You're Invited - Waimea Town Meetings Aug. 7 and 12, 2025

Waimea News And Coming Events

Two Town Meetings This Month; Both Important To Our Present & Future

Join Us!

First Meeting: Thurs., Aug. 7 - Seven Waimea Schools Share Diverse Educational Opportunities

In-Person @ Parker School Theatre & Streamed 'Live'

WCA’s 5:30-7 p.m., Thurs., Aug. 7, 2025 Town Meeting in Parker School’s historic theatre will spotlight back-to-school news for Waimea’s diverse educational community including seven schools – public, private and public charter. The presentations will provide insight into the coming school year, including anticipated shifts in federal education policy and funding.

Representatives of Waimea Elementary, Waimea Middle, Kanu o Ka ‘Aina, Waimea Country, Parker, Hawai’i Preparatory Academy and ʻAlo Kēhau o ka ʻAina Mauna - a satellite emersion school of Ke Kula o Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Iki - will provide an overview of the year ahead including keeping students safe, cared for, progressing academically, socially and culturally, and how the community can support this next generation of youth.

There is no charge to attend WCA Town Meetings and everyone is invited, said WCA President Mary Beth Laychak.

WCA’s Aug. 7 town meeting will be in person in Parker School theatre and concurrently will be streamed “live” on WCA’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WaimeaCommunityAssociation. It will also be available for viewing “live” via YouTube by going to www.WaimeaTown.org for a link. The meeting will be saved to Facebook and YouTube for on-demand viewing thereafter. Questions are welcome – ideally in advance – by emailing WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com.

Also on the agenda will be an update by Waimea’s County Council members Heather Kimball (D1) and James Hustace (D9), as well as by Waimea Community Policing representatives.

The month's spotlighted not-for-profit will be Waimea Middle School’s successful youth mentoring program. Attendees will be asked to consider making a direct tax-deductible donation to Waimea Middle School's not-for-profit school board, Ho'okako'o Corp.

For more info about the meeting or WCA, email President Mary Beth Laychak at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or go to www.WaimeaTown.org. Membership in WCA is not required but suggested to support the not-for-profit organization’s now 60+-year community support mission.

Second Meeting: Tues., Aug. 12 - In-Person With Hawai'i's US Senator Brian Schatz

@ Kahilu Town Hall (Across from Kahilu Theatre)

All invited. Suggest arriving by 4 p.m. - Program will begin right at 4:30 p.m. Questions welcome in advance: WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com. Questions will be taken from the floor as time permits.

Coming Events

MAHALO to all who stepped up to help protect the safety and well-being of our community during the recent tsunami emergency - both our dedicated first responders (Police, Fire, Civil Defense, County Parks & Rec and Public Works crews and related services) and organizations including Waimea CERT volunteers and the Hawai'i Island Securing and Safety Professionals Association (HISSPA), and especially our community partners - HPA, Parker School, Mana Christian 'Ohana, St. James and Keck Observatory. Special thanks to Chris Wong, Bill Wiecking, Chessine Nugent, Fred Wawner, Mark Noetzel, Stephen Dunn, Kimo Ho'opai, Nancy Carr Smith, James Hustace, Dr. Tim Richards and Hawai'i Island Food Basket. (We know there are others who went above at beyond at our airport, harbors and coastal areas.) We also mahalo our Governor Josh Green, Mayor Kimo Alameda, HIEMA and Vibrant Hawai'i for consistent communications. Waikoloa Village resident-volunteers and Waikoloa School also went above and beyond. All of this unfolded - with aloha - despite these challenging times. This is our kuleana. Lucky we live Waimea!

Celebrate the launch of Kahilu Theatre's new season at a festive community Open House on Saturday, August 17, Noon to 4 PM. They will be throwing open the doors for an afternoon of live performances, behind-the-scenes fun, food trucks, and connection, and we are all invited to this free, all-ages event. Whether a long-time patron or discovering Kahilu for the first time, we are welcome to join in the celebration. No RSVP required — just come!

Performance Line Up:

12:00 - Kahilu Welcome
12:30 PM – Kona Dance
1:00 PM – Waimea Community Theatre
1:30 PM – Prince Dance Institute
2:00 PM – Waimea Community Chorus
2:30 PM – West Hawai‘i Dance Theatre
2:45 PM - Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra
3:00 PM – Hawai‘i Radio Hour

More info: www.KahiluTheatre.org

The Hawai'i Radio Hour Team: Naka Nathaniel, Mileka Lincoln and Kolby Akamu Moser. This still new weekly news and variety show features stories from some of Hawai‘i’s most respected journalists, mo‘olelo and mele from beloved performers and thought-provoking conversations. All invited.

Please Join & Support Waimea Community Association!

WCA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit supported by community memberships and donations. All officers and directors volunteer their time and donations are spent on numerous methods of outreach to help connect community members, businesses, elected officials, schools, clubs, government and not-for-profit agencies, services and programs. Funds also support several annual community events including our MAHALO First Responders dinner and Christmas Twilight Parade. Membership has increased to $20 annually for individuals, $30 for families or businesses. Your support is needed and most welcome! To learn more: Membership — Waimea Community Association (waimeatown.org)

2025 WCA Officers

Mary Beth Laychak - President, WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com

Nancy Carr Smith - Vice President, nancy@alohakohalarealty.com

Makela Bruno, Secretary, makelabk@gmail.com

Victor Tom - Treasurer, waimeacommunitytreasurer@gmail.com

Directors

Patti Cook, cookshi@aol.com

David Greenwell, tgreenwell@hawaii.rr.com

Lani Olsen-Chong - Secretary, olsenchong@gmail.com

Riley Smith - Membership Chair, rsmith@lanihau.net

Ryan Ushijima, ryanushijima@yahoo.com

Chris Wong, chriswongee@gmail.com

Next WCA Town Meeting

Thurs., Sept. 7, 2025 (Hybrid) - 5:30-7PM - W.M. Keck Observatory Conference Room. Meeting will focus on CyberSecurity - an issue plaguing most everyone.

For more info about the association, please email WCA President Mary Beth Laychak at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or go to: