WAILUA — Law enforcement officials and fire personnel hosted a tight state regatta to benefit the Special Olympics program Saturday at the Wailua River. “The Kaua‘i Special Olympic athletes have been waiting for this,” Pat Coon, in charge of the
WAILUA — Law enforcement officials and fire personnel hosted a tight state regatta to benefit the Special Olympics program Saturday at the Wailua River.
“The Kaua‘i Special Olympic athletes have been waiting for this,” Pat Coon, in charge of the athletes, said Saturday. “All they can do is talk about this and they are very excited.”
During the regatta, the Special Olympic athletes were invited to join law enforcement and fire counterparts in a special paddle along the regatta course as Buddy Wilson, the Kaua‘i event coordinator, escorted the group aboard the official’s boat.
This followed the special long distance races that were won by Team Glen 1 of the Honolulu Police Department, and Federal Detention Center, respectively.
Violet Carrillo, a Kaua‘i-born athlete who starred in girls basketball during her tenure at Kaua‘i High School, was part of the FDC crew and was thrilled to be back on Kaua‘i.
Those two teams led the men and women’s competition as in addition to its first finish in the Iron Men Long Distance with a 29:04.85 paddle through the five-mile course, Team Glen topped the Mixed Open (1:10.82), the Master Women 40+ (1:19.37) and the Senior Master Women 50+ (1:25.79).
In the Iron Men race, Team Glen was pursued by the Kaua‘i Fire Department (29:12.29) while in the Mixed Open race, the Kaua‘i DLNR followed at 1:13.47.
FDC, in addition to capturing top honors in the Iron Women Long Distance with a 31:29.27 paddle, topped the Open 4 Women (1:19.91) and the Open 6 Women (2:49.41).
In the Iron Women race, Team Glen 3 (31:44.10) followed while in the Open 4 Women, KCCC followed on a 1:20.75 run.
In the Open 6 Women, KPD (Kaiola) followed with a 2:52.14 paddle.
Kaua‘i, hosting the event this year, also copped its share of top honors as the Kaua‘i Police Department (Kaiola) snagged first in the Open 4 Men (1:17.46) after the Kaua‘i DLNR crew topped the Novice Men on a 1:04.54 paddle.
In that race, KPD finished second with a 1::07.44 run.
The Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center topped the Novice Women race on a 1:20.96 run over Team Glen 2 (1:21.92) and the Kaua‘i Fire Department topped the Open 6 Men (2:32.97) chased by Team Glen (2:33.79).
KPD’s (Kaiola) crew also topped the Mixed Masters race on a 1:13.42 chased by Team Glen 2 (1:14.02).
Guns & Roses, a team from O‘ahu, topped the Monster (1200 lbs. +) with a 1:07.98 run followed by KPD 3 (1:09.89). That team also put up a strong showing in the Master Women 40+ where it finished second to Team Glen on a 1:28.70 run, and chalked up another second in the Master Men 40+ where it finished below Team Halawa (1:12.07) with a 1:13.73 run.
Kaua‘i teams captured the top two spots in the Kapakahi race with Kaua‘i Airport Rescue edging out the Kawaikini Women.
The law enforcement agencies extends its appreciation to Pu‘uwai, Niumalu and Kaiola canoe clubs for supplying the canoes and race paddles for the event.
Next year’s race moves to Maui.
Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
