Special Needs Kids to Compete in 4th Annual Imua Keiki O Ke Kai

Imua Keiki o ke Kai 2016. Photo credit: Erik Aeder, courtesy Imua Family Services.

World-class ocean athlete Andrea Moller hosts the 4th Annual Imua Keiki o Ke Kai, a unique event to provide children with special needs an opportunity to bond and participate in ocean sports.

Joining children in the activities is a list of top professional water sports athletes.

The event takes place on Sunday, April 3, 2016, at the Hawaiian Canoe Club in Kahului.

Imua Keiki o Ke Kai is also a pre-event to the long running BLUESMITHS Paddle Imua Maliko Downwind race.

Camp Imua’s keiki will enjoy stand up paddling, double-hulled outrigger canoe paddling and Jet Ski rides during the event.

Imua Keiki o Ke Kai was inspired by Andrea Moller’s vision to offer the children of Camp Imua an opportunity to interact one-on-one with ocean athletes in a safe and supervised environment.

The first Imua Keiki o Ke Kai was held in 2013. Moller invited the ocean athletes who participated in BLUESMITHS Paddle Imua the previous year to volunteer to help the children in the water. By doing so, she believed the athletes would develop a deeper appreciation for how much BLUESMITHS Paddle Imua meant to the kids of Camp Imua.

“I knew that once they had one-on-one time with the kids, they’d absolutely love them and their personalities. I figured they’d be motivated to be more involved just like I was,” said Moller.

Imua Keiki o ke Kai 2016. Photo credit: Erik Aeder, courtesy Imua Family Services.

The inaugural Imua Keiki o Ke Kai started small with about ten children and twenty volunteers. Most of the volunteers were Moller’s friends who dedicated their time and resources.

The volunteers all arrived on the beach early, each bringing a personal board to take a child paddling. Hawaiian Canoe Club lent their double hulled canoe and the rest was history. “It was a simple day with huge results,” event organizers said.

Imua Keiki o Ke Kai is actively seeking volunteers to assist with the 2016 event. Inquiries may be directed to: http://imuakeiki.com/contact/.