For the fifth straight year T S Restaurants Hula Grill, Duke’s Beach House, Kimo’s and Leilani’s will serve as title sponsors of the XTERRA Kapalua Trail Runs in Maui.
As luck would have it this year, the runs fall on 31 October – Halloween! So Leilani’s is adding some hocus pocus and a costume contest for participants in the Hula Grill XTERRA 5K Trail Run, Duke’s Beach House XTERRA 10K Trail Run, and Kimo’s XTERRA Keiki K.
Founded in 1977 by Rob Thibaut and Sandy Saxten, T S Restaurants owns and operates 13 restaurants in Hawaii and California, including Duke’s Waikiki and Hula Grill Waikiki on Oahu; Kimo’s, Leilani’s on the Beach, Hula Grill Kaanapali and Duke’s Beach House on Maui; Duke’s Kauai and Keoki’s Paradise on Kauai; and Jake’s Del Mar, Sunnyside Restaurant and Lodge, Sandy’s, Duke’s Huntington Beach and Duke’s Malibu in California.
“We’ve had an absolute blast with these runs over the last few years but are taking things to a whole new level this time around,” said Ross Anderson, Vice President of Hawaii Operations for T S Restaurants.
“It’s Halloween, XTERRA is turning 20, and the vibe is going to be off-the-charts with thousands of people in costume running around our home turf in West Maui.”
The Leilani’s XTERRA Halloween Costume Contest will reward runners sporting the most creative, funniest, topical/pop culture, and Hawaiian costumes along with the best group theme and keiki costumes with goodies and US$100 gift certificates to use at the company’s restaurants (details online at xterramaui.com).
“I simply can’t wait,” said XTERRA President Janet Clark. “Our good friends at T S Restaurants are bound and determined to have the most outrageous Halloween-themed trail party ever staged and I get a huge smile on my face every time I think about all the ghouls and goblins we’ll see running around Kapalua.”
Superheroes and supernaturals alike will be treated to picturesque and challenging courses that will take them from the safety of the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and into a ‘spooky forest, up a torturous climb, along a trick-or-treat of a trail to a beastly beach run and finally a frightful finish line.’
“We are going to have a lot of fun with this run,” explained race director Dave Nicholas. “And even though our PR guys are getting carried away with the prose it’s still a legit run for real runners to go fast. Costumes are optional, although I think we’d all love to see an alien win it all this year.”
In addition to the trail runs, a Paul Mitchell cut-a-thon will be held at the site of the race where one-and-all are welcome to get their hair cut by professional Paul Mitchell stylists, with all donations benefitting the Challenged Athlete Foundation (CAF).
The Kimo’s XTERRA Keiki Run is for boys and girls ages 10 and younger. It is free to enter, although parents must be present to sign a waiver form at the site of the race. Race distances will vary from 100 yards to 1 kilometre, depending on the age of the child. Parents are welcome to stay on the course as well.
More than 2,000 runners from around the world are anticipated to take on the spooky scrambles this year; and to drive home the partnership with its employees T S Restaurants created a race within a race dubbed ‘The T S Restaurants XTERRA Challenge’. Each of the four restaurants will field a team of five runners and the team with the fastest cumulative time in the 5K will take home the coveted T S Trophy.
Last year Kimo’s captured the perpetual trophy, which is proudly displayed at the restaurant all year round. Hula Grill won in 2012 & 2013 and Duke’s Beach House won the inaugural challenge in 2011.
All four T S Restaurants also sponsor local teachers with complimentary entries into the run.
“It’s been a blast to see the teachers, along with a great representation from their respective student bodies, join in the runs,” said T S Restaurants’ Ross Anderson. “This year we hope to see twice as many students and teachers get in the spirit.”
Hula Grill, Duke’s Beach House, Kimo’s and Leilani’s are four of Maui’s finest restaurants, and all are located within a short driving distance of Kapalua.
“The unique feeling and setting of West Maui is exhibited at each of these four restaurants, and it is in keeping with what the XTERRA athletes and their families have come to expect when they get to the island of Maui,” XTERRA President Clark said. “Dining at any, or all, of these restaurants can only enhance the experience for our athletes, whether it be eating a pre-race meal or celebrating with a post-race meal.”
www.xterraplanet.com
www.xterrakapalua.com
www.tsrestaurants.com
