William McGinness negotiates the bicycle skills course, accompanied by his safety net, his father Matt, Saturday during the Westside Ohana Day at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center.
2/4
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden island
Haven Matsuoka helps Shayla Paku using a balance bike through the bicycle skills course as aunty Jordan Naumu watches Saturday during the Westside Ohana Day at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center.
3/4
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Todd Anderson helps Jasyrie Nishida-Gampon with her skateboarding Saturday during the Westside Ohana Day at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center.
4/4
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Alana Kilar claims the bicycle she won during a random drawing at the Westside Ohana Day at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center Saturday.
Dennis Fujimoto The Garden Island
Share this story
Dr. Monty Downs of the Kauai Lifeguard Association learned about konane, and Haven Matsuoka looked for a break from the skateboarding arena Saturday during the Westside Ohana Day that opened to gloomy, rainy and windy conditions at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center.
Dr. Monty Downs of the Kauai Lifeguard Association learned about konane, and Haven Matsuoka looked for a break from the skateboarding arena Saturday during the Westside Ohana Day that opened to gloomy, rainy and windy conditions at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center.
Downs took on Erin Cobb-Adams of Kamehameha Schools, one of the vendors participating in the free healthy living resource fair for Westside residents.
“Haven learned how to skateboard from her brothers,” said Jessica Matsuoka, Haven’s mother. “She learned a lot of things by playing with her brothers.
Haven geared for runs through the skateboarding skills course, and was not confined to that area as she spotted an acquaintance and lost little time helping the little girl through the bicycle skills course.
Wilcox Medical Center partnered with the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Kamehameha Schools, Kauai Skate ‘Ohana and Keiki to Career Kauai to present the Westside ‘Ohana Day that saw registration numbers soar to 270 as the morning sun quickly burned through the rain and wind.
Marley Manuma was one of the winners of a free bicycle, noting that her other bike was at her grandmother’s house so the new one will stay with her at home.
Tiana Kamen of Farm to Keiki offered a guess-the-weight contest for keiki taking part in ulu (breadfruit) education, the format complimenting the HHSC offering of free ulu stew.
“I’ve been traveling teaching educators,” Kamen said. “This is nice to be able to come home again.”
The ‘Ohana Day was geared to increase positive outcomes for learners and families.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.