Getting Ready For The (Half) Marathon

I know I keep saying it, but one of these days I’ve got to lace up my sneaks and participate in some kind of organized run. There’s always the Kauai Marathon, or, for me, more like its half marathon. The run is set for Sept. 6, and organizers have teamed up with Work It Out in Kapaa to offer a discounted registration rate for Kauai residents. If you register at the store between May 15 and 31, you receive $40 off a full- or half-marathon entry. A valid driver’s license must be presented when racers pick up their packets Sept. 4 and 5 at the expo at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, which is hosting the event. Visit thekauaimarathon.com for more information …

Bicycles will take over the drag strip in Mana Memorial Day. Photo from Mary Williamson

Bicycles will take over the drag strip in Mana Memorial Day. Photo from Mary Williamson

This is kind of cool: On Memorial Day (May 25), Garden Isle Racing Association is teaming up with Hawaii Bicycling League to present a bicycle drag racing event called, “Cycle on the Strip.” Presented by Mokihana Bicycle Racing, which sponsors its annual “Pedal to the Meadow” May 24, the public is invited to participate and watch bicyclists compete against one another on the Westside drag strip in Mana. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the races begin at 9. The entry fee is $10 for adults and $5 for ages 10-19. Helmets are required and shade, chairs, water and sunscreen are recommended. For more information, email p2mkauai@gmail.com …

National Tropical Botanical Garden has launched a crowd-funding campaign with WEfficiency, an online service run by Blue Planet Foundation, in an effort to increase the energy efficiency of NTBG’s Botanical Research Center in Kalaheo. The center is home to a herbarium with more than 70,000 plant specimens, a botanical library and a seed bank. Even though it was the first LEED-Gold certified building constructed on Kauai, it still costs some $120,000 for electricity annually. The goal is to raise enough money to replace the current system with something newer and state-of-the-art that will save the nonprofit half the cost each year. Visit wefficiency.org to help …

Rheana Salvador is learning to play steel drum with Mike Odo. Kauai Chorale photo

Rheana Salvador is learning to play steel drum with Mike Odo. Kauai Chorale photo

You don’t want to miss Rheana Salvador playing the steel drum with Kauai Chorale Saturday (May 16) at 7:30 p.m. at Kauai Community College‘s Performing Arts Center. The Kauai High School senior volunteered to learn how to play it specifically for the concert, “Heart and Soul.” Salvador also plays flute, piano and vibes. She plays in Kauai High School Band and Jazz Band, as well as KCC Wind Symphony. Her mentor throughout the process has been Mike Odo. To hear her and many other talented musicians and vocalists, purchase tickets at Wrangler’s Steak House, Talk Story Book Store, Kalaheo Cafe, Pictures Plus, Scotty’s Music, Kauai Sound and Music, Pono Market, Lappert’s and North Shore Pharmacy. Tickets cost $12 in advance …

A staged reading of the play On Golden Pond will be presented this weekend by Women In Theatre. On Friday and Saturday (May 15 and 16) at 7 p.m., and Sunday (May 17) at 4 p.m., Arnold Meister, Romey Curtis, Steve Landis, Sandi O’Shaughnessy and Luke Reynolds will take the stage and entertain audiences. Tickets cost $12 and can be purchased through brownpapertickets.com.

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