Kiwanis Kūpuna Spelling Bee names preliminary winners; still time to compete

Over the past week, three preliminary events for the Kiwanis Kūpuna Spelling Bee were held throughout the state, with the most recent one held today at Arcadia.

Medals were presented on Kaua‘i 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

The next preliminary event will be on Maui at the J. Walter Cameron Center on July 1 at 9 a.m.

The deadline for upcoming preliminary spelling bees on O‘ahu 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 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 information, visit www.kupunaspellingbee.com.