PORT ALLEN – The Kaua‘i Off-Road Riders (KORR) celebrated a milestone of sorts when over 500 riders turned out for their Annual Easter Poker Run, Sunday in the Kaua‘i Coffee fields. With more than 30 minutes before the 10 a.m.
PORT ALLEN – The Kaua‘i Off-Road Riders (KORR) celebrated a milestone of sorts when over 500 riders turned out for their Annual Easter Poker Run, Sunday in the Kaua‘i Coffee fields.
With more than 30 minutes before the 10 a.m. start time, the registration girls had already tallied 507 riders with more arriving in an attempt at beating the starting flag.
“We have topped all other motor-cycle event participation throughout the state,” Karen Ono, one of the organizers said.
Ono was one of the 18 key people that coordinated the event whose major portion of the ride utilizes land occupied by Kaua‘i Coffee plantation fields. Ono also anticipates the total number of riders to reach the 600-mark for next year.
The Annual Easter Poker Run featured a field that included a wide variety of riders, according to Ono. These included cowboys, paraplegics, 4-year-olds, as well as some elderly.
Sam Van Giesen, president of the KORR, greeted the fans that were spread out between a circle of pickup trucks, explaining that the course covered a total of 42 miles in two parts. The first part spanned 20 miles with the second half of the course covering 22 miles.
Giesen noted that the route included three water crossings and a water hazard.
“This is not a race,” Van Giesen emphasized before allowing the riders to depart.
Tom Leighton of Two Wheels said he doesn’t remember when the first Easter Poker Run was held, but it was some time after the hurricane.
Leighton remembers Frank Kiger and a discussion that centered around the support of Kaua‘i Coffee and the event. “Kaua‘i Coffee is the largest supporter of this event,” he told the riders. “And, for this, we need to respect them.”
That respect comes in not doing any outlaw riding in the fields, he pointed out. They provide us access during this event, and for that we need to respect their wishes.
Leighton said following the riders’ meeting, he was approached by a rider who admitted to outlaw riding, but said would desist in the future. Leighton also pointed out the lack of facilities for holding an event of this magnitude. Of the 500-plus riders, only a handful are visitors, he noted. The rest are from Kaua‘i. Additionally, over 60 percent of the riders are riding in the “C” class, and there are not enough places available that can qualify for a “C” course.
The large number of “C” riders are due to the fact that former “A” and “B” riders are now parents, and are riding with their children, Leighton explained.
Chiefess Kamakahelei School students Waylon Silva and Serenity Kalama, both 12 years old, are veterans of the Poker Run, Silva riding for two years, and Kalama piloting an ATV for the third year.
John Grout was thrilled beyond words when he was selected the winner of the random drawing for the free motorcycle that was given away just before the first wave of riders left the arena that was dotted with tents, trucks, and canopies.
Grout, who was debating whether or not to ride his new acquisition, opted to stick with his original plan and finished second in the Mountain Bike class.
Grover Inks, who finished fourth in the ATV class is a paraplegic who successfully negotiated the 42-mile course, Ono pointed out.
“It just goes to show what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it,” Ono said.
