An Alaska cruise sponsored by the Kuhio Auto Group awaits a lucky donor to the Kaua‘i First Wave promotion which launches July 29 at the Rotary Club of Po‘ipu’s Movie in the Park at the Po‘ipu Beach Park. Roberta Charles
An Alaska cruise sponsored by the Kuhio Auto Group awaits a lucky donor to the Kaua‘i First Wave promotion which launches July 29 at the Rotary Club of Po‘ipu’s Movie in the Park at the Po‘ipu Beach Park.
Roberta Charles of the Rotary Club of Po‘ipu has been spearheading the involvement of the Rotary Clubs on the island to help the Kaua‘i First Wave celebration which aims to have every lifeguard tower on the island equipped with either a Yamaha Wave Runner or all terrain vehicle.
“Our goal is to have every Kaua‘i lifeguard tower with either a Yamaha Wave Runner or all terrain vehicle for assistance in rescues,” said Andy Melamed, leader of this united effort to help beach goers around the island.
“That goal is shared by the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association, the Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau and a group of Rotary Clubs around Kaua‘i.”
The Rotary Clubs will be selling prize donor tickets with the prize of a Great Alaskan Adventure Vacation as its grand prize. The package includes a round trip for two to Seattle, a weekend at the Westin Seattle followed by a luxury cruise on the 5-star Holland America Line to Alaska, bookings being handled by Kaua‘i’s Island Pacific Travel.
“Having the Kaua‘i Rotary clubs joined in a common cause has been a goal of Rotary and we are proud to announce the Rotary Club of Po‘ipu Beach, the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, the Rotary Club of West Kaua‘i, the Rotary Club of Kalepa Sunrise and the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a will take on this challenge of ocean safety,” Charles said in a First Wave release.
Ticket sales launch with the July 29 showing of Bethany Hamilton’s “Soul Surfer” movie and the public is invited to the movies free of charge.
Prize donor tickets will be offered at the Po‘ipu Beach Park from 6 p.m. with five prize winners being announced prior to the 8 p.m. movie showing. Prize ticket prices are $5, or 10 for $25.
An all terrain vehicle which Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association will be donating as well as a Wave Runner will be on display.
“Having the proper mix of four additional Wave Runners and three ATVs will help in saving lives on the water,” said Kalani Vierra, director of the Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau.
During the First Wave celebration, the Kaua‘i Athletic Club, Kaua‘i Backcountry Adventures and Princeville Ranch Adventures are challenging the community and businesses to take part in this campaign. Their combined support has enabled the purchase of the first ATV for this drive.
“Our county lifeguards have accepted their expanded role of watching the beach in front of their respective towers while also making rescues on the many remote and unguarded beaches around Kaua‘i,” said Monty Downs, president of the KLA. “Wave Runners and ATVs expand our ‘fleet’ and increase our lifeguards’ ability to save lives.”
During the Kaua‘i First Wave campaign, the Rotary Clubs and Kaua‘i’s lifeguards will be stationed in front of a different Times/Big Save market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on every other Saturday starting Aug. 6 to give Kaua‘i an opportunity to get prize donor tickets for the KLA.
Melamed said Alaska Airlines is participating in this fundraising effort and is the official airline of the campaign, having expanded service to Kaua‘i, providing non-stop award-winning service from Kaua‘i to Seattle, Oakland and San Jose.
Visit www.KauaiFirstWave.org, or call Melamed at 826-9291, or 482-0218 for more information. Melamed can also be reached by email at andy@kongradio.com.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
