Project Pure Light (O’ahu – Windward)
Kalamaku (Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawaii)
Pure Light Racing

Currently Project Pure Light provides a monthly program at Kailua Beach Park on the Island of O’ahu.  A sister program (Kalamaku) was established in Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawai’i in 2007.  Plans are underway to develop additional programs on O’ahu as well as on the neighbor islands to ensure that as many adaptive paddlers as possible can explore the benefits of Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling.

Paddling in an outrigger canoe is a great equalizer and opportunity for parity for the disabled person in contrast to other sports activities.  One of the benefits is that the participant potentially experience and identify physical abilities that extend beyond their original expectations.  Outrigger canoe paddling is a full body sport incorporating not only the arm and shoulder muscles, but lateral back and abdominal muscles as well as lower body and leg muscles.  For the person with physical disabilities, paddling serves to increase their physical strength and improve coordination to execute the paddling stroke.  Other benefits have less to do with extensive physical exercise; the rhythmic, repetitious motion of paddling is reported to stimulate brain activity and build physical and mental strength.  And lastly, the beauty of Kailua Bay, Flat Island Bird Sanctuary, and the “honu” – Hawaiian sea turtles – are part of the serene and relaxing environment.

Enhancing family understanding and family unity is also one of our goals.  We fully encourage the entire family to partake in the Project Pure Light program.  Instead of separating out the family member with a disability into a specialized program or activity, we invite the other family members to join in on the day’s activities.  The purpose of encouraging family members to attend is to give them a glimpse of their loved one’s world outside the context of their daily routine, and to give families an added opportunity to directly participate in and experience the day together.

Participants in the program have been invited from the Rehabilitation Center of the Pacific, Shriner’s Childrens’ Rehabilitation Hospital, Hawaii State Hospital, Wounded Warriors, START program and the community.

Life style enrichment and enhancement of quality of life; this is Project Pure Light’s kuleana (responsibility).