Definition of PONO: Pono is the personal and organizational value of rightness and balance. When a person or steer is “Pono” they have the feeling of contentment when all is good and all is right in their life. Pono teaches the attitude of positivity and optimism. Life itself excites you, and you are full of hope, seeing that the future can only get better.
Upcoming Events and Classes at PONOs Animal Protection Education Center Love The Animals
Press Releases: Announcing Our Next Six Classes and Events for May
We have placed these announcements in the Hawaii Tribune Herald Community Calendar. Not only will these ads promote the center and the classes-events...they will also help raise awareness about the issues since many people read this section of the paper to see whats happenning on the Big Island
Saturday Classes: INTRODUCTION TO VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN LIFESTYLE CHOICES Where: Love The Animals:Animal Protection Education Center Honomu When: 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, Details: Learn more about Vegan and Vegetarian options and the benefits of a plant based diet for you, the earth, and the animals. Whether you want to remove or reduce animal products from your diet, or if you would like to add Veg meals to your diet, this free class is for you. You will recieve 10 free recipe booklets and veg starter guides, and a free dvd! You can also call to schedule an appointment. All are welcome. Contact: Marasia, 963 6201, PONO@SaveBeautifulCows.com
INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL RIGHTS Where: Love The Animals: Animal Protection Education Center, Honomu When: 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, Details: Learn more about the fast growing Animal Rights movement from the issues to the organizations and what you can do to help the animals. We will watch videos covering many different topics so you can see first hand what all the debate is about. You will recieve 10 free veg starter guides with recipes and a free dvd. We have lots of free literature that you can help yourself to. All are welcome and the class is free! Also, you can call to make an appointment at your convenience. Contact: marasia, 963 6201, pono@savebeautifulcows.com
INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL ACTIVISM AND ANIMAL ADVOCACY Where: Love The Animals: Animal Protection Education Center, Honomu When: 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 24, Details: Learn more about what you can do to help reduce animal sufferring through advocacy and activism. The animals need your voice! We will watch videos covering many topics from many different organizations. Help us help the animals by distributing our large selection of free information to your family, friends, and work associates or sign up for our Big Island Distribution Club and hand out your choice of literature on the big island wherever there is a crowd. Recieve 10 free veg starter guides and recipes booklets along with a free dvd and we have a large selection of free literature to choose from. You can also call for an appointment at your convenience. Class is free - All are welcome. Contact: marasia, 963 6201, pono@SaveBeautifulCows.com
Sunday Events: CHRISTIANITY AND VEGETARIANISM - HONONORING GODS CREATION Where: Love The Animals: Animal Protection Education Center, Honomu When: 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 11, Details: Watch a video and listen to an audio talk as pastors, professors, physicians, and lay christians discuss how their vegetarian diet is an important part of their christian witness. A plant based diet benefits our health, helps protect Gods earth, helps relieve the worlds poor and hungry, and avoids the inherent cruelties of factory farming. You will recieve 10 free veg starter guides and recipe booklets along with a free dvd. You can also call for an appointment at your convenience. All all welcome, this event is free! Contact: marasia, 963 6201, PONO@SaveBeautifulCows.com
THE JEWISH FAITH AND VEGETARIANISM - IF THIS IS KOSHER? Where: Love The Animals: Animal Protection Education Center, Honomu When: 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 18, Details: Join us and watch a video which reveals animal abuse in an undercover investigation at the worlds largest glatt kosher slaughterhouse. For many in the Jewish community, the seriousness of these abuses and the failure of Kosher authorities to denounce them have raised fundamental questions about the consumption of meat more generally. We will also listen to an audio talk on the Jewish Faith and Vegetarianism. You will recieve 10 free Veg starter guides and recipe booklets along with a dvd. Feel free to call for an appointment at your convienience. All are welcome - Event is FREE! Contact: marasia, 963 6201, pono@savebeautifulcows.com, www.SaveBeautifulCows.com
WHATS WRONG WITH LEATHER AND FUR? THE CRUEL SKIN TRADE Where: Love The Animals: Animal Protection Education Center, Honomu When: 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 18, Details: Did you know that the majority of leather comes from India where cows are considered sacred? Did you know that dogs and cats, along with other innocent animals, are tortured and sometimes skinned alive in China for fur? See for yourself the shocking truth as we watch video presentations covering the horrors of the leather and fur industries. This event will help you make an informed decision about supporting these cruel practices towards animals. Also recieve free literature on the fur and leather trade and 10 free Vegetarian-Vegan Recipe Booklets and Starter Guides along with a dvd. Come help yourself to our large collection of FREE literature covering many different animal issues. Feel free to call for an appointment at your convenience. All are welcome, event is FREE! Contact: marasia, 963 6201, pono@savebeautifulcows.com, SaveBeautifulCows.com
Watch Our weekly Tv program Animal Rights Saturdays at 3pm on Channel 54 Big Island Hawaii Public Access Cable Television
PONOs FRONT PAGE NEWS MOO HAWAII TRIBUNE HERALD JANUARY 1, 2007
By Karen Welsh
There's alot of pressure to provide a moo-ving tale on New Year's Day, but fate has decided 32 year old Anthony Marasia and his friend PONO the holstein steer will help kick off another fine and intersting year of columns.
