KAPAA — Kapaa Elementary School fourth-grader Zixin He summed up the Kauai Mayor-a-Thon with her award-winning art. “People from all over are here together,” said He, while explaining her drawing that won first place in the General Plan Update art
KAPAA — Kapaa Elementary School fourth-grader Zixin He summed up the Kauai Mayor-a-Thon with her award-winning art.
“People from all over are here together,” said He, while explaining her drawing that won first place in the General Plan Update art contest sponsored by the Planning Department. “People having peace and aloha spirit in their hearts, and they are not alone.”
On Saturday, more than 1,300 people walked, biked, jogged and ran distances of up to eight miles on Ke Ala Hele Makalae, the multi-use path, from the Kapaa Beach Park during the 7th annual Kauai Mayor-a-Thon. The event paid tribute to fathers because it took place the day before Father’s Day.
“We had more than 1,200 entries online,” said Bev Brody of Get Fit Kauai. “This has got to be at least 200 more people than last year.”
The first 600 participants earned trucker caps, but everyone received a free GEICO water bottle. The empty containers were filled by Kim Tamaoka and Jonel Kaohelaulii of the Department of Water, who used a jury-rigged pump devised by Kapaa High School football coach Freddy Levinthol, a former Parks employee who knew exactly how to rig the cooler-turned-water dispenser.
Everyone who left the gate of the Kapaa Beach Park in the multi-discipline event were winners in their own right for braving several bouts of dousing rain. They were greeted by a continental breakfast prepared by Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering featuring a gluten-free scone, morning muffin and assorted fresh fruit, including lychee, from the Kauai Grown program.
“We were by the Kealia pavilions when the first rain came so we could shelter in the pavilions,” said one soaked walker. “But the second one came when we were out in the middle. There was nowhere to go — rain, wet.”
The event drew visitors as well as residents.
“We were searching for something to do online,” said Trena Thomas of Houston, Texas. “We were coming here and found this event. We recently ran the Galveston marathon and this sounded interesting.”
Brian Longmore, Jason Iloreta (coming home from Canada to participate), Lorenzo Quinones and Kasey Ozaki won bicycles in the drawing.
Danette Vea earned a stay at the Lawai Beach Resort, and Nadine Roderick was pinching herself in disbelief after being announced the winner of the resort stay at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club valued at more than $1,000.
Doug Haigh was the winner of the Fathers Survey hosted by the Mayor’s Office Life’s Choices. Theresa Koki added that the Life’s Choices office will be announcing a summit to bring back the Dad’s Coalition with new energy.
He, who credits Hector and Sue Perez for her honor, won a bicycle for her first-place win in the art contest prompted by the General Plan Update. The contest drew more than 300 entries from Kauai’s schoolchildren, according to Marissa Valenciano of the Planning Department. Other winners included Alihay Flores of King Kaumualii Elementary School, Aaliyah Cadiente-Numazaa of Elsie Wilcox Elementary School, and Sisilia Koli as an honorable mention award winner.
