WAILUA — Around 10 volunteers were cleaning winter leaves away Wednesday evening as they embarked on a cleanup project at the Wailua Beach Park in preparation for Saturday’s annual “Splash Day” at the park.
The event is free and is aimed at teaching the younger generation the thrills of water sports such as kayaking and paddle boarding. It starts at 8 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.
There will be six paddle boards available to the public as well as six-person canoes. One of the famed events during the Splash Day is the ever-popular drill of learning how to turn over an overturned canoe.
There will be a potluck lunch. Beverages and cutlery will be provided.
Brian Currl puts on the annual event in hopes it will attract some new, younger members to the Puuwai Outrigger Canoe Club. But he wouldn’t mind if Splash Day attracted a few older, nontraditional members, either.
“It is an introduction to water sports and safety and public service,” Currl said as the volunteers cleared away debris. “There’s going to be lifeguards here. They will have a stand and they go over safety — how to not get in trouble with the ocean.”
Currl said there will be eight stations for children to go through, including a fire truck they can explore under the watchful eyes of Kauai Fire Department firefighters.
“In the other park I will have the fire department and they teach CPR classes. We do them every year,” he said.
In addition to the fire department, police may be on hand, and will be going over community safety and how to respond in various situations.
“Then we’ll have an athletic trainer from Kauai Athletic Club, and she is going to come and strength-train,” Currl added.
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Ryan Collins, county reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or rcollins@thegardenisland.com.
