PO‘IPU — The tournament was a full house Sunday at the recently opened Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course. Sandi Kato-Klutke of the Hawai‘i Hotel and Lodging Association, Kaua‘i Chapter, said this year’s tournament opened to 152 teams, more than they had
PO‘IPU — The tournament was a full house Sunday at the recently opened Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
Sandi Kato-Klutke of the Hawai‘i Hotel and Lodging Association, Kaua‘i Chapter, said this year’s tournament opened to 152 teams, more than they had anticipated, but they were not turning anyone away.
The 6th annual HHLA-Kaua‘i Chapter golf tournament was played in a four-man scramble with golfers having an opportunity to win a Dodge truck for a hole-in-one on the No. 17.
Proceeds from the tournament went to benefit scholarships and HHLA-Kaua‘i Chapter Education Programs, said Doug Sears, general manager of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa.
Pono Tokioka, a strong Kaua‘i Junior Golf Association and Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation player, was among the field, arriving with Kaua‘i County Council member Dickie Chang.
“I paid for him so he could play with us,” Chang said. “Jimmy dropped him off at my house early this morning.”
But the revelry was not limited to golfers as Jolene Ogle of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club said the group was going to present a scholarship to the Kaua‘i Community College Culinary Arts Department.
“Duane Miyasato, the newest instructor to the KCC culinary arts program, is supposed to be here with the students, preparing lunch,” Ogle said. “I haven’t met him yet, so this is exciting.”
Once the golfers left on a shotgun start, tournament organizers got to work setting up the silent auction featuring numerous contributions from community donors.
Members of the public were invited to have the specially-prepared lunch by the KCC culinary arts students and bid on the silent auction items as well.
Kato-Klutke said since Christina Gabriel of the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, this year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk chairperson, was helping with the tournament, they were planning to discuss this year’s walk which will be held in May.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
