HANALEI — Namolokama O‘Hanalei Canoe Club will host its annual Hanalei Bay Swim Challenge on July 27.
The swimming challenge this year will be its 12th running. The club’s annual fundraiser was canceled last year; flooding in mid-April 2018 damaged the area.
“We’re very excited to be able to bring it back,” said Pam Murphy, club member and event organizer. “We had so many disappointed swimmers last year. The plan is to still hold it down at the pier and really have it as it has been. This is the 12th one. We can’t say 12th annual anymore, but it’s the 12th one.”
Murphy said the money raised will help the canoe club continue to recover from last year’s flood as well as aid to continue its regular functions.
“Part of the proceeds, absolutely, will help us continue in our repairs and maintenance to the club,” she said. “And our canoes, especially. We’ve just had a devastating amount of damage done to our canoes. While people have been very generous in helping over the last year, we can always use more for that.
“We also use it for (race entries), especially for our new and excited members who also want to do some distance racing and states. They really have been down and out because they weren’t able to do anything last year. The money is also used to help with registration and fees for those types of things.”
The North Shore event features:
- a staggered pier swim for keiki, one race for children 8 years old and younger and another swim for those 9 through 12 years old
- a 3,000-meter swim
- a 1,000-meter swim
- a 1,000-meter swim with fins and snorkels
Awards will be given to top placers in each race by varying age groups.
“All kids get a ribbon,” Murphy said. “We’ll recognize first, second and third (adult placers), but every keiki that participates gets a ribbon.”
Early registration is open through July 20. Cost during early registration is $40 for the 3,000-meter or the 1,000-meter swims and $10 for the keiki swims.
After early registration, cost will be $50 for the 3,000-meter or the 1,000-meter swims and $15 for the keiki swims.
To register online, go to www.hanaleibayswimchallenge.com. The deadline to register online is July 25.
To pay with a check, go to the website, print and fill out the form and waiver and mail with payment to: Namolokama Canoe Club, P.O. Box 729, Hanalei, HI 96714. Make checks payable to Namolokama Canoe Club.
Late entrants can also register on-site the morning of the event. Registration starts 7 a.m. the morning of the races.
Fees are non-refundable. There will be no refunds even if the event were to be canceled.
The event also features a silent auction on the beach.
“We have wonderful prizes — winter vacation to Mammoth Mountain in California, sunglasses, certificates for restaurants,” Murphy said. “So, even if people aren’t swimming, it’s worth coming down to watch the fun and then getting in on the silent auction.”
Info: Murphy, (760) 914-0303; hanaleibayswim@gmail.com
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
