Breaking News Alerts

We'd like to send you alerts when breaking news happens. Hide this Message

Press "Allow" to Activate

Search
Aloha, !
My Profile | Logout
Aloha, Guest!
Login | Register
  • News Topics
    • Front Page
    • Big Island News
    • Business
    • Big Island Polls
    • Local Discussion
    • Entertainment
    • Guest Columns
    • Community
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • Hawaii Sports
    • Hawai’i Volcano Blog
    • Ocean Blog
    • Obituaries
  • Weather & Surf
    • Weather Forecast
    • Surf Report
  • Lifestyle & Culture
    • Merrie Monarch
    • Entertainment
    • Community
    • ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi / Hawaiian Language
    • Hawaii Activities
    • Obituaries
  • Job Listings
    • Recent Job Listings
    • Post a Job
  • Events Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • Map of Events
    • Post Your Event
  • Special Sections
    • Graduation
    • Merrie Monarch
    • IRONMAN
    • Opioid Crisis
  • Video
    • Latest Videos
  • × Close Menu
  • About Big Island Now
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Get the App
  • Advertising
  • Meet the Team
Choose Your Island:
  • Kauai
  • Maui
  • Big Island
Copyright © 2023 Pacific Media Group
All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy | About Our Ads

Big Island Now
Search
Aloha, !
My Profile | Logout
Aloha, Guest!
Login | Register
    Big Island Now
  • Sections
  • Big Island News
  • Weather
  • Jobs
  • Graduation
  • Business
  • Community
  • Entertainment
  • Obituaries
  • Videos
SPECIAL COVERAGE

Parade of Nations Marches Through Kona

October 9, 2019, 8:23 AM HST
* Updated October 9, 11:09 AM
Play
Listen to this Article
3 minutes
Loading Audio... Article will play after ad...
Playing in :00
A
A
A

VEGA IRONMAN World Championship held its Parade of Nations on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2019. PC: Tiffany DeMasters

Konnichiwa. Salut. Hola.

There are few settings in the world where every ten feet you move, you’re likely to hear a new language — a United Nations Summit, any large cafe in New York City and the Parade of Nations every October at the VEGA IRONMAN World Championship triathlon right here in Kailua-Kona.

More than 2,500 athletes from across the globe descend on Hawai‘i Island every year to compete in triathlon’s premier event. And every Tuesday before the Saturday race, competitors and their families group together by nation outside the King Kamehameha Hotel in a sea of color to prepare for a march down Ali‘i Drive.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

Smiles, flags and national pride abound — but so does inclusiveness.

“Everywhere we go, we always wear our sports clothing from the Canadian military, and it’s got a big maple leaf,” said Helene Fortier, of Ottawa Canada, who will compete in her first World Championship event this weekend. “People stop us and say, ‘Oh, you’re from Canada!’ Either military people, or people who visited Canada, or Canadians. So we attract a lot of people.”

Fortier said wearing the maple leaf around town, and during the Parade of Nations, is special to her as the first female member of the Canadian Army to race in the world championship event. She qualified as part of the military division via a race in California.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

“I’m really proud to be here, to represent the women in the Canadian Army because I’m the only one and the first one to do it,” she said. “It’s going to help me get through it.”

Chris Fuerleger, a 34-year-old German national, has never competed in the VEGA IRONMAN World Championship but is nevertheless in Kailua-Kona for the 12th straight year.

Fuerleger, who finished an IRONMAN event in Wisconsin more than a decade ago, marched with the German contingent Tuesday. His tour company transports more than 500 European athletes to the competition annually, and he said the sport continues to gain popularity in his home country.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

“It’s getting bigger and bigger every year,” Fuerleger said. “Ten years ago, everybody wanted to do a once in a lifetime marathon. Now, they want to do once in a lifetime IRONMAN.”

Kean Mihata, of Ashland, Oregon, has completed eight IRONMAN triathlons in his lifetime. Saturday will be his ninth, though his first in Kailua-Kona.

He said representing the United States isn’t something he actively thinks about, but the international flavor of the World Championship stirs up more of that sort of consideration.

“It’s nothing that’s really in the forefront of my mind,” Mihata said. “Races like this, where there are different languages being spoken all over the place, it does give you a little more of a sense of national pride. And it brings us a little bit closer as far as a pretty diverse triathlon group. We usually train by ourselves, but coming together as one for your nation during this time is kind of fun.”

“I think once you get in this group, you do end up making a few more connections with folks because the long-distance triathlon community isn’t very big,” he continued. “So once you get near people who like things that you like to do … you make some friendships.”

Big-island Jobs View All Jobs Chevron Forward
Storibox Technologies
Retail / Sales Photographer
Kona · 1 month ago

Kamehameha Schools
Preschool Teaching Assistants, Island-Wide
Kohala · 3 weeks ago

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union
Information Systems Coordiantor
Kona · 1 month ago

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union
Teller Clerk
Kona · 1 month ago
Looking for locally based talent?
Post a Job Listing

Sponsored Content

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay in-the-know with daily or weekly
headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Cancel
×

Related Articles

  • Slideshow: Merrie Monarch Royal Parade 2023 in HiloSlideshow: Merrie Monarch Royal Parade 2023 in Hilo April 15, 2023
  • 100 horses to strut their stuff during Merrie Monarch Royal Parade100 horses to strut their stuff during Merrie… April 13, 2023
  • Check out winners from the 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival Royal ParadeCheck out winners from the 60th Annual Merrie… April 17, 2023
  • Kona Aloha Singers to perform May 7 at King Kamehameha Kona Beach ResortKona Aloha Singers to perform May 7 at King… April 30, 2023
  • 1 person taken to Kona Community Hospital following structure fire in South Kona1 person taken to Kona Community Hospital following… January 16, 2023
  • Kona Low Day 2: What you need to knowKona Low Day 2: What you need to know February 18, 2023

Comments

This comments section is a public community forum for the purpose of free expression. Although Big Island Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Please view at your own discretion. View Comments

 
Trending Now
13 Young Hunters Have Gone Missing In Mountain View Are Of Big Island 23 Young Boys Hunkered In Mountain View Forest Overnight After Getting Lost Tracking A Pig 314 Year Old Girl Missing In Waimea On Big Island 4Aclu Demands Hawaiʻi County Homeless Sweeps Stop Until Adequate Shelters Safe Places 530 Year Old Flees Police Into Thick Brush In Kona Later Calls Dispatch Because Hes Lost 6Routine Traffic Stop Results In Auto Theft Drug Charges
View All Events: List Circle List Map
UPCOMING FEATURED EVENTS:
Add Post an Event More Events Chevron Forward
Arrow UpBack to Top
  • Activities
  • Business
  • Discussion
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Ocean Blog
  • Hawaii Videos
  • Obituaries
  • Surf Report
  • Weather Forecast
  • Hawaii Jobs
  • Events Calendar
  • Community
  • Guest Columns
  • ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi / Hawaiian Language
  • Graduation
  • About Big Island Now
  • Get the App
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Writers
  • Advertise With Us

Copyright © 2023 Pacific Media Group.
All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | About Our Ads

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram