|
Time to Cruise Paradise Again
Courtesy of:
Hawaii Motorbeat Monthly
By
Paul Maddox
Every three years the Hawai'i Classic
Cruiser car club from Hilo puts together the biggest hot rod event
in the Islands for local and visiting mainland rodders. It's called
Cruise Paradise and it's over a week of rockin' & rollin' activities
that cover the entire Big Island.
There is lots of information and
sign-up forms on their MySpace site: (www.myspace.com/cruiseparadise2009)
but here are some of the highlights of the June 26th through July
5th adventure...
Things kick off for over 100 street
rods and classics on Saturday, June 27th with the Poker Run
that starts at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo and heads to Kona with
stops at Tex's Drive-in, where plenny malasada's will undoubtedly be
consumed, and to the NAPA store in Waimea before they get to their
last stop at the Big K-Mart parking lot at Makalapua Center.
On Sunday, June 28th the road
show heads to the Queen's Court at the Waikoloa Beach Resort for a
10am - 4pm show n' shine for the public.
Monday morning, June 30th,
the whole crew meets at Lanihau Center in Kona at 9am and saddles up
for an upcountry cruise to the paniolo country of Waimea and Kohala
~ one of the prettiest road trips of the whole tour.
On Tuesday, June 30th the West
Hawai'i tour cruises down the coast to the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau and
on Wednesday, July 1st the group meets up at K-Mart once
again to begin their 2nd Poker Run ~ via the scenic southern route.
Stops for poker cards will be at Punalu'u Bakery and Namakani Paio
Bird Park and ends up at Prince Kuhio Plaza.
Cruise Paradise goes into high gear on
Thursday, July 2nd with the long pull up to Volcano National
Park and a stop at the Volcano Winery. Friday's highlight
will be a run to Waipio Valley lookout via the Hamakua Coast and
Laupahoehoe. I'll bet there's a stop for burgers at the Back to the
50's Cafe, as well.
What better way to celebrate the
4th of July than a great big car show for all the cruisers along
Hilo's historic bayfront on Saturday. A great place to see all the
best rides from the mainland, neighbor isles and, of course, the Big
Island.
As a bonus, Dennis Gage and his My Classic Car crew will be
on hand to tape the finale!
The party wraps up with a farewell
lua'u at Papaikou Church on Sunday, July 5th for all the
Paradise Cruise '09 participants. A great event, put on by one our
greatest clubs ~ Hawai'i Classic Cruisers.
Mahalo folks! ~ PM
More from Paul Maddox at:
www.hawaiimotorbeat.com
|
