Events & Workshops Upcoming

Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center — together with the Hawaii County Bar Association — is hosting its 13th annual Recognition Dinner and Auction on Sunday, Nov. 11.

This year, Ku‘ikahi is giving the Peacemaker Award to Debra Ching Maiava, owner of Ponds Hilo and manager of Ken’s House of Pancakes. The HCBA is honoring Charlene Iboshi, retired prosecuting attorney for the county.

The event is slated for 5-8 p.m. at Nani Mau Gardens, located at 421 Makalika St. in Hilo. It is open to the public, and the audience will include judges, attorneys, mediators, business leaders and other involved members of our community.

The buffet dinner starts at 6 p.m. and features three entree choices: carved roast prime rib, chicken marbella and macadamia nut crusted fish. Dinner also includes Caesar salad, vegetable rice pilaf, fresh garden grilled vegetable primavera, mashed kabocha squash, dessert and drink choices of punch, iced tea and coffee.

Auction items will include gift certificates for rounds of golf, outdoor excursions, overnight stays and dining experiences; artwork and gift baskets; fine wines; orchids; and much more.

There also will be door prizes.

Emcees for the event are Newton Chu and Jeri Gertz.

Tickets are $90 per person, of which $45 is tax deductible, and are available at Ku‘ikahi, Day-Lum Rentals and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Ku‘ikahi expects the dinner and auction to sell out, so make reservations early.

For tickets, tables and sponsorships, use the “Buy Now” button at www.hawaiimediation.org/events.html or contact Erika at Ku‘ikahi by calling 935-7844, ext. 1, or emailing erika@hawaiimediation.org.

Founded in 1983, the nonprofit Ku‘ikahi has been “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace” for 35 years.

Join artist Mary Milelzcik for the “Mixed Media Encaustic” workshop from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 3 at Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.

Encaustic is a mixture of beeswax, damar resin and pigment, which is applied to a solid absorbent surface. Each time a new layer is applied, it must be fused. The layers can be enhanced by carving with tools or drawing with pigment, oil sticks etc. Photographs can be transferred and other materials embedded to create translucent layers and a variety of results.

This hands-on workshop will teach participants safe studio practices, all the encaustic painting basics and how to make their own medium. After instruction and experimenting, participants will have the opportunity to create a small finished encaustic painting (or two), a scroll and a set of greeting cards to take home.

An assortment of marking tools and brushes and also interesting papers, photographs, minerals, fibers and other natural and found materials will be provided for students to incorporate into their paintings. Students are encouraged to bring other items they’d like to use.

Cost is $60, or $55 for VAC members, plus a $25 supply fee. To register, call VAC at 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

Milelzcik has a bachelor’s degree from Sonoma State University’s School of Expressive Arts. She is a mixed-media artist and photographer. In her spare time, she provides strategic consultation and grant writing for small to medium-sized nonprofits in Hawaii and California. She has a studio in Pahoa.

VAC’s Ni‘aulani Campus is located at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road in Volcano Village.

Big Island small business owners can learn how to maximize their social media presence and increase holiday sales during two upcoming social media classes in Hilo.

“How to Develop a Social Media Marketing Plan” is slated for 9-11 a.m. Friday (Oct. 26) at the Hawaii Innovation Center located at 117 Keawe St.

During the class, participants will gain insights into creating an effective online marketing plan and the top five key elements of a successful social media marketing campaign. They’ll also receive tips on why each social media platform requires its own unique approach and how to tailor their social media marketing plan to take advantage of the upcoming holiday shopping season.

To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-develop-a-social-media-marketing-plan-tickets-51447579094

“As with any part of business, implementing a social media marketing plan requires having a strategy,” says Denise Laitinen, class instructor and an award-winning social media trainer. “Many times, business owners don’t know where to start when it comes to marketing their business online or they go about it the wrong way and wind up frustrated with ineffective results.”

She added that by implementing an effective social media marketing plan, business owners are able to reach new audiences and increase sales.

“Instagram for Business 101” is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. Nov. 2 at the Hawaii Innovation Center.

This class will take attendees through the five key steps of using Instagram for a business and how to launch successful Instagram campaigns. Participants also will learn the importance of hashtags and how to use them effectively, ways to optimize their business profile and how to drive traffic to their website from their Instagram business account.

Laitinen, owner of DLC Hawaii Media and who was recently named the 2018 Small Business Administration Advocate for Media and Journalism in Hawaii County for her years of work helping small business owners with social media. also will teach the Instagram class.

The cost for each workshop is $40.

For more information, call 281-3497 or email Denise@DeniseLaitinen.com.

Argo is the ship that Jason captained in Greek mythology and also the sailboat that took three Swedish sailing friends on an epic journey between 1969 and 1973 from the west coast of Sweden via the West Indies, the Panama Canal, Galapagos Islands and the South Pacific, ending in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and finally to New Zealand.

“Argo” was filmed and edited by Sven Afzenius, one of the friends and the owner of 15,000 volumes of literature about the Pacific, as well as probably the largest collection of original paintings by Dietrich Varez.

Volcano Art Center invites everyone to a movie presentation of “Argo” at 7 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 25) at the Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.

This evening program will be introduced by Caren Loebel-Fried. Beer and wine will be available for purchase, and a Q&A session with Swedish sea captain Erik Bergenmalm will follow the movie.

This event is free, although a $5 donation to VAC is greatly appreciated.

This movie presentation is part of a once-a-month Thursday night series at the Volcano Art Center focusing on art, Hawaiian culture and the environment. The series is intended to inspire and enhance the public’s appreciation of art and life experience, while fostering community connections.

The VAC Ni‘aulani Campus is located at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road.

For more information, call 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.