The Rotary Club of Hilo Bay: Meeting Notes – August 26, 2026
Call to Order
President Jan Haraguichi-Abundo called the hybrid meeting to order at 7:00. Six guests and twenty-one of the fifty-four members of the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay were in attendance.
Opening Activities
The meeting opened with President Jan leading the Pledge. Brian Lyndsey shared an inspiration -- If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito. Dalai Lama
Trivia, Joke, Japanese and Spanish Word of the Day, Guests
Alan, you need to talk louder. None of the speakers are in the back of the room.
What do the moon and dollar have in common? Four quarters.
Good night-Oyasumi, informal; Oyasuminasai, formal
No Spanish this morning
Guests, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Inductions, Special Recognition
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: None
Inductions: Nonetheless
Guests: Doug Adams, Deb Lewis, Martha Radillas, Jeff Gray, Shizuno and a worthy guest.
Club Announcements & Community Service Opportunities, Club Recognition
President Jan made the following announcements.
- Art Taniguchi asked for a moment of silence to remember the passing of Rankin "Army" Armstrong Curtis, Jr one of Hilo Bay Rotary earliest of members.
- The monthly social will be this afternoon starting at 4:30 at the Big Island Meadery. Please bring a small pupu to share.
- HRYF it is time for the matching contribution from Sak & Save remember 77199
- Club Foundation organization is continuing. The State of Hawaii still has not issued the incorporation paperwork.
- Oktoberfest, 2026 planning committee will meet immediately after today’s meeting. Doors will open for sponsors at 4:30 pm and general admission will be at 5:30 pm. Looking for tickets or information, You can access it from https://hilooktoberfest.com/. A committee was formed to run the Silent Auction. See Steven Sylvester or James Tyrel for more information.
- Food Basket is looking for volunteers to pack Kapuna Boxes. This morning or Thursday morning at the Food Basket starting at 9 am. See Janell for more information.
- Looking for a Sargeant of Arm.
- Walk to End Alzheimer’s is Sept. 19th. We will have an information table at the event.
- Sept. 27th the Juettner will host a baby shower for Hirona at their house in Hakalau.
- Mary Begier was recognized by D 5000 with the E Ola Mau award for service. (The bottle of wine came from the door prize along with a gift certificate to the Temple Bar and not D5000.
Happy Dollars 
from August 26 meeting
$60 - Kim Keahiolalo - Birthday dollars!
$20 - JoB- Grateful for our community coming together to kokua each other at this time. I'm grateful for our safety and the safety of our responders. Now more than ever, we need understanding, support and less "showing the middle finger" to the HELCO workers.
$10 - Bob Juettner - Happy to meet Sandra Wagner-Wright at the new DMV, wandering around.
$5 - Tim Hansen & Kevin Reardon - Kevin's dad's 98th birthday!
$5 - Doug Adams - happy to be at our meeting to support his wife, our guest speaker, Deb Lewis.
Guest Speaker was Deb Lewis, a West Point graduate and a combat veteran. We took us back to Sept. 11, 2001, when she was stationed at the Pentagon assigned to team working on how to harden military facilities to terrorist attacks. She recounted the timeline from when the first plan flew into the World Trade Tower until the Pentagon was hit by the last plane, The attack lasted less than two hours, cost the terrorists about $100,000 and killed more Americans than at Pearl Harbor. Focus and training were essential to survive the chaos that followed the attack.
Ms Lewis had some props to exemplify what you need to do:
The Helmet denoted wisdom. Athena was the goddess of war and wisdom.
The Shield turns away attack.
The Sword deflects personal attack
Effective questions are the best defense against attack. Remember that love and life are extreme sports.
Door Prize Winner: Mary Begier, a bottle of wine and a gift certificate to the Temple
Final Reminders
Travel to Japan to visit our sister club will take place on May 23, 2027.
RI World Convention in Barcelona in June 2027.
Check your emails and the club website, www.hilobayrotary.com, for news and updates
Still looking for a Sargeant at Arms
Four-Way Test: Doug Adams
Door Prizes and Inspirations for Sept & Oct
Janell Kuamoo Sept 9
Kathleen Rowden Sept 16
Hirona Sylvester Sept 23
Virginia Juettner Oct 7
Lisa Lamonte-Willians Oct 14
Michelle Flemming Oct 21
You can’t be a door prize winner without door prizes. Patrick Bodell is looking for volunteers for door prizes and inspiration. His calendar needs additional names and commitments.
SAVE THE DATE!
Join us for the 26th Annual Hilo Bay Oktoberfest!
Saturday, October 3, 2026: 5:30pm - 8:30pm at Sangha Hall in Hilo
Authentic German Food • Beer & Wine • Refreshments
Live Entertainment • Silent & Live Auctions • Costume Contest, Games and More!
Tickets starting at $75.00!
https://hilooktoberfest.com/.
