Page 4 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Feb 15, 2023

4 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK FEBRUARY 15, 2023
It’s the last stop for Great Aloha Run co-founder Carole Kai Onouye, who’s making her final race as event organizer one to remember.
The state’s greatest run of all is back this month, and it marks a milestone year for co-found- er Carole Kai Onouye.
assures the founder of Car- ole Kai Charities Inc. “I can’t run, but I walked it in 2 hours and 5 minutes at a slow pace.
co-workers and friends par- ticipate as groups and have fun doing it.
After nearly four decades of spearheading the event, the woman who’s been the face of the fundraising race effort is stepping down. When the 39th annual Ha- wai‘i Pacific Health Great Aloha Run comes to a close Feb. 20, Kai Onouye will fi- nally be able to take a step back from the annual respon- sibility. She’s even looking forward to traveling more with husband Eddie and taking walks with her pup Charley Girl.
“Everyone ran past me,” she adds with a laugh.
“It’s a fun, festive kind of tradition that a lot of them look forward to,” adds administrator/event coor- dinator Claire Nakamura Rochon, who will soon be one of those to take the reins from Kai Onouye.
As someone who’s partici- pated in the Great Aloha Run for all 39 years — plus the Carole Kai Bed Race (1974- 1994) — Kai Onouye also has some great tips for those getting into training mode for the upcoming event.
“For one family, the grand- ma is 101 years old, and they push her all the way. They come every year because it’s around her birthday.”
But, that doesn’t mean you won’t see her around.
“If people want to start a health regimen, walking is the easiest and best because you’ re outside and moving your legs in the fresh air,” she shares. “Your heart is pumping, and you can also do it with other people, so it’s a social thing, too.”
And, just like the state in which its resides, the Great Aloha Run welcomes every- one: all ages, all skill lev- els, those in wheelchairs or hand-cycles, military mem- bers, visitors and more. In fact, that mindset is where the event gets its race phi-
“I’ m still going to be sup- porting it monetarily and coming around and visiting,”
That camaraderie plays out each year at the Great Aloha Run. Families,
SEE PAGE 5
Racers take off at an early iteration of the Great Aloha Run. This year’s event takes place Feb. 20 in person or virtually.
PHOTO COURTESY GREAT ALOHA RUN
S
t
o
r
y
o
B
i
l
l
y
i
N
s
n
i
o
c
C
y
y
o
b
o
t
n
o
h
l
t
n
e
A
M
o
n
t
o
n
/
/
P
h
o