NAWILIWILI — Billed as one of the largest local golf tournaments, the Richard Kawakami Memorial Golf Tournament earmarks Kaua‘i Hospice as one of its primary beneficiaries. However, the $41,000 proceeds from the tournament is not limited to just Kaua‘i Hospice
NAWILIWILI — Billed as one of the largest local golf tournaments, the Richard Kawakami Memorial Golf Tournament earmarks Kaua‘i Hospice as one of its primary beneficiaries.
However, the $41,000 proceeds from the tournament is not limited to just Kaua‘i Hospice as May Kawakami of the Big Save Stores said that one of the new beneficiaries this year is the All-Kaua‘i Marching Band that is trying to raise funds to send about 250 band students from around the island to participate in the 2005 Rose Bowl parade that takes place on New Year’s Day in Pasedena, California. That group is earmarked to receive $10,000.
Charles Kawakami, in mulling the plight of the students heading to the Rose Bowl, suggested that it might be a good idea for the students to put together a concert or show so residents would get a better idea of what these students will be performing.
He added that an admission fee should be charged to help the students’ fund-raising efforts, and with the help of sponsors, concessions should also be available so patrons have an opportunity to enjoy more than “just a concert.” It should be a family event where everyone gets to enjoy and the band students get to benefit.
May added that sponsors and golfers fly in from off-island to participate in this annual event that in its 11 years of existence has raised over $280,000 that benefits Kaua‘i’s charities and youth groups, one of those being championship baseball teams that needed help getting to their division world series games on the mainland.
May added that the Kawakami family is thankful for all the support the sponsors and golfers afford this program that goes out to help the community.
The Kaua‘i Junior Golf program is scheduled to receive $4,000, with the D.A.R.E. drug awareness and resistance program gets $4,000.
Special Olympics will also get $4,000 along with the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Association. The West Kaua‘i Junior Golf Program and Hale ‘Opio round out the list of beneficiaries from this year’s tournament, the WK Junior Golf program getting $2,000 and Hale ‘Opio getting $3,000.
Kaua‘i Hospice will be receiving $10,000 from this year’s tournament.
