Every year Kauai residents and visitors look forward to the Annual Ha’ena to Hanalei 8 mile Run/Walk, organized by the Hanalei Canoe Club.  This is a wonderful fundraiser event that has been held for the last 31 years. It will be held on June 4th, 2011 at 7:00 a.m. We have runners participate from all over the world.

The 8-mile course begins at the end of the road in beautiful Ha’ena, traversing the scenic stretch of road and one-lane bridges along the breathtaking North Shore towards Hanalei Town. Turn left at Anae Road after the Waioli Bridge, and then turn right at Weke Road to the finish at the Hanalei Pier. The 5K Run starts and ends at the Hanalei Pier. The Youth Run starts and ends at the Pier.

Start time: 8-mile Runners – 7:00 a.m., Walkers – 6:00 a.m. There will be a free shuttle bus to the starting line in Ha’ena, leaving the Hanalei Pier beginning at 5:15 a.m. The 5K Run begins at 7:00 a.m. at the Pier. The Youth Run begins at 7:00 a.m. at the Pier..

Awards: Male & Female runners: 1st through 3rd for overall and each age group. Awards ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at the Hanalei Canoe Club. Age groups: 1 mile: 6 & under, 7 – 10, 11 – 14. 8-mile Run/Walk & 5K Run: 15 – 19, 20 – 29, 30 – 39, 40 – 49, 50 – 59, 60 – 69, 70 & over.

Pancake Breakfast: $7.00 per person, all you can eat, 7:00 a.m. at the Hanalei Canoe Club.

ALL RUNNERS EAT FREE!  Yummy.

If you’re a resident of Kauai, visiting, or just planning a vacation during the Summer, this is a wonderful fundraiser to partake in.  Choosing to stay in a Hanalei vacation rental or a Haena home rental is a good choice.  Maybe you prefer a Princeville.  It is just up the hill from Hanalei, about a 5-minute drive.  There are many luxury Kauai vacation rentals to choose from as well.   For more information and to sign up please go to www.hanaleicanoeclub.com.

Bethany (AnnaSophia Robb) was born to surf. A natural talent who took to the waves at a young age, she was leading an idyllic life on Kauai, participating in national surf competitions with her best friend Alana (Lorraine Nicholson), when everything changed. On Halloween morning, a 14-foot tiger shark came out of nowhere and seemed to shatter all her dreams.

Soul Surfer reveals Bethany’s fight to recover from her ordeal and how she grappled with the question of her future. Strengthened by the love of her parents, Tom (Dennis Quaid) and Cheri (Helen Hunt), and supported by her youth group leader Sara (Carrie Underwood), Bethany refuses to give in or give up, and begins a bold return to the water.

Bethany has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of determination, faith and hope. Born into a family of surfers on February 8, 1990, Bethany jumped on the board at a young age. Bethany entered her first surf competition—winning both the short and long board divisions at age eight. On Halloween morning 2003, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark, which bit off her left arm and seemed to end her career as a rising surf star. After losing more than 60% of her blood and undergoing several surgeries, Bethany began her recovery with an unbelievably positive attitude. Miraculously, just one month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water. Two months later, Bethany placed fifth in the Open Women’s division surf competition and just over a year after the attack she won her first National Title. In 2007, Bethany realized her dream and turned pro. Bethany has since participated in numerous Association of Surfing Professionals and World Tour Events with her major highlight being a second place finish in the ASP 2009 World Junior Championships. “It has been an incredible journey for me and now, I’m just so excited to share it!” says Bethany.

“Bethany’s story is so powerful,” says Soul Surfer Director Sean McNamara. “Most people would have given up after what happened to her, but not only did she make an amazing return to surfing, she excelled at it, and has turned her life into an inspiration for people all around the world. She is someone you look at and think, ‘If she can do all the incredible things she’s done, I can set the world on fire, too.’” says Sean.

Source:  http://www.soulsurferthemovie.com/

Bethany’s Official Website: www.bethanyhamilton.com

As you may already know, Hawaii is composed of a number of islands. Six of those islands are considered popular vacation destinations. Those islands include the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, and Hawaii’s Big Island. In fact, the choice that you have, as to where you want to visit, is one of the reasons why Hawaii vacations are so highly sought after. In fact, you don’t even really have to choose just one island. Over the past few years, the popularity of inter-island vacations has skyrocketed. This popularity has lead to the addition of more inter-island flights, as well as affordable prices.

In addition to having a wide variety of different choices, island wise, the beaches are also one of the reasons why Hawaii is considered one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. Hawaii is most well-known for its beautiful beaches, many of which have white sandy beaches and clear waters. With Hawaii being a collection of islands, no matter where you travel, you are almost always given the opportunity to enjoy those beaches. In fact, in addition to the views that come along with them, the beach activities that you can enjoy are another one of the many of many reasons why Hawaii vacations come so highly recommended. Those activities include, but are not limited to, fishing, swimming, boating, scuba diving, and surfing.

Hawaii is also a popular vacation destination because of the wide range of overnight accommodations. As previously mentioned, the beaches are what often lure vacationers in. That is why beachfront vacation rentals are so popular in Hawaii. These rentals often include Hawaii beachfront vacation homes and beachfront vacation villas. If you are looking for something a little bit more affordable, you may enjoy a stay at a beachfront hotel or resort. Although Hawaii beaches are part of the attraction, there is also a chance that you may like to stay inland, at a more centralized location. If so, you can also find hotels, resorts, villas, and vacation homes that are not located along the beach, but inland.

The costs of Hawaii vacations are another reason why they are so popular; they can be affordable. Of course, it is always possible to schedule an expensive Hawaii vacation, but it is also possible to make affordable reservations. The cost of a Hawaii vacation will all depend on the reservations that you are interested in making. For instance, if you are looking to book a stay at a vacation villa, you should expect to pay more for your vacation than you would if you wanted to stay at a vacation hotel or resort. The cost of a vacation will also depend on how you make your reservations. If you would like to save the most money, you may want to think about booking your Hawaii vacation reservations through an online travel website or with the purchase of a Hawaii vacation package.

With all of the benefits, you can easily see why Hawaii is known as one of the most popular vacation destinations, in the entire world. If you are interested in taking a Hawaii trip, you will need to start making your vacation reservations. As previously mentioned, these reservations can easily be made online, through an online travel website. For the largest selection of overnight accommodations, you may want to use a Hawaii travel website. These websites are online travel websites that deal specifically with Hawaii vacations.