The UCC Coffee Kona Marathon & Family Fun Runs 2008 Portraits

The finish line with photographers waiting.

The gang from Hilo came over for the event.

A few charity groups participated.

She won the French Marathon when she was 27 years old. Today she easily won the half marathon.

The POD's from the mainland showed up.

Jon Kunitake hanging out with Miss Kona Coffee.

Miko with 1972 Olympic Marathon winner Frank Shorter.

Whit interviewing the winner of the marathon with a new course record for women, finishing third overall.
Only two guys ran faster then her on this day.












One of the youngest runners and one of the oldest runners for the day-long events. Both flew in from Japan.

The top finishers of the 2008 Kona Marathon.


(photos by Randy Magnus.)

UCC Coffee Kunitake Farms Kona Marathon Post Parties

After the race is the post-race parties, where I get to hang out with the Kunitake family and the Japanese runners at the UCC Coffee post-race party.
Its great fun, and Miko is always a star (if she's still awake.)

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Another Flowering Tree

This tree can be found at Kahalu'u Beach Park.

The Flower Girl

You can see Michelle selling fresh flower leis around Kailua-Kona in the early evening, often around the Huggo's area.

It's Bon Dance Season Here in Kona, Hawaii

We kicked off the Obon Festival Season with the Keauhou Shopping Center event.
It was good to see old friends.
This is a Japanese Buddhist custom honoring the family and friends who have passed away in during the past year through prayer, dance, and taiko drumming.
It's a must see event.
The next one is a small event as we dance around a large tree along Middle Keei Rd in Capt. Cook.

Here is a partial list of local upcoming Bon Dances:
July 5th - Middle Keei
July 12th - Kona Daifukuji
July 26th - Kona Hongwanji

From The Archives: John Cruz

John's newest album is getting regular airplay here on The Big Island.
"Hurricane" and "Missing You" are beginning to sound as familiar as "Island Style" and "Shine On."
These shots were taken at the Kona Brew Pub by Randy Magnus a couple years ago.
The image below shows John with his Aunty and Mom.
So pick up the tunes from John Cruz for some excellent contemporary Hawaiian rock.
(Desiree, where's my copy?)



(See John here in Kona on August, 31 2008 at Slack Key Festival at Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort, sometime between 1pm to 6pm for 15 minute set.)

New Designs for Kahalu'u Beach Park

These are the designs for Kahalu'u Beach Park that the University of Washington Landscape Architect Department along with the Kohala Center came up with.

2008 Miss Hawaii Island Gay Pride

My occasional assistant, Z, told me about the cross-dressing pageant at the My Place Bar in the Old Industrial part of Kailua-Kona for Gay Pride Week.
I agreed to attend only if she would sit with me and protect me (that's her on the right.)

I get there and Pauley, a dancer from the Capt. Beans' Boat days, greets me and finds me a chair.
Well, Z was busy preparing our friend Bobby (aka: Jamie Taylor) backstage, who eventually won. So he got to reign over the following day's gay pride celebrations.


Well, sometimes boys will be girls,
and sometimes girls only like other girls.

Outrigger Canoe Paddling Fundraiser

The Kai `Ehitu Outrigger Canoe Club has established a cultural youth program as part of their canoe club called To`iki A Kai `Ehitu Cultural Program.
It is a program that the Kimitete `Ohana felt was very much needed to keep their youth in perspective and have a strong cultural foundation.
The To`iki A Kai `Ehitu Cultural Program will be having a regatta fundraiser on Sunday July 6, 2008 to raise monies to send their members to Aotearoa (New Zealand) in March 2009 for a cultural exchange.
We are looking for families and businesses to participate and put a crew together and join in on the fun.
Call to register or more information, please call Noe Noe @ 938-2443.

Obon Season Begins at Keauhou, Hawaii

This Saturday is the start of the Obon Festivals here on The Big Island of Hawaii.





I can tell because Emma, my favorite taiko drummer, is back in town from college.
The first one is at the Keauhou Shopping Center beginning at 5 pm this Saturday.
See everyone there.

UCC Coffee Kunitake Kona Marathon

The Kona Marathon, featuring Jon Kunitake and his family (shown with his sister from Hilo), organised by Jim Levell and his family, will take place on June 29th this year.

Kahalu'u Beach Park

Former County Councilmember Custis discusses with landscape design students from Washington the effects of "the hardening of the coastline" has had on Kahalu'u Beach Park, and how it has disrupted the currents and the sand migration of the area.

Here is a map showing how Kahalu'u Beachfront use to be in earlier Hawaiian times.

The event was put on by the Kohala Center, among other groups.

I personally feel that both the water and the sand at Kahalu'u Bay needs the room to breathe.

(photos by Randy Magnus)