WHEELING TOWARD ACCESSIBILITY by Jean Hartley

The ocean offers inviting opportunities to people with disabilities for surfing, snorkeling, canoe paddling and kayaking but only if the barriers of sandy beaches and lava rock shorelines can be overcome.

The village of Kailua Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii offers water sports in abundance year round in its mild Pacific currents. The challenges to accessibility are crumbling thanks to community efforts to provide wide plastic carpets (Mobi mats) for easy access to the waterline. The National Parks Department loans lightweight all-terrain beach wheelchairs at three locations. The canvas chairs with balloon tires carry passengers to waiting canoes or rafts or into the shallow water for swimming. Those with physical limitations need no longer be merely observers, but active participants in these waters of refreshing and healing qualities.

While some land sports remain hurdles to the disabled visitor, many have recently made the shift to special equipment such as crane lifts, ramps or trained helpers. One local business, Disabled Adventures Hawaii, is dedicated to the needs of the physically limited. The on-line service connects people with 14 Kona sports businesses that assure a safe and accessible experience on their land or water activities. The web site also offers helpful tips on transportation and equipment rental on the west coast of the island, as well as links to international resources.

A recent special addition is a map illustrating the ocean-side walking route through Kona village's shops, restaurants and historic sites. The map points out the safest uninterrupted walking path, as well as 51 reserved parking spaces.

Kona is host every year to the Ford Ironman Triathlon Championship which brings over 1,500 athletes to compete in swimming, biking and running events. A select group of Challenged Athletes compete within their division in the same three events. Wheelchair athletes such as Ricky James and Jason Fowler come to Kona for the grueling 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run. Amputees and quadriplegics usually require special swimming gear, use of a handcycle for the bike portion and a racing wheelchair for the run.

Whether an Ironman or Sunday morning canoe paddler, people with disabilities are pushing aside the old notion of barriers in the sports world. Mobi mats, ocean-side walkways, and all-terrain beach wheelchairs make nature more available. Organizations such as Disabled Adventures Hawaii (www.disabledadventureshawaii.com) make the connections to get visitors to this ocean paradise in the Pacific.