MOLOKAI OCEAN CHALLENGE

To call it “The Moloka’i Ocean Challenge” merely hints at the undertaking of this crossing. Although it is only 15 miles between Maui and Molokai, the Pailolo Channel is one of the windiest and roughest of the Hawaiian Island channels. Competitors, sailling Wind Surfers, Kite Surfers, Kite Canoes, and Kite Catamarans, made the crossing, all in support of “Youth in Motion” on Moloka’i…

The event in 2006 is slated for July 22. Be sure to sign up early and join in this amazing adventure, a once in a lifetime experience.

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The event started with the sporting clinics and crossing from Maui. In the afternoon the celebrations took place until 10pm at night with Malama Park filled with the local community and visitors alike. Once again Youth in Motion created its own mark and identity and brought smiles to the faces of many young people and their families in the Molokai Community. The festival has shown that it is very unique because not only does it focus on the positive opportunities, but the support it generated was refreshing in that the desire to do good by the youth was there.

For 2005 we took on two main focal points, the first and foremost were the sporting clinics, the second was the Maui to Molokai benefit Challenge. In addition we staged a Miss Molokai Pageant that had been dormant for 23years and a talent show for youth with bands or as a soloist to demonstrate their unique abilities. The craft, food and information booths were all successful and are ready to sign up for 2006.

In the sports clinics, we only had 4 individual clinics due to the dates, but each sport was filled with eager students, approximately 60 participants divided into the four sports. The sports were Golf, Basketball, Baseball and Track and Field. Herman Frazier had a chance to visit and spend time at each clinic along with watching the crossing participants at Kamalo. He really saw what this event is all about as it was tied into a one day of festivities. For next year we hope to have additional sports such as football, along with the coaches spending the night on Molokai.

The Maui to Molokai Ocean Challenge was targeted to 50 participants as we really wanted to make sure our safety was covered. The safety team was exceptional and we had a perfect amount of people in ratio to the safety team. The US Auxiliary Coastguard joined in at the last minute and it was fantastic that they were part of this event. We had 25 Kite boarders, 8 from the canoes and catamaran and 17 windsurfers that included four youth plus their chaperones depart from Embassy Suites at Ka’anapali, Maui to Kamalo and some onto Kaunakakai.

The winds were fairly light at the beginning but soon they increased to a steady 20 knots. It was a phenomenal sight to see little kids, kite boarders coming in at Kamalo. Overall this event was a great success as we had the chance to focus on the film aspects and to open the doors to other ideas. The vibe after the event was very positive, and we are anticipating approx 100 participants for 2006. Our line up of participants for 2004 included representatives from England, Australia, Hawaii, and the mainland USA.

A new area that we introduced at the last minute was the Miss Molokai Pageant and the Battle of the Bands. Both brought out much of the community of Molokai in the region of 400 people. In comparison this would equate to approx 8000 people on Maui. Due to the last minute of this event we had four girls for Miss Molokai, Leimana and Kahaku Ritte-Camara, Kahealani Hamakua and Manono Bocoboc along with 4 groups for the Battle of the Bands/Talent show. Uncle Boy Kana’e was the MC and what a special evening it was for the four young ladies and the 6 participants in singing. Leimana Ritte Camara took the Miss Molokai title and Hana Pa’a (Keala Pereira, Aleamai Mawae-Spence and Leiana Ahloy), Itula Suafoa, Keaka Kamakana and Michal Umi showed exquisite talent with them all receiving recording time with Monkeypod records.

Leimana Ritte Camara will be receiving an all expenses paid trip to the Miss Hawaii Pageant along with a $500 scholarship fund donated by Aha Ho’okumu/NHEic-Molokai

The art, informational exhibition and games booths were enjoyed by many, along with the Molokai Police and Fire Department turning out in full force. The informational booths shared what they had with the youth, so overall it was a successful day for those booths involved. Youth in Motion would still like to expand this area and concentrate on getting a wider variety of informational booths, ranging from educational, scholarship and career opportunities along with current programs that exist both on Molokai and off island that would involve our Molokai Youth.

Saturday July 22nd is the date for 2006. The goal for next year is to encourage more youth to participate in helping to organize and particpate.

We want to encourage more youth to do the Maui to Molokai Crossing, as well as targeting those coming to Maui for vacation that will spend some time on Molokai especially for the event. We will continue to target representatives from different types of wind powered crafts. One of the goals for 2006 is to continue to have a variety of divisions represented by different crafts that are powered by the wind, from windsurfing, kite boarding, sailing, and canoes with kites. The unique part about the crossing is that it is a fundraising event for the festival and for other programs that Youth in Motion supports.

We also want to really target the schools early in March so that we can get more athletes involved for the sports clinics. We will continue with the pageant and introduce Miss Teen Molokai. The Battle of the Bands was an event we created to bring out the musical talent on Molokai and it is hoped that more musically inclined youth will be encouraged to participate for 2006.

Overall this was a huge success and every one involved is looking forward to coming back for 2006.