WAILUA — Justin White took one look back at Keenan Anaya on the wakeboard and decided he didn’t want to try it anymore. “I don’t think I want to do that,” he said. “It looks too hard. I think I’ll
WAILUA — Justin White took one look back at Keenan Anaya on the wakeboard and decided he didn’t want to try it anymore.
“I don’t think I want to do that,” he said. “It looks too hard. I think I’ll just do the kneeboard.”
White, 9, was one of several Mokihana Aquatics swimmers who went to the Wailua River yesterday for the club’s Moki ‘Ohana Fun Day.
Kesia Anaya, 14, rode the kneeboard and boasted about her success.
“I didn’t fall off,” she said.
That changed though, when she attempted to wakeboard like her brother Keenan. She fell off twice.
“I think I’ll just ride the kneeboard,” she said.
The Moki ‘Ohana Fun Day is an event the club holds every other month with different activities for everyone to try. Yesterday, they had kayaking, waterskiing, wakeboarding and kneeboarding. The kids took turns going up the river.
Greg Yost volunteered his boat to take the swimmers riding and Jimmy Youn donated his kayaks for them to use.
While everyone enjoyed the rides, Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando Anaya stayed by the grass and talked about another “fun” event they’ve got coming up: the clubs’ next “fun meet,” the 3rd Annual Kahu Kai Fastest Swimmer Competition.
It’s set for 9 a.m., Aug. 18 and 19 at the Kaua‘i High School swimming pool. Swimmers of all ages will compete to see who the fastest swimmer on Kaua‘i is. There’s even a $500 purse for the top three swimmers.
Coach Anaya is happy with all the fun the swimmers get to enjoy.
“That’s what it’s all about,” he said.
Keenan won the first fastest swimmer competition last year. Kelsey Tanaka won it last year. With both of them currently on island, coach Anaya was hoping for a swim-off. That’s not going to happen though.
“Keenan is leaving the day before the meet,” Anaya said. “I told him, ‘why not stay one more day?’”
But he swims for the University of Hawai‘i and has to go back to his training.
Last year’s event brought in nearly 200 hundred swimmers. This year, they’re hoping for a similar turnout. But coach said he’ll handle the numbers when they reach the Aug. 9 deadline for the meet. For now, he’s just enjoying the ‘ohana day by the river.
“The next time, we’re going bowling. We’ll test out their bowling skills,” he said.
For more information on the swimming club or the fastest swimmer competition, call 821-0587.
