Weekend Update: July 23-24, 2011

This weekend the big event in Kona is the 7th Annual Building & Design Expo, which is being held at the Sheraton Keauhou.  It is FREE, which we always love, and continues thru Sunday late afternoon. Being an architect and having lived in Kona for awhile now, you'd think I'd have been to this before, but alas, no, for some mommy related reason (the very first being I was a very uncomfortable 8 months pregnant), I have always missed it. While it's not meant or geared toward children, it's a great opportunity to educate and be educated about building (green and not-so-green), energy (efficient or otherwise) and materials (where does all this stuff come from). Here's the 411:

This free event will be held at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort. Over 65 exhibits featuring home design, construction, and remodeling ideas, including home decorating, roofing & decking, flooring & window treatments; kitchens & baths, solar products and more. Hours: Friday, July 22, 5-8pm; Sat., July 23, 9am-5pm; Sun., July 24, 9am-3pm. For more info, call Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce at 329-1758.

Happening again this Saturday is the Lowe's Build 'n' Grow workshop. The last workshop had a huge turnout and we even had to wait in line to get a table spot. It was the first time we experienced such a crowd here, and I'm not sure if it's because it's summer, because of the project (tow truck), or because of KAMA (give myself a pat). This week's project are binoculars, and there's some back to school projects coming up in August: a schoolhouse photo holder and mini locker. Go ahead and do a Google image search and you can see some of the other neat little projects Lowe's has offered.

Saturday, the 2nd Annual Will Play For Food! For Hawaii Island's Food Basket will kick off at noon at the Remixx Lounge (formerly the Mixx Bistro) in Kamehameha Mall. A $5 donation or 2 cans or more gets you in the door. There's hot dogs, balloons, a live & silent auction and other fantastic drawings all day, in addition to the great music: Master Of Ceremonies: Frank Burgess, High Velocity • Charlie Don’t Surf • Contraband • Green Machine • NesianSoul • Waikoloa Dance Kids • Tribal Fusion Belly Dance • Body Painting by Artfully Delicious

We're in the second month of Obon season, but Saturday evening will seemingly mark the last Obon Festival in West Hawaii.  Kona Hongwanji will host the festival beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the temple, located at 81-6630 Mamalahoa Highway, Kealakekua. If you aren't familiar with Obon, it is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.  

Sunday, the Building & Design Expo continues until 3pm, but you can still start out the week with some invigorating activity!  Team Mango presents the Trash Can Triathlon, commencing at 7:00 a.m. at the Kailua Pier. This one is a sprint triathlon, translation: swim 1/2 mile, bike 10 miles, then run 3 miles to the finish. Having done several of these pre-mommyhood, I can vouch for the positive energy they invoke, and also the great excuse they give you to have a delicious, carb filled breakfast.

School is just around the corner and I can feel those lunch making sessions looming as summer events wean and camp sessions come to a close. This year (marked by the school calendar) promises to hold lots of changes for our family as our little one begins her school career and mommy is left to her own devices. I'm excited for the future, and also for KAMA, as we all continue to grow.