A Haleiwa man who rescued a shark attack victim last year was awarded the Carnegie Medal by Gov. David Ige on Friday.
Keoni Bowthorpe was awarded the medal on behalf of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission at a ceremony at the state Capitol.
After a shark attack on the North Shore last year, Bowthorpe fought off an aggressive shark and put the severely injured victim, Colin Cook, on his back while paddling to shore on a paddle board. Cook lost part of his left leg and part of a finger in the attack.
Bowthorpe is one of 25 Carnegie Medal recipients recognized for outstanding civilian heroism, according to the governor’s office. The medal is given in the United States and Canada, “to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.”
The Carnegie Hero Fund will award Bowthrope a financial grant.
The fund was established by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and has awarded $38.5 million in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits and continuing assistance since it was established in 1904. Since then, 9,893 heroes have been honored by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, the governor’s office said in a press release.
HAWAII ISLAND
Purple Heart memorial site envisioned at cemetery
A Purple Heart memorial will be installed in Hawaii in time for the medal’s 100th anniversary next year.
West Hawaii Today reports three Hawaii County council members committed 3,333 apiece from their contingency funds to pay for the memorial.
The monument is slated for the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery.
Its association raised $4,000 for the project.
Cultural events to mark birthday of nation’s parks
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s 100th anniversary After Dark in the Park Hawaiian cultural programs continue in December.
Upcoming events include:
>> “Find Your Park” for Hawaii Nei Saturday on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wailoa Center, 200 Piopio St., Hilo. Artwork of native plants and animals will be at Hawaii island’s five national parks featured along with “National Parks Preserving Pilina” pieces from local artists such as a painting titled “Lava Coming to Life on the Coastal Plain” by Hawai‘i Volcanoes Park ranger Diana Miller.
>> “Gorillas, Volcanoes and World Heritage of Virunga National Park,” with travel writer and Virunga advocate Kimberly Krusel, who will host a virtual visit to what has been called “the most biologically significant park in Africa.” The talk will be held on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
>> After Dark in the Park at Kilauea Military Camp, with park archaeologist Jadelyn Moniz-Nakamura, who will discuss the detention of Japanese-Americans there following the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor; Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m., Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
>> Kahuku ‘Ohana Day for children 17 and younger and their families for a journey on the new Pu‘u Kahuku Trail in the Kahuku Unit in Kau on Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (808) 985-6019 to register by Dec. 2.
>> Kenneth Makuakane in Concert, winner of 15 Na Hoku Hanohano awards and six Big Island Music Awards; Wednesday, Dec. 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
