Most people experience the 5K on race morning: bibs on, coffee in hand, a little excitement in the air, and a lot of smiling faces. What’s easy to forget is how much work happens before anyone ever lines up at the starting line.

Planning a successful 5K is a months-long project with a lot of moving parts. It’s not just a route and a start time. It’s logistics, volunteer coordination, outreach, ordering shirts, managing registration, setting up tables and signage, planning safety and water stations, and making sure families and kids have a good experience once they arrive.

And then there’s the fundraising side — especially the auction. Soliciting items, tracking donations, taking photos, writing descriptions, and keeping everything organized is a major job by itself. This year we’re also expanding the online auction, which adds another layer of technical setup and ongoing management behind the scenes.

We want to recognize three people who have been putting in an extraordinary amount of time and energy to make this year’s event strong:
 

• Cindy Evans, for leading the overall 5K effort and keeping the many threads moving in the same direction—logistics, vendors, activities, outreach, and auction coordination.

• Donna Konie, for steady financial oversight and for managing the website and online auction—tracking items, keeping information current, and making sure the technology works smoothly for bidders and donors alike.

• Jill McElroy, for hands-on community outreach—building relationships, securing donations, and helping generate the buzz that makes this event more than “just a race.”

There are many others helping too (and we’re grateful for every one of you), but these three have been central to turning a long checklist into a real community event.

And while you’re marking your calendar, please save the date for our Friends of the Library Annual Meeting on Monday, March 9 at noon, with a light lunch provided. The meeting will feature a talk story by Dave Toland on the history and culture of Hawaiʻi’s paniolo—the Hawaiian cowboys whose traditions are deeply rooted in the islands. Dave’s presentations are engaging, informal, and rich with local history, and we’re delighted to have him as our guest.

More details will be shared soon — we hope you’ll join us.
— Michael Gaston, President
Friends of the Library – Waikōloa Region