Media Contact: Lynn Araki-Regan
Email: arakiregan@gmail.com
Honolulu, Hawaii (June 27, 2023) – Over the past week, three preliminary events for the Kiwanis Kupuna Spelling Bee were held throughout the state, with the most recent one held today at Arcadia.
Medals were presented on Kauai to:
1st Place: Charles Scamahorn
2nd Place: Lucy Douthitt
3rd Place: Stephen Murakami
On Hawai'i Island, medals were presented to:
1st Place: Stephanie Launiu
2nd Place: Sandra Haskell
3rd Place: Kathleen Zenobi
At today’s preliminary held at Arcadia, medals were presented to:
1st Place: Esther Geil
2nd Place: Betty O'Rourke
3rd Place: Kathleen Falvey
Pictured with Arcadia’s preliminary winners is Riley Regan, the founder of the Kupuna Spelling Bee, who is celebrating his 18th birthday today!
The next preliminary event will be on Maui at the J. Walter Cameron Center on July 1 at 9 am.
The deadline for upcoming preliminary spelling bees on Oahu is as follows:
Aiea - July 15, 2023 at 9 a.m. (Registration deadline extended to June 30)
Honolulu - July 22, 2023 at 1 p.m. (Registration deadline extended to June 30)
The top three spellers from each of the preliminary competitions will be eligible to compete in the Kiwanis Kupuna Spelling Bee Finals Competition on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Lanakila Multipurpose Center, Honolulu. Airline transportation will be provided to the top three neighbor island winners, and a guest, courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines.
The grand champion in the finals competition will receive a trip for two to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies, as well as a 4-night stay at California Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The idea for the Kūpuna Spelling Bee originated last year with Riley Regan who partnered with nonprofit groups, including Kiwanis, to organize Kūpuna Spelling Bee events in 2022.
To continue to encourage older women and men (60 years and older) to stay mentally sharp by learning and practicing the use and spelling of words, and to help strengthen memory, Kiwanis clubs throughout Hawai‘i teamed up to coordinate and host all of this year’s Kiwanis Kupuna Spelling Bee events.
To register or for more info, visit www.kupunaspellingbee.com.
***UPDATED***
Media Contact: Lynn Araki-Regan
Email: arakiregan@gmail.com
Honolulu, Hawaii (June 2, 2023) – Hawaii residents ages 60 years and older will have the opportunity to use their language skills in the second annual Kiwanis Kupuna Spelling Bee presented by Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. The event is a fundraising activity to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association – Hawaii and a way for kupuna to sharpen and utilize their cognitive skills in a friendly, fun competition.
As one of the two presenting sponsors of the Kiwanis Kupuna Spelling Bee, Hawaiian Airlines is donating 50,000, 30,000, and 20,000 miles, respectively, for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place spelling bee winners of each preliminary contest. All neighbor island finalists, along with a guest, will also receive complimentary airline transportation to travel to Oahu for the finals, courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines.
The overall grand prize winner will receive a round trip ticket for two to any destination that Alaska Airlines flies, courtesy of Alaska Airlines, and a 4-night stay at the California Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, courtesy of the Boyd Gaming Corporation.
Preliminary events open to all Hawai’i kupuna are as follows:
Kauai: Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at 9 a.m. at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall
Hawaii Island: Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 9 a.m. at Hawai’i Island Adult Care
Maui: Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 9 a.m. at J. Walter Cameron Center Auditorium
Aiea: Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 9 a.m. at Aiea High School Library
Honolulu: Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center
To participate, interested participants are asked to register and pay a $25 registration fee at kupunaspellingbee.com. Shirts will be provided to each registrant, subject to availability. Net proceeds from this annual event will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association – Hawaii.
First, second, and third place winners from each preliminary contest will receive a medal and be eligible to compete in the Kiwanis Kupuna Spelling Bee Finals on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center.
The idea for the Kupuna Spelling Bee originated last year with Riley Regan, a then 16-year-old Iolani School junior who won his own spelling bee as a fifth grader at Puu Kukui Elementary School on Maui. Riley, along with his parents, Lynn Araki-Regan and Keith Regan, and the Kiwanis Club are leading the spelling bee's organizing efforts.
“Research shows that older adults who view themselves as lifelong learners tend to have sharper cognitive skills. Preparing for a spelling competition can hone those skills,” says Riley.
For more information about the kupuna spelling bee, please visit kupunaspellingbee.com, email kiwaniskupunaspellingbee@gmail.com, or contact any of the preliminary spelling bee organizers at:
Big Island: 808-937-1231
Kaua’i: chrylshntn@gmail.com
Maui: 808-281-7723
Oahu: 808-551-7181