I'm the Wind, You're the Kite.

The weeks following Aloha Saturday have been active. Each summer weekday opening means free lunches to youth courtesy of Sodexo and the Hawaii Food Bank. Operational hours have also been extended and everyone involved with the KVIBE program is out riding bicycles as the days become longer.

KVIBE would like to extend our warmest regards to the many people, groups, and/or businesses that made Aloha Saturday a reality. Beginning with Cycle Manoa - our cousins at UH Manoa and particularly dedicated members Nathan Domier and Erica Wong. Aloha Fixed and the Kickstand for co-sponsoring the event. The Kickstand bicycle shop provided the GoldSprints roller races which were a hit with the crowd.

Former KVIBE coordinator Matt Yee was on scene early and stayed late. Yee was integral in almost every function throughout the day - setting up, grilling, and breaking down. Yee’s unwavering support was much appreciated.

Local bicycle shops: McCully Bicycle and Sporting Goods, Eki Cyclery, The Bike Shop, and BikeFactory all supported Aloha Saturday with prizes. Eki Cyclery donated a complete Raleigh cruiser bicycle that was awarded via raffle. A high schooler who had work obligations that deterred his participation for most of the event rode off with the brightest smile on his face.

UH Manoa Administration, Hawaii State Department of Health, and the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services all provided small incentives to ensure that no one left Aloha Saturday without a small momento. Gratitude to Richard Sullivan and the Rotary Club - Kalihi District for painting KVIBE’s warehouse walls a brilliant white to make GoldSprints projection occur.

Friend of KVIBE, Molly Jenkins provided the most extraordinary of services by gathering support from local business. Because of Jenkins’ inquiries, there were additional prizes from: The Human Imagination (purveyors of the popular “hi” shirts), Downbeat Diner, Mexico Restaurant, Honolulu Zoo Society, Honolulu Museum of Art, Bishop Museum, and Fresh Cafe. Jenkins also went above and beyond by intaking and transporting - via bicycle - most of the goods.

Our parent organization, Kokua Kalihi Valley for supporting our modest bicycle program. KKV’s Jared Christenot worked behind the scenes throughout Aloha Saturday and piloted the grill and was accompanied by KKV’s “Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds” - a program to foster nutritious food habits for youth. Events such as Aloha Saturday would not exist if not for KKV/KVIBE’s dedicated volunteers Larry Victorino, Aaron Kosuga, and Mark John Mangayayam.

KVIBE would like to thank all the youth and community who came out to celebrate our beginning of summer event. Gratitude to the crew of HNL Bike Polo for coming out and exposing people to the wonders of bike polo. Thank you to Tyler Kueffner, Brian Erickson, and Lindsey Bode for all showing up at brilliantly timed random moments and providing support. Thank y’all for coming out to Aloha Saturday, now go ride a bicycle!

We Were Infinite.

There is a new coat of paint. KVIBE has never looked more grand than at this moment - good adults mentoring youth, cooperative youth assisting with nearly all shop functions. The summer may have arrived, and it is beautiful.

Aloha Saturday is a collaboration event with our friends in bicycling. There is a outline of the day’s event, but merely so - an outline. Aloha Saturday will flourish or perish on the shoulders of the community. So please consider attending, sharing a laugh with like minded individuals, and supporting your friendly neighborhood bicycle education program. Let us begin summer proper - on bicycles.

ALOHA SATURDAY | at KVIBE - 1638 Kamehameha IV Road | June 16, 2012 | 10AM

Volunteer Spotlight: Mark John Mangayayam

By the end of August, eighteen-year-old Mark John Mangayayam will be attending his first collegiate class in San Francisco. A recent graduate of Farrington High, Mark John has been one of KKV-KVIBE’s most dedicated volunteers - regularly clocking in twenty hours per week of peer mentorship for Kalihi’s youth. Mark John had never owned a bicycle prior to KVIBE, and four years later he is returning the gesture to the neighborhood’s underserved youth.

Farrington High science teacher Jonathan Lott introduced Mark John to KVIBE. An avid cyclist, Lott is often seen at Hawaii’s road races and on city streets with an urban life machine. Lott explained to his class about the KVIBE program and its intentions to promote healthy lifestyles via bicycles to youth of Kalihi. Curious, Mark John ventured to KVIBE and built a BMX bicycle that would serve as his transportation for nearly a year.

Mark John has been integral to KVIBE’s evolution. Always on board to undertake tasks above and beyond, Mark John has been building the KVIBE program to its potential. He believes in the program growing; as each event gains more success and publicity from the general public, Mark John hopes KVIBE will become a definite voice for cycling advocacy in Kalihi and beyond.

“It’s nice to see kids learn from beginning to end...bikes bring people together,” says Mark John. KVIBE has refocused its program to be instructional based, and has done so by reorganizing its warehouse space and policies. Mark John alongside Larry Victorino, Aaron Kosuga, and Eilif Knutson have systematically developed a haven of positive mentorship.

These days, Mark John is preparing to move out of his family home in Kalihi Valley. He will begin his next chapter at the Academy of Arts in pursuit of a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design. Throughout the summer though, Mark John will be giving back to the youth the same acts of kindness he was afforded by the KVIBE program.

Such Great Heights.

photos from green machines IV and bike everywhere weekend are avaliable for public consumption.