Maui Aloha Golf Classic Tees off Saturday

The 2013 version of the Maui Aloha Golf Classic, starting on Saturday, Nov. 9, will be led by defending men’s champion Vernon Patao. File photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

The 36-hole 2013 Maui Aloha Golf Classic tees off Saturday, Nov. 9, at Kaanapali Kai Golf Course with an 8 a.m. shotgun start and concludes Sunday, Nov. 10, at Elleair Maui Golf Course, following a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start.

All participants must attend the kickoff party at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Wailuku Community Center, where tournament officials will post pairings, go over rules and introduce the primary sponsors.

Dinner, which was included in the entry fee, will be available. Entertainment will be ‘Ahumanu, the duo of Joni DeMello and Liz Morales. Co-hosting the main program are Rodney Villanueva and Ipo Mossman.

Sunday’s award ceremony will be held at the Wailuku Community Center immediately following the tournament. Senior Moments will entertain participants while a buffet lunch is offered. Results will be posted and winners, including any hole-in-one honorees, will be presented by Villanueava. Closest-to-pin winners will be announced and prizes given by St. Anthony’s High School Band and Maui High School wrestling and golf teams.

Tournament beneficiaries, Mayor Alan Arakawa (Mayor Arakawa’s Community Kokua  Fund), Kimokeo Kapahulehua (‘Ao ‘ao O Na Loko I’a O Maui), and Rusty Pundyke (Loiloa), will present the coveted Champions’ trophies.

The defending champion in the men’s division is Vernon Patao, while Rose Pagan is the defending champion in the women’s division.

The Maui Aloha Golf Classic is the vision of long-time tournament producer Charlie Aruda, president of the non-profit Maui No Ka Oi Golf Association. Aruda formed the new association along with Mel Pomroy, with the purpose of promoting Hawaii golf and delivering an annual event to benefit local charities, youth groups and scholarships.

The start-up committee was formed in November 2012 and included Art Rego (golf advisor), Wayne Tanaka, Ipo Mossman, Jerry Toyama, Karen Schafer, Curtis Tanaka, Naomi Okazaki (treasurer) and Gail Tanaka (secretary). Since then, and with the retirement of Pomroy, Toyama and Schafer in 2013, new members were recruited – Dorothy Tam Ho, Ann Nakagawa, Nelcin Ruiz, Brenda Rego and Brian Kamimoto.

Aruda and other well-known Maui figures served on the committee for the Maui Invitational Open Golf Tournament in the years 1984-2000 to revitalize the event.