Līhu‘e Loop Scavenger Hunt

By Tommy Noyes

Tommy Noyes is seen here checking out the Līhu‘e Loop Scavenger Hunt at Kalena Park’s new ALOHA sign, where the scavenger hunt begins. Photo by Pat Griffin

Do you remember when you were growing up how much fun it was whenever you heard “we’re going to have a scavenger hunt”? It did not matter if you were hunting for toys, specific items, candy or whatever — it was just fun.

Good news! It turns out, adults like scavenger hunts just as much as you did as keiki.

Hello fun! With fiscal support provided by Kaiser Permanente, Get Fit Kaua‘i has coordinated a scavenger hunt in the heart of Kaua‘i. There is no charge to enter the hunt, valuable prizes will be awarded to Kaua‘i residents, and contestants may enter and complete the hunt using their mobile device’s web browser. Contestants launch the scavenger hunt by starting at Kalena Park, accessing LihueLoop.com, and then following the clues around the 1.3 mile Līhu‘e Loop walk.

“Exercise your mind while exercising your body,” said Bev Brody, Get Fit Kaua‘i Director. “We partnered with the talented game developers at the Society of Curiosities to bring you the Līhu‘e Loop Scavenger Hunt!

The contest is fun for the whole family, she said, and the best part is there’s no limit to how many times you can play.

“Find each of the eight scavenger hunt locations around the Līhu‘e Loop. Solve one challenge at each location. If you get stuck, multiple clues are provided at each location,” Brody said.

More than a thousand dollars in prizes is being awarded to lucky Kaua‘i residents each month until the contest ends at 11:59:59 PM on Friday, Hawaiian Standard Time on Dec. 31.

“More good news,” Brody said. “During October and November, you can double your chances of winning those epic monthly prizes by simply taking a photo of yourself and/or friends participating in the Līhu‘e Loop Scavenger Hunt and posting it on one of our social media sites.”

For your social media entry to count, post the photo on Facebook or Instagram and tag it @getfitkauai. Each photo posted is one additional entry.

The hunt is active now and continues through Dec. 31. The contest culminates on Jan. 4, 2022 with a random drawing for the grand prize, a desert tan Yeti Tundra Haul Hard Cooler valued at $500. The grand prize winner will be selected from Kaua‘i residents who have successfully completed the hunt.

Līhu‘e Loop is an ongoing project to promote walking for exercise and enjoyment in Līhu‘e’s town core. Currently, the Līhu‘e Loop features a single 1.3-mile self-guided audio walking tour route from Kalena Park, around Hardy Street, onto Eiwa Street, and finally Rice Street back to Kalena Park. There are now 19 points of interest along the route, and each point is significant to the history and culture of Līhu‘e town. Each point of interest has a QR code that links to a brief audio file telling the story of the site.

This is a community-norm change effort advanced by Get Fit Kaua‘i’s Built Environment Task Force. These walking tours are just one part of a larger program promoting community use of centrally located Kalena Park.

• Tommy Noyes is Kaua‘i Path’s executive director, a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor and active with the Kaua‘i Medical Reserve Corps.