North Hawai’i’s dedicated first responders, medical care front-liners and veterans who put themselves in harms way to protect the community – or who have in years past - will be honored with a community signwaving and Virtual Town Meeting this week by WCA members and North Hawai’i friends.
“We owe a great deal – sometimes including our lives and those of loved ones – to these caring community servants,” said James Hustace, WCA President.
However, due to Covid-19 safety precautions, instead of a large community Mahalo Potluck, WCA’s now annual pre-Thanksgiving salute will pivot to ensure everyone’s safety with:
1) Signwaving 4-5 p.m., Wed., Nov. 11 (Veterans’ Day) on Mamalahoa Hwy. fronting the Ikua Purdy Monument/Parker Ranch Center. All invited - Masks & distancing a must; bring signs or we’ll have some to share. And…
2) A Virtual Town Meeting at 5:30 p.m., Thurs., Nov. 12 - streamed live on Facebook.
PRECEEDING THESE EVENTS, WCA board members will deliver baked goods and other treats and gift cards from local restaurants and stores to the various responder groups’ work or meeting places.
Honorees will include Waimea Police, Waimea Fire and EMTs, Bravo 9/Anekona-Kanehoa and Waiki’i volunteer firefighters, Pohakuloa Training Area police and fire emergency responders, the nurses, doctors and staff at Queen’s North Hawai’i Community Hospital’s Emergency Room, State Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officers, members of Waimea’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Hawai’i Life Flight crews that air lift individuals to Maui or Honolulu for emergency care.
“While many of these individuals humbly insist they are just doing a job they get paid for, these men and women deserve recognition,” said Nancy Carr Smith, the WCA Director who is coordinating this year’s recognition activities.
Donations to WCA to help offset the cost of purchasing gift certificates are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Anyone wanting to make a cash donation or contribute baked goods/snacks may contact Nancy Carr Smith (896-2239) or nancy@alohakohalarealty.com, or Riley Smith @ rsmith@lanihau.net.