At first, there was just Da Big Dog at the Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk bowling fundraiser at Kaua‘i Bowl in the Rice Shopping Center Saturday night.
Then, slowly, the pack trickled in, and was completed with Cruella de Vil and the dog catcher net from Disney’s “101 Dalmatians.”
Led by Da Big Dog Paul Toner, the crew of the Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort associates livened up the party with their “woof woofs” and antics of a lady bowling in a dress.
The bowling event, traditionally a sell-out at 28 lanes, is one of the fundraising tools of the annual Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk that benefits more than 60 Kaua‘i nonprofit organizations.
“We still have room,” said DJ Marvin De Vera, a longtime provider of sound and light for the bowling tournament. “There’re still a couple of lanes open.”
The shortfall was created out of consideration for current COVID-19 guidelines that created a mandatory showing of an individual’s proof of vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test result.
“Normally, we turn the kids loose,” said Jim Brahman, manager of The Cliffs at Princeville. “But a lot of the young people are not eligible for the vaccine, so they’re not here. We normally get a couple of lanes, reserving some for the youngsters. But, the kids aren’t here so we had to cut back on how many we sign up for.”
Other groups that normally participate in the annual evening of fun, food and fundraising opted not to attend because of the mandatory vaccine cards or test results.
Despite the shortfall in attendance, Samira Siale, executive director for the Hawai‘i Lodging &Tourism Association Kaua‘i chapter, anticipated about $8,000 being raised, with a hoped-for $2,000 being added from the silent auction toward the Kaua‘i overall goal of $200,000.
“We invite everyone to participate in the virtual Charity Walk 21,” said Siale. “This is a virtual event that can be accessed by downloading MobileCause on your mobile device. People are able to walk with MobileCause keeping track of steps and being connected during the Walk Window between Aug. 30 through Sept. 12.
“Individuals and business groups can also pledge support to an individual walker or any of the participating groups, including the numerous nonprofits that benefit from the walk. Follow the link https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/Kauai to get started,” she said.
While negotiating through the obstacles of COVID-19, Siale said there will be a golf tournament Aug. 28 at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course to help the walk meet its 2021 goal.
The nearly annual walk shut down in 2020 because of the pandemic and provides financial support for more than 60 Kaua‘i nonprofit organizations. Money raised on Kaua‘i stays on Kaua‘i.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
…and the next story begs people to wear masks. Why are some of these people not masked–and standing so close together?