Event lets proud owners parade pets
By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
More than 700 of man's best friends walked their owners two miles around Kapi'olani Park yesterday to help raise more than $50,000 for the Hawaiian Humane Society.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
There were even a few of man's other acquaintances — the cats.
Kolohe, a male poi dog, attracts attention from a passing competitor at the 11th Annual Petwalk for the Hawaiian Humane Society.
And a bunny, an African Gray parrot and a cockatiel.
One dog was dressed up in yellow and red as a New York Fire Department rescue dog — paying homage to Sept. 11.
A ground-hugging dachshund from Mililani named Shumai won costume honors as one of Honolulu's finest — handcuffs, gun and all.
"With the city budget cuts," quipped masters of ceremonies Chris Hart and Chris Reiser of KRTR, "this is the new model police dog."
The 11th Annual PetWalk celebrated folks' love of animals, from Gov. Ben and Vicky Cayetano and their two bichons frises to wheelchair-bound Michelle Kirihara and her pet cockapoo Gaston.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
Kirihara's mother, Vickie, said her 25-year-old daughter, who has Rett's Disorder, can't communicate easily, but lights up whenever Gaston comes into the room.
Shumai, a dachshund from Makakilo, won the event's costume contest with his policeman's outfit.
Nani and Mari Malama of Makiki brought four of their 13 Yorkshire terriers: Buffy and Tuffy in cheongsam and aloha shirt, and puppies Arwin and Ninyah in pinafores.
"They're just like your children," Nani Malama said. "Up at 5 a.m. ... "
Eustace Lee of 'Alewa Heights carried his dog Nicholas Boomer most of the way after the Lhasa apso lapsed early in the walk.
Heather and Greg Rudd of Kane'ohe said their lives changed when they tried to save a lost baby bird.
When the bird died, they bought a cockatiel they named Puppy.
Puppy felt at home yesterday.
"He thinks he's a dog," Heather Rudd said, "and he's been practicing his bark."
Reach Walter Wright at 525-8054 or wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Correction: The dachshund Shumai who won the PetWalk costume contest is from Makakilo. A previous version of this story had the wrong hometown.
