Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 12, 1 December 2009 — A unique challenge [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A unique challenge

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Ala Wai Challenge invites everyone to enjoy food, Hawaiian crafts, lomilomi, pa'i'ai pounding, demonstrations of green practices, hula and 'ukulele instruc-

tion, and entertainment while watching teams compete in eanoe paddling and makahiki games. The real winners: the environment and the Waiklkl community. The event, sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Co., is a benefit for the Waikīkī Community Center. Every Ala Wai Challenge is the fruit of volunteer labor, many of them

long-time volunteers with the community center. The center's programs include an early education program that cares for keiki 6 weeks to 5 years old, a senior program that provides educational, physical, social and wellness activities to over 1,200 Waikīkī kūpuna, an emergency food pantry, a farmer's market, and a thrift shop. Teams competing in the Ala Wai Challenge get space for a tent, and a t-shirt and luneh for eaeh of the 12 team members. Six will paddle and six will play makahiki games - the entire team of the paddling winners will face the entire team of the makahiki winners at the end of the event, where a ehampion will be decided by a game of huki kaula.

"Through the Ala Wai Challenge, we are bringing all these green and sustainable

pracnces aiongsiue our nawanan marketplace," said coordinak tor Jeff Apaka. "We want to

keep this event continuing on as one of the most Hawaiian

sport events that Waikīkī has ever seen." Apaka is still looking for teams, as well as Hawaiian crafters and green practitioners. "If we haven't got you down already, we would like you to eome," he said. For more information, contact Jeff Apaka or Denice Keli'ikoa at 923-1802. This year's event will honor

eanoe legends Hannie Anderson and Tay Perry. Anderson is a founder and race director of Nā Wāhine O Ke Kai, race eommissioner of the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, and a past president of the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. Perry is a master koa eanoe builder and restorer, paddled in 44 Moloka'i Hoe races, and is vice president of the Friends of Hōkūle'a and Hawai'iloa. A day of fun, learning, and supporting the Waikīkī Community Center awaits all. Get there however you ean, but the eoolest mode of transport by far is the event's famous Canoe Taxi, courtesy of Nappy Napoleon andĀnuenue Canoe Club. Piekup is at Ala Wai Blvd. and Olohana St. ■

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The Ala Wai Challenge from last year's event. - Photo: Courtesy atmarketing