This article was published on surfer.com

OluKai invited paddlers and islanders to share a true Hawaiian experience at its Inaugural Ho’olaule’a Ocean Festival on the North Shore of Maui. The event celebrated the Ocean lifestyle and the island culture by giving the gift of Aloha back to Hawaii and the paddling community. The OluKai Ho’olaule’a featured an OC1 race and a Stand Up Paddle race starting from Maliko Gulch and ending at Kanaha Beach Park. Although racers typically face this eight mile downwind course with the support of 20-30 knot gusts propelling them from behind, on both race days, paddlers faced the grueling conditions of calm winds and glassy water.

The finale of both courses added to the drama and ignited spectators’ enthusiasm. The OC1 race featured a 180 degree buoy turn and sprint to a waterline finish. The SUP race was highlighted with a 200 yard run finish over a rugged coral filled sand beach. In a sport that is often supported by the paddlers themselves, OluKai awarded the contestants of the Ho’olaule’a with $15,000 in cash prizes split equally between men and women.

Andrea Moller swept the women’s competition both days, coming in first with a time of 59:27.3 in the
OC1 race and 1:21:21.5 in the Stand Up race. Manny Kulukulualani crossed the men’s OC1 finish line at
53:28.9, serving a humble tribute to his native Hawaiian land. Stand Up Paddle icon Dave Kalama swiftly
captured the top finish time of the course coming in at 1:08:18.4, nearly two minutes ahead of his
trailing competition.

“At the end of the day, even though we are all out there trying to beat each other into submission, when
we get on the beach it’s all handshakes and talking about how fun it was,” said Kalama. “It can be so
serious on the water but when you get on the beach there’s a lot of Aloha and there’s a lot of
camaraderie.”

Community members were welcomed into the OluKai ‘Ohana as they participated in authentic Hawaiian
activities. Locals and tourists alike experienced the thrill of riding OluKai’s iconic yellow and brown
Kamakakoa sailing canoe. Families and kids enjoyed the island heritage and culture with an array of
ancient Hawaiian games, hosted by Maui Cultural Lands.

Saturday’s festivities were accented with the serenades of talented Hawaiian musician Paula Fuga as she
and her band performed to an intimate crowd in the beautiful outdoor setting of Kanaha Beach Park.
Her soulful sound enhanced the community’s gathering of a traditional Hawaiian luau presented by the
Lae Ula Canoe Club.

“The true meaning of Aloha is to love without expectation,” said Ed Lindsey, Project Director for Maui
Cultural Lands. This inspiring organization is one of the members of OluKai’s ‘Ohana Giveback Program
that benefitted from receiving part of the event’s proceeds. Other members include the Hawaiian
Lifeguard Association and Team Kamakakoa. OluKai further embodied the Aloha spirit by contributing
$6,000 to its ‘Ohana Giveback programs.

This article was published on News-n-Views

Saddleback Church has been a focal point for many South O.C. residents. Its faithful community and friendly local residents consistently reach out to others to share their ministries and beliefs. The church offers a bountiful amount of extra curricular activities for others to enjoy and grow both spiritually, personally and even professionally. This Monday May 3, 2010, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., Saddleback Church reaches out to Southern California with its monthly Network Mixer and Career Fair.

The Career Coaching and Counseling Ministry, a volunteer organization that provides free support to local residents during career transitions, is responsible for organizing the event. This week’s Network Mixer and Career Fair dedicates its efforts to bringing job-seekers and employers together in partnership to build a better future.

Saddleback Church extends this business opportunity to the community on the first Monday of each Month. The gathering is free to employers and typically draws over 500 prepared professionals of diverse demographics from Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside Counties. The diversity of job seekers at the mixer generally span the entire spectrum of business, from front-line employees to c-level executives.

The primary purpose of the event is networking that resonates between participants and potential employers. The schedule includes a Welcome, Networking Session, Employer Introductions and Career Fair. It will be held on the main campus of the church at the Worship Center.

In addition to the event, the Career Coaching and Counseling Ministry also offers weekly meetings to help move people along their path to success. Topics include a skills and abilities analysis, resume writing, interviewing, marketing, and one-on-one coaching among others.

Rick and Kay Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1979. The two dreamed of creating a church that would be “a place where the hurting, depressed, and confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness and encouragement.” Its expansive campus and members now provide over 200 ministries to the community. 

This article was published on News-n-Views

On Monday, May 3, 2010, tee up at Annual UCLA Orange County Golf Classic at the Coto de Caza Club to make a difference in the life of an incoming Bruin student.

The event is presented in partnership between the UCLA Alumni Association of Orange County, the UCLA Fund and the school’s athletics department. The university is central to the lives of countless alumni, students, athletes, educators and the 38 million people of California, while only 13% of its operating budget comes from the State of California. This tournament gives impacted residents the opportunity to share school pride with an impressive group of Bruin VIPs, while making a difference in other’s life.

