Registration Open for the May 15-16 OluKai Ho’olaule’a
With the schedule set, OluKai prepares to welcome John Cruz, paddlers, families and enthusiasts to
Kanaha Beach Park, Maui for the second annual Ho’olaule’a
Maui, HI (April 6, 2010) – Registration is now open for OluKai’s Ho’olaule’a, a celebration of the ocean and cultures that surround it at OluKai.com/registration. The event returns to the Lae ‘Ula O Kai Canoe Club at Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, May 15th and 16th. OluKai has also confirmed the schedule of complimentary activities including a free concert by special musical guest, John Cruz.
Elite watermen, waterwomen, and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to paddle race the famous Maliko “downwinder” on Maui’s North shore. The “downwinder” is a legendary eight-mile stretch of water from Maliko Gulch to the Lae ‘Ula O Kai Canoe Club at Kanaha Beach.
A $15,000 prize purse will be shared equally between the men’s and women’s division of each racing discipline: OC-1 and stand up paddle (SUP). The SUP race begins at 11:00AM on Saturday, May 15th. The OC1 race will launch at 11:00AM on Sunday. Check-in for racers starts at 9:00AM. Both races start at Maliko Gulch finishing at Kanaha Beach. Space is limited, sign-up in advance to ensure a spot.
“The addition of John Cruz’s music and a Hula performance from Hula Halau Alapa'i I Maluuluolele will ensure that the Ho’olaule’a authentically encompasses the many cultural facets of the islands from day into evening for the whole family,” says Kerry Konrady, Marketing Director at OluKai.
Starting at 10:00AM each day Maui Cultural Lands will be hosting traditional Hawaiian games, while the 2009 HSCA Champions “Team OluKai” will be offering sailing canoe rides in their renowned vessel Kamakakoa. Saturday evening the celebration continues with a Luau dinner served from 3:00PM-6:00PM. The cost for dinner is included in race registration fee, or available to non-competitors for $10. During dinner there will be a mix of Hula dancing along with three sets of music performed by John Cruz including his all-time Hawaiian classic “Island Style” to the newer favorites including “Eye of the Hurricane.”
Alternately to online registration, stop by Neil Pryde Maui on Saturday, May 1st for the OluKai Ho’olaule’a Pre-Sign Up Party. Maui residents and paddlers can sign up for the SUP and OC1 races, buy luau dinner tickets and preview OluKai’s spring line from noon to 5:00PM.
Part of the proceeds from the OluKai Ho’olaule’a go to the OluKai ‘Ohana Giveback Program. Beneficiaries include Maui Cultural Lands and the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association’s Junior Lifeguard Program. OluKai is the official footwear of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association.
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About OluKai:
Founded in 2005, OluKai was conceived from a desire for a premium ocean lifestyle brand with a distinctively different point of view and deep values. We are committed to building a unique and better class of products that blend ocean heritage with modern performance.
OluKai Contacts:
Matthew Murasko
OluKai Hawaiian Islands Ambassador
Haiku, Maui
808.214.4349 mobile 808.214.5195 office/fax
mmurasko@olukai.com
An Evening for Jacquline
DATE: Friday, April 2, 8:00PM
LOCATION: Charley’s Saloon - Paia, Maui
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
An Evening for Jacquline will take place Friday, April 2nd at 8PM at Charley’s Saloon in Paia, Maui to support 8-year-old Jacquline Wenzler-Steves’ incredible fight against cancer.
This benefit is being held to raise money for Jacquline’s cancer treatment. Live music will be performed by The Neverminds, Let the Grass Grow, and The Worrell Family Band. Admission is by donation and 100% of your gift will go to Jacquline.
Jacquline will celebrate her 9th birthday on April 16th. She is the wonderful daughter of Annette and Maui Firefighter Vince Steves, and the sister of 11-year-old Dominique. Vince and Annette are grateful to everyone for their support and prayers.
Jacquline’s Journey
Jacquline's journey has been one of radical ups and downs. She was diagnosed three years ago with Ewing's Sarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer. The cancer spread quickly to her lungs. Within the first year she endured 14 rounds of heavy chemotherapy treatment and 8 surgeries, one of which involved replacing half of her pelvis to remove the cancer.
By the second half of 2008, Jacquline seemed to be recovering. Unfortunately, she suffered a major relapse in the spring of 2009 when a tumor began growing on her spine and pushed on nerves that ran down her right leg. This caused intolerable pain, and resulted in an intensive surgery to remove the tumor. Fortunately, the tumor had not attached itself to the surrounding tissue near her spine, but she still had to endure more radiation and chemotherapy treatments through the end of 2009.
The upside was that Jacquline was improving during that summer of 2009. She then embarked on a difficult physical therapy program to learn to walk. After a lot of hard work and effort, she could eventually play with friends, go horseback riding with her mother, and return to her schoolwork with the help of a special tutor. These were very happy times for the Steves family.
Sadly, on December 23, 2009, the last day of her chemotherapy treatment, Jacquline started experiencing pain in her chest. A scan showed a drastic increase of metastases in her lungs. Doctors also discovered that the tumor on her spine was growing back and it again started pushing on the spinal nerves causing excruciating pain. This was a horrible setback for the Steves family.
Despite all the pain and suffering, Jacquline and her family have not given up their fight. They recently discovered the Burzynski Clinic, which offers hope in the form of an advanced gene therapy treatment.
At the start of her Burzynskitreatment, Jacquline struggled with a digestive system disorder and developed a Salmonella infection due to her suppressed immune system. She had to be fed intravenously to help her stomach recover. However, Jacquline is now currently sleeping a lot and having a break from the cancer pain. This gives hope that the gene therapy is working.
Unfortunately, this therapy is not covered by health insurance because of the long approval process. Furthermore, it is very expensive. The Steves family have used their entire savings to pay for this expensive treatment, and are now in desperate need of your help.
If you want to help, but are unable to attend An Evening for Jacquline on April 2nd at 8PM at Charley’s Saloon, you can:
2) Mail a check made payable to:
Jacquline Cancer Treatment Fund
PO Box 1240
Haiku, HI 96708
3) Make a deposit at any Bank of Hawaii to the:
Jacquline Cancer Treatment Fund
Account #: 0004788346
For more information:
* Call: (808) 575-5432, ext. 17
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