I am representing our club as the HRYF Scholarship representative. All high school students applying for the HRYF scholarship need to submit their application and recommendation forms by 2/1/26. Interviews of these applicants will then need to be completed by 2/20/26. Please let me know if you are interested in joining me on the scholarship committee. I am looking for 3 volunteers. You can email me at jventura@fhb.com.
Mahalo!
Jeff Ventura
The Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation (HRYF), was founded by Maurice J. “Sully” Sullivan during his year as the Rotary’s District Governor in Hawaii, 1976-1977. Its main objective is to provide scholarships for Hawaii youth to further their education after high school. Scholarship funds are provided from Rotarians, investments, gifts, individual donors, and interest from the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Grant. Each participating Hawaii District 5000 Rotary Club selects a deserving high school student to receive a scholarship to a 4-year college or university in Hawaii or on the U.S. Mainland to earn a baccalaureate degree. Scholarship Awards: For the 2025-2026 year, each participating Rotary Club will select a student to receive a $5,000 or $2,500 HRYF scholarship. From those students selected by the Rotary Clubs, an HRYF committee then selects one student attending a mainland university to receive a $10,000 Maurice J. Sullivan scholarship and another student attending a university in Hawaii to receive the $10,000 Joanna L. Sullivan scholarship. These two scholarships will be awarded instead of the $5,000 awarded by the individual Club.
Like in years past, WHR members have generously given of their time to serve as volunteer judges for the annual DOE Honolulu School District noncompetitive speech festival. Kids in grades 3 to 5 participate in various categories such as choral reading, poetry, interpretative reading, etc. This spring event will be held on Saturday, April 25, McKinley High, 7A (breakfast/instructions) to 10:30 followed by an awards ceremony.
Let Grace Fujiyoshi know if you are able to judge this event. Thank you for help. <fujiyoshi.grace@gmail.com>
2026 Rotary International Convention will take place in Taipei Taiwan, June 13-17, 2026. https://convention.rotary.org/en-us/about
Our Sister Club Taipei West is invitation us to a welcome dinner on June 15, and a golf outing on June 17, please RSVP to Terry Lo our Taipei Sister Club liaison.
Aloha Senior 411 was officially founded in 2024, but the heart of our business began decades earlier through the personal experiences of founder Don Dietz. As a Hawaii real estate broker with over 30 years in the islands, Don witnessed countless seniors and military families struggling with the overwhelming process of leaving their longtime homes. What started as simply going above and beyond for his real estate clients gradually evolved into something much more meaningful.
Rotary District 5000, Lions, Optimist and Kiwanis have maintained a partnership for the last 5 years conducting joint projects in the community in an effort to have a greater impact on our communities.
This year, D5000 has partnered up with the Lions Club to host a food and eyeglass recycling drive on January 24, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
D5000 is spearheading the food drive and has asked Rotarians to help by donating food items. The food items requested include but are not limited to:
canned fruit, applesauce, fruit cups
100% fruit juice
canned vegetables
Other suggestions:
canned tuna and salmon
canned beans - all kinds
canned soup, chili, and stew
pasta sauce
peanut butter
rice, brown rice
pasta, whole grain pasta
oatmeal, whole grain cereals
evaporated milk, powdered milk
The donated food items (and cash if you donate money) will be delivered to the Food Bank.
The Lions Club is spearheading the eyeglass recycling drive. If you wish to donate used eyeglasses that you no longer want or need, please bring them with you when you bring your food donated items to the event.
KTA Superstores (Hilo, Kona, Waikoloa, Waimea) – Hawai’i Island
Walmart in Kahului – Maui
Big Save at Eleele Shopping Center – Kauai
Kukui Grove Shopping Center - Kauai
If you unavailable to drop the donated items off on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at one of the sites listed above, you may drop your items off at my office before the event and I will bring them to one of the drop off sites on your behalf.
If you intend to participate in this event, please email me to let me know. If you already have an idea of what you are donating, please be sure to include that detail in yor email to me. You may also text me if its more convenient.
Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.
Richard A. Ing
Community Service Chairperson
Email: farknocker@hotmail.com
Phone: 808-228-8788
Regular meeting location and time,
Click here to sign up for our club activities: (Bookmark or add to favorites this link for easy access)
Our regular meetings are held at The Edge at 31 North Pauahi. We need a head count by Tuesday each week before the meeting, please sign up on the Google form CLICK HEREor via the emailed invite. Address : 31 North Pauahi Street, between Nuuanu and Smith, private room the the back, parking at Municipal lot at 1-35 N Beretania St. Payment by credit card only. If you didn't sign up, please join us and get your food upfront in the restaurant.
West Honolulu Sign Up sheet