At this year's Torch of Light / Holiday Luncheon Event being held at Pueo's Osteria in Waikoloa Village on December 14, the Big Island Press Club will be celebrating three special guests!

It was announced earlier this year that retired Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge Daniel Foley is the recipient of  the Big Island Press Club's annual meritorious Torch of Light Award. After a series  of federal indictments of public officials at all levels of Hawai‘i government, House Speaker Scott Saiki convened a special commission chaired by Foley that produced a collection of bills aimed at increasing transparency and stemming corruption.

The Torch of Light award is given to an individual or entity for illuminating the public’s right to know; the winner is announced yearly on March 16 which is Freedom of Information Day.

Foley, in addition to guiding the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct, (often dubbed the “Foley Commission” in the press) also attended hearings on and/or submitted testimony and met with officials about all 31 of the measures in the commission package, shepherding them through the process. While not all of the measures passed, Foley was able to see a significant majority of them make their way through the legislative process to be signed by Gov. Josh Green. Because of that, Hawai‘i citizens have more assurance that it will no longer be business as usual in Hawai‘i government.

In addition to the Torch of Light Award, there’s a special O‘o Award this year for a journalist who’s dug especially deeply and unearthed information to create groundbreaking news. The winner for 2024 of this special award is Kevin Dayton, a senior reporter for Honolulu Civil Beat. Dayton, digging into public records through numerous requests through Hawai‘i’s Uniformed Information Practices Act and cultivating sources within the system, wrote dozens of articles shining light on dire conditions in Hawai‘i’s prisons and jails, raising public awareness and sparking government action.

The Big Island Press Club is also celebrating Chris Leonard as its Member of the Year. Throughout 2023, as a member of the press club and as president of the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters, Leonard worked tirelessly to have state law changed which would prevent any Governor or Mayor to suspend the electronic communications during declared emergencies. The efforts in 2023 led to victory in 2024 with a bill signed into law earlier this summer.

In addition to celebrating these three winners, the Big Island Press Club Scholarship Foundation will be also hosting an in-person auction at this luncheon to raise funds for its annual scholarship program. The Press Club is also hosting an online silent auction throughout this fall that'll conclude at this luncheon; a variety of prizes are available to bid on ranging from resort staycations to meals at some of the best restaurants around the island. 

You can sign up for the auction, review, and even bid on many items before the lunch here:

https://givebutter.com/c/1kOvRB/auction

While typically only open for dinner, the award-winning Pueo's Osteria will be hosting our luncheon event with an amazing lunch buffet. The menu includes:

• Fresh Focaccia Bread
• Waimea Vegetable Minestrone (Vegan Friendly)
• Kale Salad with Pecorino, almonds, and currants with lemon-garlic dressing
• Rigatoni tossed in olive oil and garlic
• Chicken Florentine; chicken in a light egg batter served with lemon sauce over spinach
• Linguini with Shrimp, scampi style with Waimea tomato and spinach folded in at the end of preparation
• Mango Cheesecake
• Chocolate Hazelnut Torte
• Italian Cannoli with Pistachio and Chocolate Chips

While the luncheon comes with water, iced tea, and coffee, other beverages such as soft drinks, wine, and mixed drinks can be purchased from the staff.

Tickets available while supplies last; tickets must be purchased no later than 12 noon on Friday, December 6.

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