Posted on: Friday, July 26, 2002

Dragon boats will compete Aug. 3-4

• Disabled young man to find joy as festival paddler

Advertiser Staff

Organizers expect between 15,000 and 30,000 people to attend the seventh annual AT&T Hawai'i Dragon Boat Festival Aug. 3-4 at Ala Moana Beach Park as the event continues to take on an international flavor.

"We're trying to integrate different cultures, with more participation from other ethnic groups," festival chairman Gifford Chang said. "We've added more cultural entertainment this year and are providing more things for children."

Dragon boat racing will be the featured event. Fifty teams are participating this year.

The Cup Race Division competition from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 3 is between teams in categories such as corporations, Asian societies, nonprofit organizations and celebrities. Open Race Division competition on Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., is a single-elimination, head-to-head event featuring all teams.

The dragon boats used in the races were built in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Each boat is 37 1/2 feet long and requires a member crew — 16 paddlers, a drummer, steersperson and flag catcher. p>

Festival activities in the park, meanwhile, will include live musical entertainment, craft booths and a keiki play area.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days.

There is no admission charge.

For information, call Gifford Chang at 951-0350.