Work Hard, Play Hard

Bright, early, and a little rainy, the Agua Team arrived at California Watersports for the 5th Annual Lagoona Kahuna Clean Up Challenge on Friday, May 5th, 2023 The rain did not stop the Division I (The Big Kahuna) teams from eagerly going over trash-grabbing strategies before the clock started. The competition was fierce with Calsense fighting to keep their title and Bitchin’ Sauce, Charles Schwab, CleverMade, Cohn Restaurant Group, DUAL, JPW Communications, Ryan Foundation, and ThermoFisher Scientific, fighting to claim the paddle as their own. After some impressive trash finds (such as the person who kayaked an entire reclining chair back to shore), Calsense proved to hold their spot as 2023’s Big Kahuna. We were happy to see all the teams celebrate their total collection of 1,322 pounds of trash with lunch, brews, and Hawaiian Ice.

Big Kahuna Winners: Calsense

Division II (The Little Kahuna) teams also had a point to prove. After starting with lunch and brew, the Carlsbad Education Foundation, Dynamic Space Solutions, Easy Life Management, Otter Products, and Republic Services divided and conquered all the games with impressive timing. Not only did Republic Services break the record for the fastest Water Relay time, but they also took the Little Kahuna title for 2023! Congratulations to everyone for removing a collective 419 pounds of trash and weeds from the lagoon!

Little Kahuna Winners: Republic Services

Last but certainly not least, is Division III (Mini Kahuna). The families/duos/individuals beamed with excitement about proving their brain and brawn skills and boy did they! With matching shirts and hats, the very well-dressed Sadeghi Family took home the title of Mini Kahuna. Thank you to Lin Ball, Emma Ehlers, Kathleen Kinane & Gary Nessim, Anne Shute, Barbara Sumner & Susan Stahl, Margo Turner, and the Weinburg Family for participating.

Because of the hard work of the 187 Superheroes of Stewardship who participated, 108 bags totaling 2,106 pounds of trash as well as 56 bags totaling 444 pounds of weeds were removed from the Agua Hedionda Lagoon!

Mini Kahuna Winners: The Sadeghi Family

We could not have done this without the support of our Event Sponsors. Thank you to NRG Energy for sponsoring the event, California Watersports for providing the perfect venue, Pizza Port for delicious pizza, salad, and beer, Best Day Brewing for introducing everyone to the mouthwatering world of non-alcoholic beer, Mizu for styling everyone in awesome straw hats, and Aloha Ice Co. for coming out and providing such refreshing dessert.

Keep an eye out for next year’s Lagoona Kahuna Clean Up Challenge as it promises to be the biggest yet!