MEDIA RELEASE

More than 28,000 Hawaii Island school children from kindergarten to eighth grade will each receive a reflective Halloween trick-or-treat bag, stickers and bookmarks from the County’s Traffic Division as part of its Be Aware, Drive with Care, Halloween safety program.

The reflective bags are imprinted with safety messages from talking ghosts to a smiling orange pumpkin as a reminder to watch for cars, stay in well-lit areas and not to go out alone.

Halloween bags are available at the Mayor’s office in Kona, prosecutor’s office, shopping centers and police stations in Hilo and Kona, and at the Halloween programs sponsored by Parks and Recreation on Oct. 30-31.

Bookmarks and colorful safety stickers on safe crossing, biking and seat belts are part of the Keep our Community Safe program and were designed by Hawaii Island artist Sunny Pauole.

In conjunction with Halloween safety, 1,097 teachers will each receive the “Rules of the Road” brochure offering safety tips for pedestrians and motorists. The free brochure is available from the County of Hawaii Public Works offices in Hilo and Kona.

The Halloween bags will be distributed at the following events and locations sponsored by the Recreation Division office:

* Hilo District: (Royden Chow, Hilo District Supervisor 961-8739, cell 938-2014)

* Saturday, Oct. 30, 3:30-7:30 p.m. Halloween Program at the Prince Kuhio Plaza sponsored in partnership with the Prince Kuhio Plaza, P&R Recreation Division, Hilo High & Waiakea High School Key Clubs, Hilo Intermediate & Waiakea Intermediate School Builders Club. Includes costume contest, crafts, games, picture taking and more.

* Sunday, Oct. 31, (Time TBA) Kawananakoa Gym Halloween Trick or Treat Program (Contact Lindsey Iyo or Frank Feary, 961-8732)

* Kona District: (Victor McDaniel, West Hawaii District Supervisor 327-3566, cell 333-1106)

* Saturday, Oct. 30, 5-8:30 p.m. “Candyland” Halloween Program at the Kailua Park Field D sponsored by Target, Solid Rock Ministries and P&R Recreation Division. (Contact: Victor McDaniel 327-3566)

* Puna/Kau District: (Glenn Kokubun, Puna/Kau District Supervisor 965-2710, cell 938-2015)

* Sunday, Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m. Kahuku Park “Trunk-O-Treat” Halloween Program (Contact: Wesley Sermons 929-9113)

* Sunday Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. Pahoa Community Center “Trunk-O-Treat” Halloween Program (Contact Glenn Kokubun 965-2710)

* Cooper Center “Trunk-O-Treat” Halloween Program: (Date and time TBA: Contact Merle Gornick 968-2000)

Halloween bags can be picked up at the following Parks and Recreation sites during working hours while supplies last:

* Naalehu Community Center – Richard Karasuda 939-2510
* Pahala Community Center – Nona Makuakane 928-3102
* Shipman Gym – Jaime Guerpo 966-5803
* Hawaiian Beaches Park – Alana Hindle 965-2703
* Papaikou Gym – Mark Osorio 964-3304
* Honomu Gym – Rodney Cambra 963-5302
* Kulaimano Community Center – Randy Nevins 964-3305
* Paauilo Gym – Jayme Carvalho 776-7601
* Honokaa Gym – Anna Muranaka 775-7505