Dear Lokahi Members,
I hope this finds everyone healthy and safe.
It has been many months since we last saw each other in class. Now with the state’s tiered re-opening underway it is time to resume some type of regular in-person class. At this time, I’m considering this only for adults (we will continue to have Children’s class via Zoom).
To begin, I would like to schedule class outdoors at our very spacious Patsy Mink Regional Central Park (in Waipio). I realize that this might be a bit of a drive for some of you, but this park is very large, with nicely maintained fields, suitable for practicing bokken/jo, hitori waza, 3-minute exercise and oneness rhythm. This will be the plan for now. We will integrate Ki testing and Ki-Aikido at a later time, when we’re able to return to the mat.
I would like to begin this coming Sunday, November 1st, at 9:30am. This first class will be one hour. If we find that more time would be better, we can extend the classes after that.
I’m attaching a couple of maps to help everyone locate the park and the area where we can gather (and the parking area). The red square marks the general location of the park. The arrows in the other file show the way to the parking lot coming up Kamehameha Hwy from H1. (You can also reach the park from H2, exit 2 – Ka Uka Blvd). The circle is where we will gather to practice. It is around a 25-30 minute drive from Honolulu.
I recommend that everyone dress in exercise clothes (not gi) and wear sneakers or similar footwear suitable for moving in grass. Feel free to wear a hat and please use sunscreen. Of course, outdoor practice will depend on the weather. I will send a message if the weather does not allow us to practice, so if you’re not sure, please check your email. Please bring water.
We will maintain social-distancing of 6 or more feet during the class. Regarding facial coverings, I observed a baseball practice last weekend and the players were not wearing masks so I think it is fine to practice outdoors without one. If you would like to wear one, please do.
I will need some help from someone to retrieve our bokken and jo from the dojo. If someone is available to do this, please let me know.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing many (if not all) of you this weekend.
Aloha,
Charles Boyer