Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 7, 1 September 1984 — 650 Handicapped People Enjoy 'Fun in the Sun' [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

650 Handicapped People Enjoy 'Fun in the Sun'

They ranged in age from three to 94 and they eame from all points on Oahu. They eame by the Army bus loads to Pokai Bay Beach Park to have "A Day of Fun in the Sun" as the event was billed. And that they did. More than 650 of Oahu's handicapped children and adults participated in their seventh annual fishing tourna(nent Aug. 3 and everyone emerged a wirt'ner. There was a brief opening ceremony in whieh Office of Hawaiian Affairs Human Services Specialist Sam Holt was an invited participant. He also participated in the hookupu offering along with other dignitaries, including Lt. Gov. John Waihee, Mayor Eileen Anderson and City Council Chairwoman Patsy Mink. It was an event featuring the talents and cooperation of 300 volunteers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and civilians in the Nanakuli-Maili-Waianae communities. Waianae Kai Development. ine., a non-profit corporation. and the U.S. Army's 25th lnfantry Division. 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, spearheaded the 1984 fcstivities. Theola Silva, who works for the Honolulu Community Action Program in the Waianae office, is the nonsalaried volunteer ehaii man of Waianae Kai Development whose purpose is to develop meaningful educational and recreation activities for youth growth and development to include handicapped citi/ens. Mrs. Silva said that planning for this special day always starts out with a /ero budget. "We elect a chairman and we tell him or her to take it from there and it has been absolute!y tremendous how the

program has taken off," she reported. Bill Bathe was this year's ehainnan who also served as the day's master of ceremonies. Mrs. Silva further noted that seven years ago a group of volunteers from all walks of life gathered and formed the first annual fishing tournament. The program. she emphasi/ed, would have been impossible to complete without the many merchantsand individuals contributing their assistance in various waysand means. Bathe echoed the same sentiments in thanking a 1 1 those involved for making this truly another "Day of Fun in the Sun" for what he calls "these specia! people." The lone fund raising activity of the tournament committee is the selling of T-shirts and caps. Money realized from these sales is applied toward therapeutic and recreational equipment for the handicap community. Mrs. Silva further explained that the program has grown from 150 the first year to slightly more than 600 last year. "lt is still growing," she adds gleefully. lt didn't matter that any fish was caught at all or the size or the quantity. lt was a special day for special people who could be plainly observed having the time of their lives. Many of ihem cast their own lines into the blue surf w hile others needed a little assistance from volunteers. Those who didn't fish kept themsel\es busy visiting a petting /oo. militar\ displays, painting or enjoying the many entertainers who performed for them. Some of the handicapped e\en joined in the entertainment. singing, playing instruments and dancing. It was a da> that will !inger in their hearts until next year.

Human Services Speeialist Sam Holt places OHA hookupu on table with others. Familiar figure from a fast food ehain awaits his turn.

Some of the handicapped are shown here with their volunteers.