Saturday in Hilo: Kuleana Health Fair offers accessible services, Hilo Public Library celebrates 75 years

While the Hilo Public Library celebrates a milestone anniversary, another family-friendly event aims to connect residents to supportive health services in Hilo this Saturday.

Kuleana Health Fair

The Kuleana Health Fair aims to make health approachable and engaging for residents through free health screenings, educational resources, and fitness activities.

Health providers, community organizations, and local businesses will come together to connect with residents while giving them the chance to move their bodies, have fun, and win prizes in a supportive, high-energy environment.

The fair will also feature interactive challenges, such as the Mayor’s Health Challenge, which is meant to promote healthy habits through community challenge exercises with Mayor Kimo Alameda.

The event will also feature live entertainment and be hosted by special guest emcee Augie T, bringing local humor and energy to the day’s activities.

Some of the activities will include:

• Free health screenings and educational health and wellness resources
• Fitness demonstrations and activities led by local fitness organizations
• Student performances, line dancing, Zumba sessions, and Puna Taiko drumming
• Keiki activities and bouncy castles
• Food trucks and local craft vendors
• The Mayor’s Health Challenge
• Prize drawings throughout the day, including a grand prize of roundtrip tickets for two to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies

“Kuleana means responsibility — to ourselves, our families, and our community,” said Krystle Chai, business manager of Community First Hawaiʻi. “We wanted to create an event where families can learn about their health in a welcoming environment while enjoying performances, activities, and time together as a community.”

“The Mayor’s Health Challenge and prize giveaways are a fun way to engage residents and celebrate healthy living together,” she continued.

The Kuleana Health Fair is free to attend from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. No registration is required. For more information, visit the Community First Hawaiʻi website.

Hilo Public Library 75th Anniversary

The public is invited to celebrate the Hilo Public Library as a gathering place, a keeper of stories, and a cornerstone of community life for 75 years this Saturday.

The anniversary will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, with a brief program followed by music, hula, and family-friendly activities throughout the morning.

The celebration will feature an a cappella performance by No Divas, keiki hula from Lori Lei’s Hula Studio, refreshments, a special author talk and book signing with Jasmin ʻIolani Hakes, author of “Hula,” and live music by Kaumana Sunrise Band.

The Hilo Public Library, located at 300 Waiānuenue Ave., opened on Jan. 20, 1951. For decades, it has stood in the presence of the legendary Naha Stone, which is believed to be the stone lifted by Kamehameha I in fulfillment of a prophecy that he would unite the Hawaiian Islands.

Inside the atrium, Hawai‘i Island artist Henry Bianchini’s donated sculpture, “Involuntary Journey,” further reflects the layered stories and lived experiences that shape this community.

“For 75 years, the Hilo Public Library has been a place where history and possibility meet,” said State Librarian Stacey A. Aldrich. “For 75 years families have gathered here to learn, to find belonging, and to imagine what comes next. Today, we are honoring the stories that came before us while opening doors to new knowledge and new beginnings.”

“This anniversary is about celebrating the people of Hilo and the role this library continues to play at the heart of the community,” she continued.

Throughout March, the library will continue to offer programs that reflect its commitment to lifelong learning and connection, including ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi classes, Keiki Reading to a Therapy Dog, the Navy Wind Quintet, Keiki Storytime, a Spring Bonsai Show, and an Early Childhood Music Class.

The library’s weekly public service hours are:

• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Saturday
• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday

For more information, call 808-933-8888.