MEDIA RELEASE

Kona Outdoor Circle announces it will hold its 34th annual Pua Plantasia Gala Party on Saturday, June 11 at the Four Seasons Hualalai. The gala event will start at 5 p.m. and include a sumptuous sit-down dinner at tables for ten, silent and live auctions, and mood music by the wonderful Hawaii Island slack key guitarist John Keawe.

The event will recognize Historic Kailua Village and Ali’i Drive, and the achievements of the Kailua Village Business Improvement District. This is in keeping with Kona Outdoor Circle’s mission of helping keep Kona clean, green, and beautiful….especially for the next generation. Since the Kailua Village Business Improvement District was formed in 2006, one of its initiatives has been to focus on beautification of the downtown Kailua Village area. To that end, their strategic plan, approved in 2008, includes sustainable landscaping initiatives. The District hired PBR Hawaii, a noted landscape and planning firm, to develop concepts for the village. Eric von Platen Luder, its president and the key driver in its formation, will be at the event to discuss some of the KVBID activities.

Over the past 60 years, Kona Outdoor Circle has been actively involved with Kailua Village. The leaders of Kona Outdoor Circle named the streets, including Ali’i Drive, at the request of County of Hawaii. KOC members have taken part in several beautification projects in downtown Kailua Village, beautifying Emma Square, the front of Mokuaikaua Church, and other scenic points in the village. Longtime KOC supporters and landscape designers Kaz Shigezawa and Scott Seymour often took the lead for the projects. Today, KOC applauds and supports the work of the Kailua Village Business Improvement District as they work to become the state’s second Federally-designated Scenic Byway, celebrating 7 centuries of Hawaii’s history in the 7 miles of Ali’i Drive from Kailua Pier down to Keauhou.

Both the silent and live auctions will feature fun and fabulous items. The silent auction will open at 5 p.m. and be open through dinner. Renowned Hawaii Island auctioneer Pat Batchelder will lead the live auction, which guarantees an interesting and spirited evening. Local television and radio personality Lyman Medeiros will be the Master of Ceremonies.

Slack key guitarist John Keawe has been a friend to Kona Outdoor Circle and performed at Pua Plantasia often. John was born and raised in Hawi. Although he grew up with rock and roll music, when he returned to Kohala after serving in the Navy, he was drawn to the sound of Hawaiian slack key. The singer-songwriter observed others and since has developed his own distinct style. John Keawe has been nominated for Hoku Awards six times. In 1994, his CD “Ho’onanea” won the award for best instrumental. He was also recognized at the 1998 Hawaii Music Awards as best slack key artist, and in 2003 for his CD “Aloha Kaikua’ana.” John was also recognized with a Hoku Award for Ki-ho’alu, a special award given to an artist for perpetuating the art of slack key guitar. He also was honored as a contributing artist on Hawaii’s first Grammy Award for Best Music Album.

Kona Outdoor Circle, a branch of Honolulu’s The Outdoor Circle, was founded in 1948. Its first project was planting along Palani Road not long after it became a public road. Members of the organization also planted bougainvilleas along the road into the entrance of Old Kona Airport, which opened in 1949. Over the years, it has been involved in dozens of public planting projects, conducted classes, and been a strong public advocate for continuing beautification. Now, with the focus on preserving Kona’s beauty for the next generation, it will use the funds to continue its beautification, education, and advocacy work.

The sit-down dinner will focus on locally-grown products. The Four Seasons is consistent in honoring the goals of Kona Outdoor Circle by celebrating and patronizing local growers, recycling, and using sustainable landscaping. Tickets to the Pua Plantasia Party are $100, or $1200 for a table of ten. Reservations may be made by calling 808-331-2426 or email to koc@konaoutdoorcircle.org As a note, the associated plant sale which is generally held at the same time as the party will be held Saturday, September 24 at Old Kona Airport Makae’o Events Pavilion.