HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The first day of the 29th Annual 'Aukake Classic was held at Waiau District Park in Pearl City on Saturday, gathering around 400 Special Olympics athletes from across the state.
The event featured a multi-division five-a-side soccer tournament, individual skills soccer competition, and traditional and Unified bocce doubles tournaments.
"The athletes are here showing what they can do, not what they cannot do," Special Olympics Hawaii President and CEO Dan Epstein said. "Quite often people recognize disabilities for what they can't do. Here, they get absolutely recognized for the champions that they are and for what they can do."
According to the Special Olympics Hawaii, the athletes had spent the summer training for area and regional competitions to qualify for the event.
"All the people that support, the volunteers that come is just amazing to see people come together and put this on for them and give them the chance to have that win of a championship, scoring a touchdown or bocce ball," Josh Wilhelm said. His sister is a participant. "The simple things matter."
The "'Aukake Classic" is one of three major state competitions organized annually by Special Olympics Hawaii.
The event will resume Sunday, August 18:
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Unified Bocce
9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Soccer
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