LIHUE — This year the Kauai Lifeguard Association celebration is a Kalapaki Beach Bash on a Sunday afternoon at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club.
It also officially kicks off National Rip Current and Beach Safety Week, and Kauai’s county lifesavers will perform training rescues by land, sea and air, using Jet Skis, rescue tubes, with a helicopter basket drop on Kalapaki Bay to illustrate many ways they come to the rescue.
There will be a beach barbecue and buffet, live music with John Cruz and Friends, Brother Noland and Paul Togioka, with no-host cocktails and refreshments, from 3 to 6 p.m. May 21.
Over $6,000 in prizes including a grand prize trip for two to anywhere Alaska Airlines and its partner Virgin America flies will be given away via random drawings.
Those in attendance are encouraged to stop by the sign-up table with classic vintage aloha wear, or an oldie-but-goodie T-shirt of personal significance.
If selected to be a finalist on stage, the winner, via audience applause of the Vintage Aloha Wear contest, receives a weekend at the St. Regis Princeville Resort.
First place in the oldie-but-goodie T-shirt segment wins a weekend with amenities at the Courtyard Marriott in Waipouli. There is no purchase necessary to enter any of the games and competition, and additional prizes will be awarded.
The Beach Bash salutes our lifesavers, businesses and people who support KLA as the nation celebrates ocean safety week beginning May 22.
The event is an example of how the public and private sector work together to help save lives, said Andy Melamed, KLA spokesman.
It will be aired online and on Dickie Chang’s “Wala‘au” TV show, detailing the rescues and includes interviews with Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., Kauai Fire Department Chief Robert Westerman, KFD Ocean Safety Bureau Director Kalani Vierra and KLA president Dr. Monty Downs.
Tickets may be purchased by calling Melamed, 482-0218, or emailing him at andymelamed946@gmail.com.
