Paddle Imua race, festival set for July 23
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The Maui News
The 12th annual Paddle Imua will take place July 23, with a race along Maui's North Shore and a festival to follow at Kanaha Beach Park.
The multidiscipline paddling race raises funds for Imua Family Services' Camp Imua program, which provides a weeklong recreational camp experience for children with special needs, according to a news release from the nonprofit.
Paddle Imua follows the renowned Maliko Downwind Run, an 8-mile route along the North Shore that concludes at Kanaha Beach Park in Kahului. Open to individuals of all ages, Paddle Imua offers multiple divisions, including OC1, OC2, OC6, stand-up paddle, prone paddleboard, surf ski, SUP foil, kiting, windsurfing, prone foil and wing foil.
Check-in will begin at 10 a.m. at Maliko Gulch, with the race set to begin promptly at 1 p.m. Awards will be presented to the top three finishers in each division.
Paddle Imua will also host a post-event celebration known as the 'Ohana Festival at Kanaha Beach Park. The free event is open to the public and features entertainment provided by Lia Live, Rowdy Love, Benny Uyetake and Sean Ryan & Rose Rodriguez; food from local vendors; a relay pairing ocean athletes with Camp Imua campers; and the chance to win prizes.
Registration for Paddle Imua is now open at www.paddleimua.com. Registrants will receive a special "mahalo swag bag" filled with $300 in gifts from sponsors, including the Paddle Imua event T-shirt and racer shirt.