The 20th Annual Ala Wai Challenge" held on January 3, 2005. The "Challenge," ongoing now for 20 years is sponsored by the Waikiki Community Center, and held in the wonderful Ala Wai Community Park just walking distance from most of the hotels in Waikiki. It was a beautiful day with a clear blue sky and the sun shining brightly.

The park and Ala Wai Canal were covered with twenty-four canoe teams representing Waikiki hotels and several Waikiki community organizations. Each team provided 12 of their finest athletes to compete in this truly Hawaiian athletic event.

Jeff Apaka was the ma'kama in charge and really did a great job. The site provided a beautiful venue with the host culture at play. Teams had colorful tents crammed with ohana entertainment, ono kau kau and ke'ikis running and playing. Everywhere you looked was a Kodak moment. The entertainment included Melveen Leed and Jeff's "bruddas" which is local to the max.

Waikiki Beach Activities, a.k.a. "Da Hilton Boyz" won all of the canoe races. They beat the teams from Sheraton, Marriott, Hawaiian Airlines Duke's Waikiki, Tiki's Grill & Bar and all of the other Waikiki hotel and community teams that participated.



Waikiki Beach Activities News Archive