Celebrating Watermen And Women

on March 8, 2012 at 11:24 am

Wahine made a strong Captain Cook Caper showing. Amanda C. Gregg photos

One of my favorite aspects of working for MidWeek Kaua’i and looking for positive stories is getting to meet, over and over again, so many inspirational people. Case in point: Luke Evslin, this week’s cover story. Evslin, the paddler who suffered life-threatening injuries when the propeller of a boat ran over him during a water change during the 2010 Moloka’i Hoe race, has been paying it forward. I spoke to him at his completely off-the-grid home, replete with a composting toilet, just prior to him heading off to coach Pu’uwai Canoe Club, his new volunteer passion. Evslin has grown the club by leaps and bounds, even though it’s early in the season. Well done, Luke! …

Speaking of Pu’uwai, so glad to hear that leaders within the Garden Island Canoe Racing Association are changing up how the youths will paddle this year. Pu’uwai president Brian Curll says that thanks to the cooperation of all the canoe clubs, the youth category, or Na Opio, will now get to experience openwater races rather than just short-distance regattas. Curll says all the canoe clubs are trying to help further the concept by allowing the Na Opio to enter for nominal charges. Peter Chow of Niumalu will allow them to participate in his club’s canoe race for free …

Testing out the waters, so to speak, two Na Opio canoes steered by esteemed waterwomen Lei and Keala Wann ventured out in Kaiola Canoe Club’s Durgh Kane race from Kalapaki to Ahukini Feb. 25 and blew the older ladies out of the water (again, so to speak). Congratulations to both crews, the first made up of 15to 18-year-olds Anuhea Herrod, Lasha Logan, Ke’ani Rapozo, Mary Walker, Ku’uipo Rapozo and Lei Wann with a time of 1:08, and the second, made up of 14to 16-year-olds Kalelei Rogers, Burgandy Williams, Auli’i Herrod, Ron Bush, Cece Gaines and Keala Wann with a time of 1:09, according to Cash Lopez. And to the Wann sisters: Way to be good role models! …

(from left) Rep. Derek Kawakami, Sen. Ron Kouchi, MaBel Fujiuchi and Rep. James Tokioka

Speaking of healthy exercise, a way of life that, for many people, means shaking it a couple times a week, Zumba will be featured in an upcoming workshop from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24, in the Kapa’a High School cafeteria, thanks to Katie Moore and Des Jaquias, Kaua’i Girl Company and Kapa’a High School Warrior Dance Studio and music department, which sponsored the class. Moore, from the Big Island, will offer the workshop as a master class to everyone from keiki to instructors to absolute newbies to the sport. Registration is at 5 p.m. Presale tickets cost $16, and tickets can be purchased online at: katiemoorefitness.com/Zum ba_Jammer.html. Tickets cost $20 at the door. For more information, email kauaigirl4life@gmail.com …

Still on the subject of athletic females, I’d like to give a shout out to some of the ladies who participated in the 35th annual Captain Cook Caper Fun Run Feb. 25 in Waimea. It was so great to see them out there walking, running and pushing strollers to the finish line. Congrats to Tracy Ambrogiano, Franny Acoba, Kristi Buchanon, Cecilia Burns, Clara Krebs, Lisa Curramang, Dawn McDaniel, Malia Dowling, Erin Hoff, Kat Mateo, Sheri Roberton, Kristi Owen, Camille Page, Heather Muragame, Sundey Dillberg, Ariane Spicer, Rebecca Gudenhoff, Amanda Trudeau, Kenneth Gray and Suzy Olson (who towed daughters Makenna and Shea). Nice job, ladies!…

Congratulations to Officer Anthony Morita, who was recognized as officer of the month at the February Police Commission meeting. Morita was assigned to investigate a specific group of individuals who were required by law to keep the courts updated on their whereabouts, according to a release. Morita then helped issue a fugitive apprehension strike team to make arrests. …

Stephen Spears, executive director of Kaua’i Habitat for Humanity, and MaBel Fujiuchi, CEO of Kaua’i Economic Opportunity, met at the state Capitol last week in support of their grant-in-aid applications with the Senate Ways and Means Committe and the House Finance Committee. Both committees held a joint informational session on the process in the 2012 Legislature. Later, Sen. Ron Kouchi, along with Reps. James Tokioka and Derek Kawakami, met with Spears and Fujiuchi to express support for their applications …

(from left) Rep. Derek Kawakami, Stephen Spears and Anne Dimock of Habitat for Humanity, Sen. Ron Kouchi and Rep. James Tokioka. Photos courtesy Se, Kouchi

Kaua’i’s fifth annual Red Clay Jazz Festival isn’t quite around the corner, but that’s what makes it the perfect time to buy tickets through April 1, it’s buy one, get the second for half price. This year’s four-day festival is slated for June 27 to 30, and features nationally acclaimed jazz and blues artists including Miss E.C. Scott, Venissa Santi Sextet, Berklee College of Music All Stars and The Kirk Smart Quartet at Lani Maile at Kaua’i Lagoons. Tickets cost $40. To order, go to redclayjazz.org …

The County of Kaua’i will be allowing valueadded agricultural products at Sunshine Markets, and the public is invited to comment on revised administrative rules. The county will host public meetings throughout the island, which will begin at 7 p.m. as follows: Tuesday, March 6, at Kilauea Neighborhood Center; Thursday, March 8, at Lihu’e Neighborhood Center; Tuesday, March 13, at Koloa Neighborhood Center; Wednesday, March 14, at Kalaheo Neighborhood Center; Thursday, March 15, at Hanapepe Neighborhood Center; Tuesday, March 20, at Kapa’a Neighborhood Center; and Wednesday, March 21, at Kekaha Neighborhood Center. A public hearing on the draft rules is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 28 at Lihu’e Civic Center, Pi’ikoi Building, meeting rooms A/B. The proposed rules can be found on the county’s website: kauai.gov/Kamaaina/SunshineMarkets/tabid/214/Default.aspx. Copies of the rules also are available at the Office of Economic Development at Lihu’e Civic Center. To request special accommodations, sign language interpreters or interpreters for nonEnglish speaking people, contact the Office of Economic Development at 241-4946 or via email at gcosta@kauai.gov …

Celebrating Watermen And Women

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