Honolulu, HAWAII – January 26, 2007 – Join in the fun and festivities at the Ala Wai Challenge this Sunday morning, January 28, 2007 at the Ala Wai Neighborhood Park. Organized by the Waikiki Community Center, this year marks the event's 22nd anniversary.

Come and cheer the thirty 12-member teams who will compete in this exciting local sports event which includes a quarter-mile Canoe Paddling Race along the Ala Wai Canal bordering Waikiki and Makahiki Land Games within the park grounds.

Presented by the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, the event kicks off at 8:00 a.m. with a double-hulled canoe procession and presentation of ancient chants, songs and hula at the Ala Wai Neighborhood Park & Clubhouse area.

When not cheering the paddlers, you can stroll the grounds of the park to play ancient Hawaiian games like stone bowling, spear throwing, dart sliding and tug-of-war. Or browse at the Hawaiian crafts booths, try delicious local foods and get an authentic lomi-lomi massage. Local bands will add a variety of Hawaiian and Polynesian entertainment to the festivities by jamming favorite tunes.

There will be free canoe taxi service for Waikiki-based residents and tourists to easily reach the park on specially manned outriggers that will shuttle them from one side of the canal to the other.

Parking is also available at the Ala Wai Neighborhood Park (enter at Kapiolani & University Avenue), Ala Wai Elementary and Tokai University.

Additionally, free shuttle service is also offered every 30 minutes within Waikiki:

1. 8:00 a.m. to noon – Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center on Kalakaua Avenue at the Express Bus Stop located across the Waikiki Beachcomber. - Drop off at 12:30 p.m. & 1:00 p.m.

2. 8:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. – Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on Paoakalani Avenue (side entrance). - Drop off at 12:35 p.m. & 1:05 p.m.

This year’s event honors two living surfing legends, life-long environmentalists and water sports enthusiasts – Peter Cole and Fred Van Dyke. Both pioneered some of the big waveriding contests on the North Shore and continue to surf and participate in civic and community events.

The Ala Wai Challenge is a fun, family event for visitors, residents and the community. First established in 1985 as a community service by the Waikiki Junior Chamber of Commerce, this annual fundraising event will benefit programs and services organized by the Waikiki Community Center for families, children, and senior adults who live, work and visit Waikiki.

As the event’s title sponsor, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is strongly committed to various local community activities under Marriott’s Spirit To Serve Our Communities program.

“By participating in these community events, our associates are not only actively involved within the community but also have the opportunity for positive team building,” said Chris Tatum, general manager of Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and also event chair for this year’s Ala Wai Challenge. This year, the resort is entering four teams comprising of resort employees and sponsoring two local canoe teams, one from Keala Canoe Club and the other from Ho-okahi (Navy Wives).

More information on the Ala Wai Challenge is available online at www.waikikicommunitycenter.org.