MEDIA RELEASE

The Rotary Club of Kona Mauka had its best-ever annual Valentine Wine Tasting Celebration, raising more than $17,000 for Konawaena high school scholarships and community projects.

The Feb. 11 event at a private Kona estate overlooking Kailua Bay. In line with the Valentine’s theme, it featured superb wines, extraordinary food with carving station, gourmet pupus and mouthwatering desserts, live music by Kevin Teves, and a carefully selected silent auction featuring items from local artists, restaurants, hotels, and businesses.

Sponsors for the evening included Alvin’s Signs, Big Island Grill, BMW of Hawaii, Golden Egg Cash Assets, and Manago Hotel.

Every year, the Rotary Club of Kona Mauka supports the community in various ways such as Konawaena High School scholarships (the most one local organization provides to Konawaena High School), sponsorship of students to attend a leadership camp, providing every third grader in the Konawaena Complex with their own personal dictionary and vision screening through the Keiki Vision and Dictionary Project, and community service projects.

This year, the club surpassed its goal and contributes it to the support of the community. The event has had a huge following and has gotten bigger and better as every year passes.

“Our small club leads by example. We aren’t afraid to roll up our sleeves and get things done,” president Rod Crisp said. “We enjoy giving back to the community and are thankful that we can do so and have fun at the same time. We even had Konawaena students helping us out by parking cars and moving items from here to there at the function. We aren’t a club that just raises money, we are a club that has a lot of heart, and that is why we are able to do such amazing things.”

The Kona Mauka Rotary Club consists of more than 20 members from the Kona community. It meets noon-1 p.m. every Tuesday at Teshima’s Restaurant in Honalo.

For further information about Rotary, call Crisp at 756-6550.