We were happy to donate Hamakua Springs bananas recently for participants at the sixth annual EMS Run over Memorial Day weekend. That’s an event supporting the Hawai‘i Fire Department and Hospice of Hilo that drew nearly 500 runners and walkers to beautiful Lili‘uokalani Park.

Despite having taken a wrong turn, Germain Ortiz led the way and was first overall at 17:22. His detour added a few hundred yards to his route before he jumped a fence to get back on course. He regained his lead at the turnaround point.

After having won the last four EMS runs (wow!), Jason Thorpe came in second this year at 17:48. Lyman Perry was close behind (17:56). In sixth place overall, and placing as first overall female at 18:40, was Kona’s Rani Tanimoto. She was followed by Caitlyn Tateishi (21:13), who just beat out Angie Miyashiro (21:15).

We were impressed to learn that 7-year-old Ziggy Bartholomy zipped through the 5K course in 22:49. Another nod of the head goes to Bill McMahon, who warmed up by cycling from Volcano to Hilo and then still posted a very respectable time of 19:10.

This was also the first year for an EMS Keiki Run. Kids were split into two heats—3-5 years, and 6-10 years—for a hilly, quarter-mile course through the park. In the older group, a glimpse of the Big Island’s running future: Ziggy Bartholomy and Kirah Cooke pushed past the pack and raced the last 50 yards neck and neck to a photo finish, breaking the tape together.

Hamakua Springs is happy to support this good cause. Go run or walk the EMS event next year—support your Hawai‘i Fire Department and Hospice of Hilo—and maybe we’ll see you there.

There’s a full list of run winners here.

— Leslie Lang