Less talk, more walk

KAPA‘A — Unemployed and looking for work, Corina Aidikoff of Kapa‘a was mingling at the start of the Kaua‘i World Challenge.

Her goal? Find sponsors.

“I’m going to do the Charity Walk backwards. Not just a couple of steps, the whole thing,” Aidikoff said. “My goal is to get at least $1,000 in sponsorships. Right now, I’ve got more than $900.”

With a goal of 2,000 walkers and $175,000, there are ways people can become involved in the 35th Visitor Industry Charity Walk besides sponsoring Aidikoff’s endeavor of walking the 2.9-mile course, backwards.

Stephanie Kaluahine Reid, this year’s Charity Walk chairperson, said the annual walk benefiting Kaua‘i’s people is open to the public.

“You don’t have to be involved in the visitor industry to participate,” Reid said. “Last year, we were able to raise $151,000 and are hoping to achieve our goal of $175,000 and 2,000 walkers. The more money we raise, the more of Kaua‘i’s nonprofit organizations we can support.”

With a theme of “Put Your Best Slippah Forward (or in Aidikoff’s case, backwards),” the walk will open at 6:30 a.m. at the historic County Building on May 11 for registration and coffee and continental breakfast, a Zumba warm up and safety briefings.

The walk starts at 7 a.m., ending with entertainment, prize drawings and breakfast.

Here are some other events so you can get involved in raising money for the walk.

• Sandi Kato-Klutke, the Kaua‘i representative to the Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association, the official sponsor of the Charity Walk, will be retiring as the manager of the Aston Islander on the Beach at the end of April.

Her peers are throwing a “Sandi’s Gone Fishin’” pa‘ina, Friday night at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa in Po‘ipu.

Billed as a mahalo dinner celebration and politically incorrect “roast” by local peers, there will be a no-host bar and silent auction with proceeds going to the 35th Annual Charity Walk.

• A “Countdown to Charity Walk Event” is scheduled Saturday at the Kukui Grove Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring entertainment, silent auction, and a station where walkers are able to sign up for the May 11 walk.

Displays and exhibits from nonprofit organizations that benefit from Charity Walk funds will also be available.

Tsunami Taiko under the directorship of Joanne Parongao, the Hawai‘i Children’s Theater and the Green Flash are some of the featured entertainment.

• Also taking place, Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m., the Kaua‘i Athletic Club is hosting a Zumba fitness event at the Aston Aloha Beach Hotel with proceeds going to benefit the Charity Walk.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.