tgif! pau hana fireworks run

Imagine you’re running at dusk with friends. Parts of the normally busy park are completely yours and the minutes fly by. After your run, you cool down, relax in a folding chair, and talk story with your friends over vegetarian chili. And then, BOOM! Fireworks light up the sky. 

That’s the scene at the Friday fireworks run, a social event organized by the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club (MPRRC) at Ala Moana Beach Park. Participants sign in, stretch, and head out to run or walk around the park. After their workout, many return to the tent for a potluck dinner. "We sit down, eat, and that’s about perfect timing for the fireworks. It’s a nice and relaxing Friday, especially if you have a training run to do," says Kevin Kaneko, a radiology technologist at Straub Medical Center.

Long-time runner, certified running coach, and MPRRC President Ron Alford sets up the event almost every week. He encourages people to give it a try. "Walkers, joggers, runners can come—any distance, any pace," Alford says. "You get your exercise, social hour, a little food, and fun with the fireworks. It’s a really nice time."

To join the next Friday night fireworks run—it’s free!—meet the group at the MPRRC tent at Magic Island at 6 p.m. Learn more about MPRRC on their website or on Facebook.