Posted on: Sunday, August 5, 2001

Challenge a young chess whiz

By Jean Chow
Advertiser Staff Writer

"Let's Play Chess," a free exhibition dedicated to the game, will be held at Windward Mall on Saturday.

A collaboration between America's Promise Hawai'i (a program of Helping Hands Hawai'i) and the Hawaii Chess Federation, the exhibition will feature a larger-than-life chessboard with four-foot pieces, as well as several normal-size boards, where shoppers can challenge youngsters from the Mililani Chess Club and other school chess organizations.

Beginners and advanced chess lessons will be offered, as well as a clinic on how kids can start chess clubs at their own schools.

The organizations also hope to find adults to serve as mentors to kids who want to play chess. Information packets will be available.

"Chess in Hawai'i is like a closet game, not organized here like some other things are," said Clara Olds, program manager of America's Promise Hawai'i. "The idea is to get these adults out and attach them to kids so that they can have mentors and have a safe place to play chess."

A second, free exhibition will take place at Pearlridge Shopping Center on Sept. 22. For information, call 440-3845.