It takes a lot of aloha to carve a carousel
Juanette Baysa dreams of brightly colored ponies and sea creatures dancing in a park.
But she is relying on volunteers to help her make the Carousel of Aloha Pavilion & Park a reality on Hawaii island.
Jeanette Baysa, Juanette’s sister and member of Paradise Ponies’ board of directors, said her sister went on a spiritual retreat in the early 1990s, "and the facilitator asked the class, ‘What kind of mark do you want to make on this world?’ Juanette was always fascinated by carousels, and she replied that she wanted to carve carousel horses and place them in pediatric wards across the state." The facilitator told her to dream bigger.
A few years later Juanette promised to take her then-3-year-old goddaughter to Oahu to visit a carousel. But when they arrived on the island, Juanette realized no carousels were open year-round. The little girl told her, "That’s OK, Auntie, we’ll just have to build one."
Juanette knew she had found her mission.
After plans to build the carousel in Kakaako fell through in 1996, the nonprofit group Paradise Ponies set its sights on an area between Hilo and Volcano on Hawaii island.
While the group works on securing the land, the carving of creatures continues.
Guided by instructor Ken Means, a carousel master carver from Oregon, Paradise Ponies has held community carving workshops this summer with plans for more sessions in November and January. One prototype pony has been finished, with work started on a second.
"We’re trying to keep to an aggressive timeline," said Jeanette, who is helping her sister realize her dream. "With each figure taking anywhere from eight to 12 weeks to complete, we hope to complete the carousel, if the stars align favorably, by December of 2015."
The carousel will not be filled with only wooden ponies. "Animal figures will represent each island and be relatively true to life. We’re including whales, dolphins, turtles, nene and humuhumunukunukuapuaa."
When completed, the carousel will have 32 figures and two seated chariots, one of which is tentatively designed as a Hawaiian throne.
Paradise Ponies is looking for people from the neighbor islands to submit their own animal-figure designs, as well as volunteers to help create the figures.
"We want to emphasize that this is a statewide art project. While everyone involved won’t end up being a carver, this is still an important cooperative effort," Jeanette said. — Gary Chun, Star-Advertiser
Blue Angels to take flight at Kaneohe Bay Airshow
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and best aviators in the nation are scheduled to perform at the 2012 Kaneohe Bay Airshow at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Sept. 29 and 30.
You can expect to see “Fat Albert,” a C-130T Hercules that transports spare parts and Blue Angels maintenance personnel, along with helicopter aerobatics performer “Malibu” Chuck Aaron.
Other participants include Kirby Chambliss, a five-time winner of the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship; Jacquie B and her one-of-a-kind Pitts Special biplane; the “Leap Frogs,” a U.S. Navy Parachute Team; and The Flying Leathernecks, a group of sky divers who will jump from 10,000 feet with a large American flag.
On the ground there will be food booths, Xtreme Fun carnival rides and military vehicles and aircrafts on display. Gates open at 9 a.m. both days.
Large backpacks and coolers larger than 2 gallons will not be permitted, but diaper bags, strollers and folding chairs are permitted.
Admission and parking are free, but premium seating ($12 to $80) is being sold at www.kaneohebayairshow.com. Call 257-4636 for information.
Public library site features resource for college tests
Students preparing for college entrance exams have a new digital tool.
The Testing and Education Reference Center is a free online database available through the Hawaii State Public Library System website, www.librarieshawaii.org.
To access the database, click on “books, articles & media” on the library home page, then “Online Databases,” and scroll down to select “Testing & Education Reference Center.”
To access the database from a home computer, a library card and personal identification number (usually the last four digits of your home phone number) are required.
The database has more than 300 practice tests and courses, as well as dozens of e-books filled with study material and practice exams.
