Keiki Fest Report

Big Island ARRL News, 02 May 2017, 03:55 hrs, UTC, Post #186.

Source:

Email from Eric Grabowski (KH6CQ).

Accessed on 02 May 2017, 03:55 hrs, UTC.

On Monday, 01 May 2017, I received this report on the 22 April 2017 “Keiki Fest” held at the North Hawaii Community Hospital.  The event, which presented a youth-oriented approach to Amateur Radio, was a great success, especially in the Morse Code demonstration.

Here’s the full report from Eric Grabowski (KH6CQ), the District Emergency Coordinator, Hawaii Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES):

Clem,

On 22 April 2017 the North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) sponsored the annual Keiki Fest event in Kamuela on the Big Island. South Kohala EC Norm Cohler NH7UA and  South Kohala AEC Steve Doyle WH7TW set up and manned the Kohala Hamakua Radio Club’s booth to demonstrate amateur radio. Steve reports the weather was very favorable with only a few light winds testing the pop-up tent.

Norm had to go through some gymnastics in order to borrow the HAH go-kit from NHCH. Normally this is not an issue but it was this year apparently because NHCH became affiliated with the Queens Medical Center. An ICOM 706 and Buddipole were set up on 40 meters to demonstrate regional communications. Although band conditions were poor due to a CME, a few contacts were made including those with Hamakua EC Rick Bowen AH6RK and North Hawaii DEC Eric Grabowski KH6CQ. Norm and Steve also contacted other stations including Stan Froseth AH6KO in Kona using the 147.32 repeater at NHCH.

As usual one of the biggest draws this year was Norm’s demonstration of Morse code using a code practice oscillator. As he keyed HI and SOS repeatedly, interest picked up and at times there was a line of 4 or 5 keiki waiting their turn to send their name in Morse code.

Please see the attached documents for details and pictures of this year’s event.

73 and aloha, Eric KH6CQ

District Emergency Coordinator

Hawaii Amateur Radio Emergency Service

<KF2017_1.pdf>

<KF2017_2.pdf>

<KF2017_Flyer.pdf>

<KF2017_map.pdf>

<KF2017_presenter_info.pdf>

<KF_names.pdf>

<KF2017_PIX_1.jpg>

<KF2017_PIX_2.jpg>