LIHU‘E — Kapa‘a High School Interact Club member Alyssa Wong was on crutches because a sprained ankle couldn’t stop her from being part of the American Heart Association Kaua‘i Heart Walk, Saturday at the convention hall. Wong was one of
LIHU‘E — Kapa‘a High School Interact Club member Alyssa Wong was on crutches because a sprained ankle couldn’t stop her from being part of the American Heart Association Kaua‘i Heart Walk, Saturday at the convention hall.
Wong was one of over 350 people who turned out early to take in either a one-, or three-mile course to benefit the American Heart Association as well as getting a healthy dose of exercise.
Cathy Shanks, the Kaua‘i director of the American Heart Association, was pleased with the turnout for the 7th Annual event that featured a multiple facet event geared towards families.
Prior to the Walk, registrants could take in the community health fair featuring volunteers from the Wilcox Health, the American Heart Association, Clinical Laboratories, and a host of other health-oriented agencies and organizations.
Walkers as well as their non-walking supporters could have free blood pressure tests, a body fat analysis provided by a new Body Composition Analyzer that was made possible through a grant from the Young Brothers Community Advisory Board, as well as a series of other health-related tests.
Additionally, there was a wide range of information available to help people enjoy a more healthy lifestyle.
At the start line, people walked, jogged, ran, and even had their canine companions along for the event.
Donna Schulze, a perennial supporter of canine inclusion in runs and walks, was pleased that there were over 20 dogs in this year’s event.
“Last year we had 17 dogs. This year, the poodles and daschunds are the most predominant,” she pointed out. “And, I did see at least one Dalmatian, and a whole lot of other kinds of dogs.”
Canine companions who participated in this year’s event were treated to their own goodie bags following the walk, courtesy of some veterinarians, Schulze said.
The East Kaua‘i Y’s Men’s Club hosted a series of keiki-oriented activities, but it was the inflatable from Garden Island Inflatable, and a new Pitch Burst that drew the most attention from the younger walkers.
Chante Trepte of Splash Party brought out the Pitch Burst game which is a contemporary take-off from the conventional dunking booth, the difference being that a giant water balloon sits over the head of a sitter, and when the ball hits the target, the sitter is doused by a deluge from the punctured water balloon.
The Boy Scouts of Troop 148 found the game a perfect eye-opener after they arrived at the convention hall “before the sun came up” to help with the final preparations for the event.
Lyle Tabata, Scoutmaster for the Troop, said the boys were out about 5 a.m. for the 6:30 a.m. opening of the health fair phase of the event. The walk started at 7:30 a.m. preceded by warmup exercises led by Sunday Murch.
Registration duties were handled by volunteers from the Marriott’s Courtyard at Waipouli.
Breakfast was provided by Sheraton Kaua‘i Executive Chef Ed Mizuno, Chad Kahawai, and Richard Vigilia.
A healthy cooking demonstration was hosted by the Kaua‘i Community College Culinary Arts Department featuring Richard Cariaga preparing Brown Rice Pudding and a Low Fat Banana-Bran Muffin. Laurie Suganuma, who was one of the KCC chefs featured at the 2004 event, said, “Richard’s doing all the cooking, today. I’m just helping.”
Among the walkers finishing, Wong, on her crutches was helped along by her fellow Interact Club members, smiling, “I finished. I’m getting ready for (KIF) cross country.”
Shanks said, “It’s good that we have more people than last year. This is how it should be. Next year, we want an even bigger turnout.”
Allan Smith of the Grove Farm Company served as this year’s event chairperson.
Sponsors included the County of Kaua‘i, Wilcox Health, FM97, KAWV98.1, Wal-Mart, The Gas Company, Young Brothers, Ltd., Hawaiian Tug & Barge, Medtronic, American Healthways, Cardiac Care Connection, Sheraton Kaua‘i, and Kuhio Motors.
The American Heart Association Heart Walk is sponsored nationally by NutriSoy and Subway Sandwiches.
