Elaine Coats, receives her award for winning the “Gorgeous” catagory. (Brad Ballesteros/Special to West Hawaii Today)
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Russ Robinson won for having the most creative costume at the Kailua-Kona Seniors Club’s Halloween costume contest at Hale Halawai Wednesday morning. Participants received a bag containing miscellaneous items for a donation. They were tasked with putting together a costume using all or part of the items they got. Jeannie Heishman strikes a pose in the costume she created from her bag. Elaine Coats receives her award for winning the “Gorgeous” category. (Brad Ballesteros/Special to West Hawaii Today)
Kona Seniors Halloween Costume Contest participants at Hale Halawai Wed morning. Seniors received a bag containing items which could be used to create a costume. Jeannie Heishman strikes a pose in her costume created from items from the bag she got. (Brad Ballesteros/Special to West Hawaii Today)
The Kailua-Kona Seniors Club Halloween costume contest participants at Hale Halawai Wednesday morning. Seniors received a bag containing items which could be used to create a costume. (Brad Ballesteros/Special to West Hawaii Today)
A dark, scary witch, a playful Flopsy Bunny and a jail convict headlined the Kailua-Kona Seniors Club’s Halloween costume contest held Wednesday.
“Elderly people need to get together, talk and have fun, too,” said club president Bev Aikele, who donned Santa-style lingerie and flip flops on her ears while carrying a stuffed bunny in reverence to the Flopsy Bunnies of Peter Cottontail. “It’s part of being healthy.”
Aikele was just one of about a dozen seniors who donned costumes during the group’s weekly meeting held at Hale Halawai. Prizes were given to the top winners.
The costume party grew from an idea by Olivia Mitterwallner, who said her club in Temecula, Calif., used to hold a party to raise money. She suggested the idea because of it’s ability to get people to participate.
“People liked it and it was hilarious,” she remembered. “I hope the people here have fun.”
The costumes were chosen by club members and put into a sealed black “fun time bag.” Members wishing to dress up made a $2 donation to support the club and promised to wear everything in the bag.
And, that means everything — from a stained pair of board shorts to golf clubs and women’s lingerie. Creativity took over for many with some using skimpy underwear as hairpieces.
Elaine Coats, who won the contest for most gorgeous, said she was happy when she opened her bag containing a wig, sequined white lingerie and a skirt.
“It was kind of cute,” explained Coats, who said she has always taken part in Halloween celebrations. “Halloween is such a fun time.”
Results of the Kailua-Kona Seniors Club Halloween costume contest:
Overall winner: Claire Inman
Most gorgeous: Elaine Coats
Most scary: Barbara Stiller
Most creative: Russ Robinson
