Prior to Friday’s senior costume contest, Irene Angot sought her 4-year-old grandson’s input for costume ideas.
“I said, what do you want nana to be?” Angot said. “He said, banana.”
The four-year-old calls her Nana Banana, so that’s who she appeared as during the annual event at the Makaeo Events Pavilion.
Winning the contest this year, “by thunderous applause,” according to Elderly Recreation Services Program Director Kelly Hudik, was Elaine Coats, dressed as an Apple iPad.
“It’s just fun,” the Kona resident said after being named the winner. “All year, I plan it.”
Coats won the contest in 2011, when she dressed up as a “One Night Stand” with a night stand, lampshade and various toiletries. Kailua-Kona Seniors club members pointed out, after the winners were announced, that Coats donates her winnings to an ice cream social fund for the entire club.
Lorraine and Bobby Glory of Kohala took second, in his and hers wigs, his complemented with a full beard and bone necklace, hers with a white and black witch’s hat.
Angot and Dee McWilliams, dressed as the Queen of Hearts, tied for third place.
The costume contest came after a round of ground golf, a mix of golf and croquet, on one of the softball fields at Old Kona Airport Park. Kohala Senior Citizens Club President Bobby Glory said he came to the event to have fun.
“Golf was awesome,” he said. “We may not be first, but we had fun.”
Lavaina Ferreira, from Waimea, said she wasn’t planning to dress up for the contest, but she enjoyed the golf game.
“It was fun, seeing everybody play,” she said, adding that was despite Friday morning’s warm temperatures. Occasionally breezes would pick up, cooling players off. “We practice every Friday. We did well, considering.”
David Byers, from the Kailua-Kona club, got the first hole-in-one of the day, on the first hole.
His trick?
“I close my eyes and give it a whack,” he said.
About 70 seniors joined about 30 volunteers at the ground golf tournament, sponsored by the Kona Mauka Rotary Club. The club provides about $500 to cover prizes. Participants also pay a registration fee, which also helps cover the cost of morning refreshments and lunch.
Hudik said the event attracted a new club this year, a group from the Painted Church in South Kona.
As ground golf play wrapped up, Hudik was especially excited for the costume contest.
“That’s one of my favorite parts, to see what they come up with,” she said.
