LIHUE — Sometimes, you have to improvise.
Such as when you borrow a popular Mainland tradition like a polar plunge and turn it into something for Hawaii.
Thinking outside the box helps.
“It’s cold, it’s not refreshing,” said Jocelyn Barriga, director of Special Olympics Kauai, whose creativity helped bring an otherwise traditional winter event to the Garden Isle. “We had some people come out last year and their mouths were wide open, like ‘ahhh,’ because it was so cold.”
While it can’t rely on Mother Nature for its set up, Special Olympics Kauai is hosting its own Polar Plunge Feb. 1 to help raise money for the nonprofit’s athletes. It’s the third time for the annual event, but instead of snow and frigid temperatures, Barriga and her team set up shop with a slide, a ladder, a swimming pool and ice. Lots and lots of ice.
For a $75 pledge, participants climb up a 20-foot incline and slide down an inflatable ramp into a swimming pool full of ice. Water’s in the pool too, but make no mistake, mini glaciers will be floating around mostly. It’s the coolest, and coldest, fundraiser of the year, Barriga promised. Each year about 30 brave souls looking to mimic tradition more common in Northern places take the plunge, raising about $5,000 for the nonprofit that serves 103 athletes on the island.
“It’s a really fun event,” she said of watching the people land in the pool, and just as fast jump out. “Of course, everyone pops out really quick.”
The event takes place at 9 a.m. at Kapaa Beach Park.
After plunging, people can mingle while prizes are awarded, such as for the loudest scream. Entry fee also earns participants a T-shirt.
There’s also a too chicken to plunge option, where people can donate without freezing.
In other polar places where winter brings single-digit temperatures, people jump into freezing lakes for their event. But Kauai, naturally, needs to improvise.
“No snow, right?” Barriga said. “Hawaii, we can’t do that, so we do it in the pool.”
Info:http://www.firstgiving.com/SpecialOlympicsHawaiiAreaPrograms/polar-plunge-kauai-2014
• Tom Hasslinger, managing editor, can be reached at 245-0427 or thasslinger@thegardenisland.com.