It's an unlikely love story: A vegan man and a once homeless domestic beast become a perfect match for each other.
But they are.
The story began when marasia took a walk last spring at Honomu Park near where he lives.
He was startled to see the steer stuck to one end of a 10-foot chain.
One look in Pono's nut-brown eyes and Anthony was immediately bonded to the overtly friendly animal.
"He was sticking out," marasia said. "In a sea of green foliage was this black and white cow wrapped around a tree with his water knocked over. I just felt he needed to be cared for."
He began to make regular trips to the park to feed and water the incarcerated bull. Marasia found out that Pono was meant to be slaughtered, barbequed, and eaten.
"Pono and I became friends, and I had to try to help him." Taking pity, marasia began a campaign to save his friend Pono on July 1. Soon a web site - www.SaveBeautifulCows.com - was up and running and, within a week, the man on a moo-ssion, as he likes to call it, had raised enough money with the help of many kind people to buy and transport Pono to a safe location.
"He was rescued," marasia said. "I'm so attached to Pono now. He's got such a wonderful personality. He's lovable and he relates to people. He's happy being free of the chain. He dances when he sees me and , as much as I've helped him, he's helped me. He's taught me things."
Throughout the months, Anthony has spent time learning about the Holstein dairy cow's plight on the Big Island.
He said Pono was one of the ill-fated male calves born at an east Hawaii dairy location.
"Many people don't realize that a female dairy cow needs to be impregnated before she can produce milk," marasia said. "What happens is when the mothers have their babies, they are taken away from them shortly after birth. This is traumatic for the mother and the baby. The girl cows are used in the future to make more milk, but they have no use for the male cows - especially because there is no veal industry in Hawaii. They usually sell the males at a cheap price to be raised and slaughtered at a young age. That's what happened to PONO."
The story of Ponos salvation doesn't end with the rescue. Anthony said the fine steer has inspired him to save other unwanted male Holsteins and have them adopted to landowners throughout the island.
"Pono's mission is to help other animals in need," marasia said. "There should be another option available other than slaughtering these beautiful creatures. I don't like seeing people or animals in pain. Cattle are not just big dumb things out there, once you get to know them they are as wonderful as any family pet. Like Pono, each one is unique, lovable, and silly. They are all individuals that deserve to live their lives too."
Once Anthony's brainchild recieves nonprofit status, those interested in the program can contact both man and beast via the website, which will remain up and running to keep everyone up-to-date.
Marasia is trying to work it so the new organization will provide the fences and veterinary services to give the steers a long and happy life.
However, this dedicated animal lover doesn't want to stop there. He is also interested in creating Love The Animals, an international animal protection education center and theater that will have its headquarters on the Big Island, to teach others to be kind to animals. Someday this may even include a Pono-based theme park.
"My desire is to help eliminate sufferring and create peace in the world," marasia said. "Pono is an advocate for this. Together we want to change people's perceptions of animals by helping them to see the animal kingdon in a kinder way. I would like them to see everything as alive and wanting to live."
At present, Anthony is working to find at least one more cow, preferably a female Holstein, to keep Pono company in his lush pasture.
"Pono is very special and we need to find him a friend," Anthony said. "He's a herd animal. he doesn't like to be alone."
UPDATE: In the search for a friend, I found PONO a herd. Instead of Buying a Baby cow, I just moooved PONO into the herd where she was from. It is Beautiful and PONO loves it. 80 acres on the ocean cliffs...I always promised PONO and ocean view.The land is being is for sale is parcels, though but we will cross that bridge whem we get to it. Does anyome want to buy a piece of paradise and let PONO and friends live there?
In the end, marasia believes Pono and he were destined to meet and change each other's lives and together they believe it is going to be a wonderful and "Happy Moo Year."
"Pono's moo will be heard around the world," marasia said.
The below photos are from PONOs myspace friends Miss Kc, Castara, and 8tranger, and Sami. The pics will be for upcoming community outreach poster campaigns. We know they will get attention and raise awareness .
Miss KC
Castara
8tranger
SAMI
Photos of little orphaned "PONO's" from the island dairy PONO was born.
These pictures show part of the problem with dairy,
Unwanted males, lots of them.
More milk, more orphanes, more slaughter.
Retired Battery Cage donated by Neil Hornish of Compassionate Living Project
Love, Kindness, Compassion, and Consideration for all life...
PONO at MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/savebeautifulcows 
Love The Animals at Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/respectlife
