Mayor-A-Thon 2015

In addition to leading warm-up exercises and livening up the Zumba dancers during Mayor-A-Thon 2014, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. biked Ke Ala Hele Makalae towing his granddaughter, Welina Carvalho-Brede, in a trailer. Photo by Tommy Noyes

You’re invited to join the bicyclists, runners, walkers and strollers who will once again gather at Kapa‘a Beach Park early Saturday morning June 20 for the 7^th annual Mayor-A-Thon.

The theme of this year’s Mayor-A-Thon is “Hats Off to Dads,” in recognition of Fathers Day. Participants who register for the event at www.GetFitKauai.com will be given hats (while supplies last) with this year’s Mayor-A-Thon logo printed in colors honoring Kauai’s five moku — Napali, Halelea, Koolau, Puna, and Kona.

“It’s a fun, family-oriented event that takes place on our beautiful coastal path! I encourage residents and visitors from across the island to join us,” Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. sums it up.

This free, high-energy, annual event is co-sponsored by the Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition, Get Fit Kaua‘i and the County of Kaua‘i to encourage physical health and fitness among island residents, and to celebrate the multi-use path, Ke Ala Hele Makalae, or the path that goes by the coast.

“The Mayor-A-Thon is an annual event — it’s a community event — it’s free, and it’s actually to celebrate a place on the island where we can walk safely, bike safely and support physical activity in a safe environment,” Get Fit Kaua‘i coordinator Bev Brody said. “We have had hundreds of people come out every year, and they use this path that we are continuing to build.”

All registered participants are served a delicious, wholesome breakfast. This year, the breakfast fare reflects the growing popular interest in gluten-free baked goods. Mark’s Place will be catering the event, and their chef has found new ingredients to bake the gluten-free scones with an appealing taste and texture that will be served as part of the complete breakfast.

Participants should be prepared to strut their smoothest Electric Slide dance moves, loosen up their hips for the hula hoop contests, get funky with Zumba, enjoy family closeness and laugh a lot.

The 2014 Mayor-A-Thon attracted more than 1,300 people, including several folks from the Mainland who decided to visit Kaua‘i over other islands due to this event, enjoyed a beautiful morning full of fitness, dancing, games, breakfast and celebration.

Tommy Noyes

The registration process includes an option to assist as a volunteer. If you add in the comments section that you’d like to work with Kaua‘i Path, you may be assigned to help move the large numbers out of the Kapa‘a Beach Park and onto Ke Ala Hele Makalae in an orderly process. Volunteers in this detail will still be able to fully participate in all aspects of the Mayor-A-Thon.

“I believe that the Mayor-A-Thon will get bigger and bigger each year,” Brody said. “Every year this event draws more people, and every year the team who put it together reach out and get more people involved.”

Visit www.GetFitKauai.com to register or you call Tommy Noyes at 808 639-1018 for more information.

• Tommy Noyes works for the Hawai‘i State Department of Health’s Public Health Preparedness branch, serves on Kaua‘i Path’s board of directors, and is a League of American Bicyclists certified instructor.