE KAPOLEI Kapolei High School hosts a farmers’ and green market, Makeke Kapolei, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. each Thursday in the school parking lot, offering more than 30 vendors with locally grown produce, prepared foods, plants, arts and crafts, demonstrations and cultural presentations. Cosponsors are Malama Learning Center and Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. Call 697-3599.

• EWA MARKET A Mahiku Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays at The Waterfront at Pu‘uola, 5105 Iroquois Ave. Call 225-4002.

• WAIPIO MARKET Kaiser Permanente’s Waipio Clinic hosts a Fresh Days Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 94-1480 Moaniani St. Call 432-2260.

• CITY MARKETS The People’s Open Market sells produce on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at Waiau District Park and 8:15-9:15 a.m. at Waipahu District Park; Fridays 7-8 a.m. at Halawa District Park and 9-10 a.m. at Ewa Beach Community Park; Sundays from 7-8:30 a.m. at Kapolei Community Park, 9:30-11 a.m. at Royal Kunia Park-n-Ride and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Waikele Community Park. For more information, call 522-7088.

• AIEA MARKET Pearlridge Center hosts weekly farmers market from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays by the highway fronting Sears and Zippy’s, featuring music, prizes and keiki activities. Visit alamoanafarmersmarket.co m.

• FLEA MARKET Hawaii Self Storage conducts a flea market/swap meet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday and Saturday at 2009 Lauwiliwili St. in Kapolei, offering new items daily and plenty of vendors. Call 946-7233.

Christmas parades are in full swing around West Oahu, and Ewa Beach Lions Club sponsors its annual parade at 10 a.m. Dec. 20.

Festivities move from Ilima Intermediate (91-884 Fort Weaver Road) around the community and back to the school. Expected are more than 1,000 marchers, 60 vehicles and 12 floats, as well as two live bands.

Call Kurt Fevella at 689-6734 for more information.

Hawaii Tourism Authority will close out its 2014 ‘Ahamele, a monthly Hawaiian music concert series at Ko Olina.

‘Ahamele will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday place at Kanihuonua at Ko Olina, located at 91-1101 Aliinui Drive in Kapolei.

The free live entertainment includes Ka La ‘Onohi Mai o Ha‘eha‘e with Miss Aloha Hula 2014 Ke‘alohilani Tara Eliga Serrao, Hu‘ewa, Del Beazley, Weldon Kekauoha and Anuhea & Friends.

According to HTA, the concert series is designed to “provide visitors and residents with an opportunity to experience firsthand what makes Hawaii such a unique destination.”

For more information, visit lanikuhonua.org.

The District 4 Community Policing Team launched a “many-pronged” initiative Dec. 5 behind Kaneohe Library with the goal to assist homeless people as well as clean up their illegal, unsanitary campsites.

In an effort to be compassionate, officials explained, HPD officers notified people camping in the area about the scheduled cleanup two weeks ahead, as they have done prior to numerous such efforts in the past.

Following the Dec. 5 cleanup behind the library, all of these items were removed from a platform under the bridge, which supports the main traffic artery through Kaneohe town. Photo from Honolulu Police Department.

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Directed by HPD Lt. Robert Towne and joined by outreach workers from IHS, Hawaiian Humane Society, the Women’s Correctional Facility crew, city Department of Facility Maintenance and Catholic Charities, the group removed all kinds of personal items that morning, such as bikes and mattresses. They hauled out dozens of trash bags filled with discards from the area behind the library’s parking lot, by the public restrooms, under the highway bridge and in the stream channel. Heavy equipment was used in the stream.

Workers also trimmed heavy foliage to open up the area, which has for months been an enclave of sorts on the fringes of the Kaneohe Civic Center Park grounds — from the heavily used soccer field and restrooms to the jungle behind the library parking lot extension and the shelter of the bridge. Property across the stream is privately owned and was not touched.

Future events are being scheduled, including a major effort in Waimanalo beaches and parks.

“After President Obama departs, we will address it again,” said Towne, who was pleased with the partnerships created.

“It’s never totally solved though,” he added. “There are still homeless people, and it takes many tries to convince them to get help.”

In a related development, Mayor Caldwell recently signed into law an extension of the city’s so-called “sit-lie” bill to cover numerous public sidewalks in Kane-ohe, Kailua, Waimanalo and other commercial areas throughout the island.

Holiday traffic can be a nightmare, but A&B Properties is posting off-duty police officers at intersections around Kailua now through Jan. 4 to help things run a little smoother.

Officers are on hand at various times to help guide traffic and pedestrians at three intersections: Kailua Road, Kainehe Street and Hamakua Drive; Kailua Road and Hahani Street; and Kailua Road and Kalaheo Avenue (near Kailua Beach Center).

Drivers also should note that several left-turn options have been removed from A&B properties to allow for better flow through Hahani Street. A&B also has instituted roving 24-hour security at its Kailua properties throughout the season. For more information, visit abkailua.com.

Ashlee Sakamoto (from left) of Girl Scout Troop 84, Hayden Rice of Troop 445 and Jennifer Leong of Troop 293 participate in last month’s STEM Fest 2014 at Webling Elementary School in Aiea. Photo from Valerie Moore.

Webling Elementary School recently hosted STEM Fest 2014, at which female volunteers from science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers shared facts and activities with Girl Scouts.

“This is only the second year we have held this event and the increase in the number of girls participating this year was phenomenal,” stated Girl Scouts of Hawaii CEO Shari Chang.

“Every girl needs a chance to explore the fascinating world of STEM, and Girl Scouting encourages girls of all ages by offering ‘fun with purpose’ through its K–12 national program.”

Volunteers came to the Aiea school from nontraditional fields like anthropology, geology, civil engineering, helicopter operations, Army medical corps, nursing, children’s disaster advocacy, missile systems technology, veterinary medicine, math education and Native Hawaiian and indigenous health.

“As more women enter into traditionally male-dominated careers,” Chang added, “it’s important for leadership organizations to expose the girls to all the potential professions.”

Rumor has it that Castle High School’s classes of 1975 and 1976 will host a reunion party for all alumni Feb. 21 at Rumours nightclub, and reservations are due very soon. Committee members include (from left) Sandra Taga, Mel Terao, Dawna Agao and Stanley Abalos. Photo from Sam Kakazu.

The classes of 1975 and 1976 of Castle High School have an ambitious party planned for all alumni of the school in February, but guests need to act now to secure the best admission price.

Scheduled for 3:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 21 at Rumours Nightclub at Ala Moana Hotel, the reunion will include a menu of heavy pupus and no-host cocktails. Tickets cost $50, if paid before Dec. 31, $60 after that date, and $65 at the door (no exceptions or refunds).

Donations also are welcome to enhance the celebration of such a gathering of former Knights. For more information, email chscombinedclass@gmail.com.