LIHU‘E — Kaulana Finn, community director for Kaua‘i Big Brothers Big Sisters, bowled a strike at the Bowl for Kids Sake Benefit on Saturday at the Lihu‘e Bowling Center. Themed “Totally Awesome ‘80s Bowl,” the event featured so many teams,
LIHU‘E — Kaulana Finn, community director for Kaua‘i Big Brothers Big Sisters, bowled a strike at the Bowl for Kids Sake Benefit on Saturday at the Lihu‘e Bowling Center.
Themed “Totally Awesome ‘80s Bowl,” the event featured so many teams, bowling had to be split into two shifts. The 3 p.m. shift was led by state Sen. Ron Kouchi, D-Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, rolling out the first ball under the witticism of emcee Ron Wiley. Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. was introduced by emcee Dickie Chang for the 6 p.m. shift.
The theme carried over into the food provided by Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering, one of the larger corporate sponsors for the event, the Puhi eatery getting the honor of being visited by Peewee Herman who mingled with the Mark’s Place bowlers amid the 80s music set up by D.J. Marv.
Finn said this year’s event had more than 200 people confirmed to attend the event, which helped raise funds to provide support to the Kaua‘i Big Brothers Big Sisters community-based and school-based programs on Kaua‘i.
Schools being served by the programs include Kapa‘a Elementary School, Kekaha Elementary School, Elsie Wilcox Elementary School, Kapa‘a Middle School and King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School.
“Right now, we have about $20,000 with proceeds still coming in,” Finn said in an email Sunday.
Joining Mark’s Place as leading corporate sponsors are the Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union, First Hawaiian Bank and Kaua‘i Family magazine.
Bank of Hawai‘i was a Platinum sponsor. Kauai Community Federal Credit Union and Grove Farm were Gold Strike sponsors.
Wilcox Health, Earthworks Pacific and King Auto Center, fielding three teams for the night shift, were Silver Spare Sponsors. Koa Trading, Kukui‘ula, Syngenta, Midweek Kaua‘i, PS&D and The Garden Island newspaper were Bowling Ball sponsors. Finn said an event of this size cannot be successful without the help of the community.
In-kind donors included Ata’s Smoked Meat, Bank of Hawai‘i, Brennecke’s Beach Broiler, DJ Marv, Enchanting Photography, FM97 Radio, Grove Farm, the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, Josselin’s Tapas Bar and Grill, Kaua‘i Family magazine, Kalapaki Joe’s, Keoki’s Paradise, Kiahuna Golf Club, Ko‘a Kea Hotel and Resort, Mariachi’s, Merriman’s Kaua‘i, Monico’s Taqueria, Orlean’s Hotel, ProfessioNAIL, Pua Kea Golf Course, Red Salt, St. Regis Princeville, The Shrimp Station, Tire Warehouse, T & R Trophies and Yum Cha’s.
Kaua‘i Big Brothers Big Sisters is a division of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu. Their mission is to help children reach their potential through one-to-one relationships with mentors to have a measurable effect on youth.
Visit www.bigshonolulu.org or call (808) 855-2900.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
