Everyone wins at Mayor-a-thon

KAPAA — More than 1,300 people — from keiki to kupuna — emerged as winners Saturday following a morning filled with active lifestyle events during the Mayor-a-thon at Kapaa Beach Park.

“This is definitely not less than what we had last year,” said Bev Brody of Get Fit Kauai, which partnered with Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami to host the first Mayor-a-thon since Kawakami took office as the mayor.

“We adjusted the layout a bit, so this works out a lot better, and it might even make it appear that we have less people,” said Brody.

“But this is not less than last year.”

Exercising took many forms, ranging from the warm ups, a bicycle ride, a run, walk, and other activities hosted by vendors that ringed the wooden stage, including the popular blender bike hosted by Wilcox Health, where bike spinners created batches of smoothies.

Lee Steinmetz took out his three-wheeled bicycle he picked up in Europe.

“My wife bought this vehicle that was being shown as part of Cycling Without Age,” Steinmetz said. “This allows you to take kupuna out on the cycle to enjoy the excitement that comes with riding a bicycle.”

The three-wheeler was joined by residents from both Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital and Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, who took Ke Ala Hele Makalae following the release of the bikers, runners, fast walkers and walkers who took in the 1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, or 8-mile walk, stroll, job, run, or bike events that were spearheaded by Cathy Leonard, who came back from Las Vegas to run the event.

“I just want to thank Mayor Bernard Carvalho for starting this healthy event,” Kawakami said. “But the success of the event is because of you, and your participation. We definitely want to see you, and more, at next year’s event which will happen on 6-20-2020.”

The active lifestyle presentation is further enhanced with the inclusion of games, including musical chairs where one person of a team serves as the chair and the other the sitter, and the perennial favorite hula hoops for both youngsters and adults.

More healthy options include the apple banana giveaway by the Kauai Grown and Kauai County Farm Bureau, the healthy food drive coordinated by Laura Kawamura, and the healthy breakfast sponsored by HMSA from Mark’s Place that was quickly gobbled up by the army of participants in the rapidly-rising morning heat.

Kawakami debutted his Left-Left, Right-Right signature dance developed with the help of the Boys &Girls Club, and Ho‘ola Lahui Hawaii capped the active morning presented by premier sponsor Kaiser Permanente with zumba. Other sponsors included the Hawaii Public Health Institute, and the Hawaii State Department of Health.

Angelo Catiggay of the Philippine Islands Hawaii Islands bicycling club was present earn a resort stay at the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach, and Ryan Abarra got “run of the house” at the Kauai Beach Resort.

James “Kimo” Rosen gets to visit the South Shore by earning the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa stay, and Ambers Tadiarca was the winner of the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club stay in a pool view room.

Keiki winners of the giveaway bicycles included Taylee Yamamoto and Jairah Feliciano getting the youth bikes. Robert Lee and Dave Jordan were named winners of the adult bicycles.

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