Special guests from around the UCLA community will be present to compete and mingle with tournament members. The all-star lineup includes: All-America safety and two-time Super Bowl champion, James Washington, former UCLA softball national champion and Head Softball Coach, Sue Enquist, the “Voice of the Bruins,” Chris Roberts, and former sports editor for the Los Angeles Times, Bill Dwyre among others.

The Annual UCLA Golf Classic hosts a full day of excitement. Registration begins at 9 a.m. followed by a VIP and Sponsor breakfast. Competition will start with a bang as the tournament begins by the sound of a gunshot. Participants and guests are invited to wind down from the day with a cocktail reception and silent auction. Dinner will open at 6 p.m. with entertainment and an activating live auction.

Any Bruin or affiliated fan will find the auction items to be irresistible. Packages currently include: a VIP seating package and two tickets to a UCLA Pac-10 men’s basketball game with access to the pregame champagne brunch, two highly sought-after courtside seats and an exclusive Rose Bowl experience package with four premium seats on the 40-yard line. More surprises are less than a week away.

The UCLA Golf Classic Committee reminds interested parties that tickets for the tournament are selling out rapidly. For more information and to sign up visit the event website at http://www.uclagolfclassic.com and questions may be directed towards Julie Sager (class of 74’) at UCLAGolfClassic@UCLAlumni.net.

This article was published on News-n-Views

The city of Mission Viejo seeks to stimulate the environment of local businesses this Thursday April 22 at its South O.C. Business Expo.

The event will be held at the Mission Viejo Elks Lodge from 5 to 7 p.m. It is designed to connect local business owners with others in their community to build lasting relationships and strengthen their client base. The power of networking is endless and can have a profound effect on the success of a business.

Many professionals consider networking to be a more cost-effective method of generating business compared to advertising or public relations efforts. It is often a rewarding way to create buzz and relies more on personal commitment then company investment.

With the recent surge in online social media, personal connections can now be made by a simple click. This wild frontier has obvious advantages if leveraged right, but unlike in-person networking, online communication can lack certain sincerity at times. That is where the South O.C. Business Expo comes into play. This event allows business people to build one-on-one relationships with like-minded community members that can yield to further referrals via that same connection.

Some of the many exhibitors at the South O.C. Expo include Farmers Insurance, American Alarm, Network Consulting Group, Engineers without Borders and more. Proceeds from the event will benefit three different charity organizations: American Cancer Society: Relay for Life, Engineers without Borders and High Hopes. Several items will be raffled off during the networking event to aid these inspirational organizations.

Do not miss your chance to network for your company’s success. Connect, Engage and Grow at the South O.C. Business Expo this Thursday, April 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Elks Lodge, located at 25092 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo. The cost is a mere $10 but the potential is endless.

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This weekend, April 24 and 25, join the Rocky Road Runs starting at Coto de Caza’s own Sports Park.

The weekend offers four courses to racers who want to run through: a half marathon, full marathon, fifty mile race and for experienced runners, a one hundred mile race. Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 runners for all races, and 50-mile finishers will receive quality metals as a reward for their challenge. The valiant 100-mile racers will grasp the prize of excellence with championship Belt Buckles to display their endurance and commitment to the race and the sport of running.

For those new to the sport, the half marathon is a 13.1-mile course that will travel entirely through horse trails and has relatively modest hills. The scenic route will give participants beautiful views of Coto de Caza and the canyon areas.

As the challenge gets more advanced, runners can sign up for the full marathon. This is a 26.2 mile race is on the course of the half marathon, with an additional out-and-back run. Participants and crewmembers are advised that the track will climb a total of 3,000 feet in elevation.

The fifty-mile race will reward experienced runners with spectacular views of Coto de Caza, the canyons and the surrounding mountains. The elevation climb is a testing 5,500 feet with a unique combination of urban and rural trails. There will be a generous 18-hour time limit for completing the race.

The signature event of the Rocky Road Run is the 100-mile run through urban and rural trails with views of the canyon and mountain areas. There will be a modest climb of 11,000 feet in elevation. There will be a special aid station during dark hours of the event where racers can rest, recover and rejuvenate on their way to the finish. The cut off limit will be set at 32 hours, giving racers plenty of time to complete this epic journey.

A pre-race dinner will be offered on Friday April 23 at 5 p.m. for the longer strides of 50-and-100-mile runs. Participants are welcome to bring one crewmember to dinner without charge and RSVP is requested. Dinner will be held at 15 Lilac Lane in Coto De Caza, racers will be given directions from the gate if needed and should tell the attendant that they are with the Charlie Alewine group.

Aid stations will be available approximately every five minutes throughout every scheduled race. Registration prices vary by race distance: $60 for half marathon, $70 for full marathon, $110 for the fifty-mile race and $175 for the 100-mile race.