Melany Karver's "Ganesha Altar", created from found objects, won the annual Recycle Hawaii Award. 1st place went to Joji Oshima's "Aloha Tower," metal construction; 2nd place to Stephen Yee's "Sow's Ear 3" table and chairs made from reclaimed shipping palates; 3rd place is "Ratzo" made of wire and rubber, by Kathleen Dunphy.

EHCC is taking the first steps of an initiative to preserve and improve its home, the Old Police Station and District Courthouse. EHCC has just been awarded a grant from the Historic Hawai'i Foundation under the auspices of HHF’s Hilo Preservation and Beautification Program, which is being matched by additional resources from the Serendipity II Fund of the Hawai’i Community Foundation and members of the community. The support will enable EHCC to deal with an aggressive bee problem, tent for termites, construct interim roof repairs, and install appealing new signage.

Over the two and a half years I’ve been Board Chair of the East Hawaii Cultural Center, people from the community have occasionally commended me for managing this huge, complex, and overwhelming pursuit. Yet I’m responsible for none of the unique beauty and magic emerging from EHCC during this time.

Here is a short list of the things I definitely do not do: