POIPU — Blood flowed down one side of Ian Jung’s body as he clutched his surfboard Saturday at the empty lot between the Sheraton Kauai Resort and the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation. Chasing after the bloodied surfer, a pair of shark
POIPU — Blood flowed down one side of Ian Jung’s body as he clutched his surfboard Saturday at the empty lot between the Sheraton Kauai Resort and the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation.
Chasing after the bloodied surfer, a pair of shark pups trotted up to where registration for the 3rd Annual Montest was taking place.
“This is a free and fun event,” said Sparky Metzger, co-partner of Aloha Exchange in Kalaheo. “People just come and sign up. Once they’ve registered, they hit the water and surf. We’ll be grilling hot dogs for everyone to enjoy after surfing. It’s a good way to continue the Halloween fun.”
Michelle Stokes, who had two daughters at the Montest, said this was just another stop in the Halloween fun.
“We had the Mokihana Aquatics Wet Halloween contest Thursday,” Stokes said. “Then on Halloween we had our house all set up for a gathering. This is just another Halloween event.”
Abishai Christensen was one of the early registrants, struggling with his female outfit.
“I did this last year,” Christensen said, avoiding the towel snaps from a group of girls good-naturedly harassing the female impersonator. “It was a lot of fun, so I came back.”
Jung, fending off the shark pups, agreed.
“I’ve been here all three years,” Jung said. “My dad was supposed to try and make it this year, but I guess he got too busy. It’s a lot of fun every year.”
Metzger said Aloha Exchange, a surf and skate shop in Kalaheo near Brick Oven Pizza, only advertises on Instagram and got 40 participants last year. This year, the number swelled to close to a hundred people dressed in various attire.
“What they don’t know is that when you get in the water, it gets really heavy,” said Jamie Dillberg, a partner of Aloha Exchange. “But they all look like they want to have fun.”
