POIPU — Suzette Hau‘oli Smith Gurtler mixed stephanotis blooms and bougainvillea into a white and magenta color pattern to symbolize the love and care shared by the Hanalei Canoe Club for its koa canoe Saturday. The entry, entitled “Mea Aloha
POIPU — Suzette Hau‘oli Smith Gurtler mixed stephanotis blooms and bougainvillea into a white and magenta color pattern to symbolize the love and care shared by the Hanalei Canoe Club for its koa canoe Saturday.
The entry, entitled “Mea Aloha He Wa‘a Koa ‘Kainoaholokai,’” was the eventual winner announced Saturday night after voting by judges, associates of the Sheraton Kauai and guests to the Poipu resort.
This was the first charity lei-making contest hosted by the Sheraton Kauai Resort. Hanalei Canoe Club, as the winner of the contest, will receive the July proceeds from the Table 53 ongoing fundraising program.
Table 53 is located inside the RumFire Poipu Beach on the grounds of the Sheraton Kauai. Under the conditions of the “You Dine, We Donate Table 53” program, all net proceeds for food and beverage at the table is directed to a different local charity each month.
Since its launch in October 2012, the program has raised more than $135,000 for the Kauai community.
Hanalei Canoe Club will be using the proceeds from the Table 53 program to support the organization’s children’s paddling programs.
Hanalei Canoe Club provides outrigger canoe paddling for adults and youth, providing a healthy atmosphere to learn the values of ‘ohana, hilina and lokahi, or family, trust and unity, respectively.
The club provides the community, both young and old, the opportunity to perpetuate the culture and the art of Hawaiian canoe paddling. Its goal is to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of the club and to move forward in unity as one, encompassing its youth, adult and recreational programs.