WAILUA — Having the Kapaa swimming pool closed had its advantages Friday at Lydgate Park. “Since the pool is closed for repairs, we have the lifeguards available to help us,” said Melanie Okamoto of the county’s Department of Parks and
WAILUA — Having the Kapaa swimming pool closed had its advantages Friday at Lydgate Park.
“Since the pool is closed for repairs, we have the lifeguards available to help us,” said Melanie Okamoto of the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation. “Having the lifeguards here helps us tremendously.”
The lifeguards were joined by the shift crew at the Kapaa fire station who stood by as the county, through the collaborative efforts of the Office of Elderly Affairs and the Department of Parks and Recreation, hosted the annual Senior Fun Day at Lydgate Park.
“We have more than 200 kupuna from the different senior centers with us,” Okamoto said. “We always put the word out that the public can come and join in the fun, too.”
The event offers fun and fellowship amid field games such as ladder ball, Portuguese horse shoes, horse shoes, lawn bowling, lawn tic tac toe.
Indoor games for the period following the nutritious lunch and snacks include bingo where Marilyn Matsumoto supervised the unpacking of the Yoneji Store-era equipment and Bingo cards.
“This is historic stuff,” Matsumoto said. “My husband did some repairs to the machine when it got a little bent, and when I saw the balls getting light, I got some people to help re-paint the numbers. This equipment is going to last forever.”
Okamoto said the next event where the seniors come together will be on Nov. 30 when Na Kupuna Council and the county hosts the annual food and craft fair at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
