WCA Town Meeting Scheduled at HPA E-Lab

Waimea Community Association’s next town meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 7 and the focus will be on the sustainability, green initiatives, and science and technology students research that’s being conducted in Waimea.

The 5:15 p.m. meeting is being relocated to Hawai’i Preparatory Academy’s award-winning Energy Lab as the school co-hosts the meeting, putting the spotlight on significant innovative exploration in Waimea.

HPA Energy Lab director Dr. Bill Wiecking is the evening’s main guest speaker. He will provide an overview of the world’s greenest K-12 school building since its construction and how it is serving the greater Waimea community.

In addition, Dr. Wiecking will discuss the ongoing partnerships HPA has with educational institutions and technology focused business.

Those who attend the meeting will have the opportunity to explore student-led projects and independent study initiatives, including ongoing studies in fields like astronomy, remote controlled drones, computer programming, facial recognition software, and brainwave monitoring.

During the meeting, Noah Dodd will speak on HPA’s Zero Waste program and research, while Steven Halsted will discuss robotics.

In 2010, HPA’s Energy Lab, commonly referred to as “E-Lab,” opened. The 6100 square-foot, two-story research center features open classroom areas and outdoor courtyards and desks that are shielded from the wind.

The E-Lab has three zones that mimic the creative process that students go through in working on projects: brainstorming, design, and physical construction. In addition, the E-Lab provides the technology to participate in distance learning initiatives with NASA and universities like Stanford and Cornell.

Business updates by Waimea County Council members Valerie Poindexter and Margaret Wille are also on the meeting agenda, and well as by Community Policing Officer Denise Smith-Erickson and Fire Captain Sundie Aribal.

Alan Nakagawa, the STEM specialist for Honoka’a Complex schools will discuss the free, first annual North Hawai’i Innovators’ Fair, coming up on May 9.

Attendees should enter the HPA campus through the northern, Kohala gate of the school and park near Gates Performing Arts Center. From there, attendees can walk or take the shuttle to the E-Lab.

WCA Town Meetings are open to the public and free. The association urges attendees to make a donation to the Waimea food pantry.

For more information about WCA, contact Patti Cook by calling 937-2833 or visit the WCA Facebook page. Those interested in information about HPA’s E-Lab can contact Michael Donnelly through e-mail at mdonnelly@hpa.edu.