Page 13 - MidWeek - Feb 8, 2023

13 MIDWEEK FEBRUARY 8, 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-founder Carole Kai Onouye.
ole Kai Charities Inc. “I can’t run, but I walked it in 2 hours and 5 minutes at a slow pace.
Carole Kai Bed Race (1974- 1994) — Kai Onouye also has some great tips for those getting into training mode for the upcoming event.
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 Hawai‘i Pacif- ic Health Great Aloha Run comes to a close Feb. 20, Kai Onouye will finally be able to take a step back from the annual responsibility. 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.
To help participants pre- pare for the Great Aloha Run, the organization has been holding free work- shops at Kapi‘olani Park Bandstand — the last one is slated for 6:30-9 a.m. Feb. 12. These training sessions aren’t just for race partici- pants, but for everyone, and feature educational tidbits about stretching, proper running techniques, goal-set- ting, building endurance and speed, and more. For more information on the training, email president@mprrc. com.
“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.”
That camaraderie plays out each year at the Great Aloha Run. Families, co-workers and friends participate as groups and have fun doing it.
But, that doesn’t mean you won’t see her around.
“It’s a fun, festive kind of tradition that a lot of them look forward to,” adds ad- ministrator/event coordina- tor Claire Nakamura Rochon, who will soon be one of those
“I’ m still going to be sup- porting it monetarily and coming around and visiting,” assures the founder of Car-
As someone who’s partici- pated in the Great Aloha Run for all 39 years — plus the
SEE PAGE 16
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
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