Howl-o-ween treat It's a bird, it's a plane, it's super dog! No, it's not a mistake. Pooches everywhere are getting prepared for Halloween festivities. Costumes for canines are available at costume shops and at the Hawaii Doggie Bakery and Gift Shop.
Ward Warehouse is putting
NYC rescue-dog benefit
on the dog with a costume
contest just for caninesBy Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com"One of the most popular selling costumes is our daisy costume," said Jen Kunishima, owner of Hawaii Doggie Bakery. "We are also selling witch, clown, ladybug and pumpkin costumes. I notice a lot of people dress their dogs up as angels or butterflies. Smaller dogs like to be hot dogs or tacos." Party City also has Superman, princess and prisoner costumes.
The 2nd Annual "Howl-o-ween Canine Costume Contest" will be held at the Ward Warehouse Amphitheatre Sunday. "Some dogs just wear neckerchiefs to be festive. Even if they are not the type of dog to be in a contest, they can still greet kids at the door when their owners are giving out candy."
"It gets elaborate because people make their own costumes. People get really creative and sometimes even make matching outfits for themselves and their dogs. Last year, one woman dressed her two puppies as peas in a pod. Another man dressed his dog as a sushi seller, with prices on the edibles," said Kunishima.
Susan Schroeder's Chocolate Labrador took the prize in the scariest category last year. "Hunter was a cave dog," said Schroeder. "I used an adult male caveman costume and altered it for him. We used a pirate's beard as a wig and he also had a bone necklace. Many of the store- bought costumes are designed for smaller dogs," she said. Kunishima explained that costume accessories are attached with elastic that goes around the ears or under the chin, much like a party hat people would wear.
Hunter was not impressed by the other canines. "He barked a lot more than usual. I think he was freaked out by all the other dogs being dressed up. He was upset and definitely more ferocious," Schroeder said.
"Dogs are really a part of the family," Kunishima said. "As we get older, we feel silly dressing up ourselves, se we focus our energy on our kids and dogs. Many people treat their dogs like children."
She also feels that family time has become more important: "After the Sept. 11 tragedy, people began to prioritize what's important in their lives and what makes them happy. Life is precious and can be quickly taken away.".
Local celebrities judge the pooches in seven "dog-agories" including: most original; scariest pooch; silliest dog; prettiest pooch; cutest canine; most elaborate; and best local doggie. "We say 'dog-agories' not to be confused with categories," explained Kunishima.
We will also have an "ask-a-trainer" booth, where trainers answer questions and offer tips, and a Halloween-themed photo booth," Kunishima said ."This year's canine costume contest also includes a pooch parade.". The costumed canines will march all around Ward Warehouse immediately following the contest. Some families come down to see other people's creativity, even if they don't have pets of their own.
2nd Annual Howl-o-ween Canine Costume Contest and Pooch Parade: Howl of a time
When: 11 a.m. Oct. 28; registration begins at 10 a.m.
Where: Ward Warehouse Amphitheatre
Admission: Free, and free biscuits to the first 100 dogs. Halloween photos
for $5; free for all the winners
Call: 521-5297
Many rescuers lost their lives due to the tragedy on Sept. 11, including 300 rescue dogs. "Their paws were so cut up, many of them needed to be put to sleep," said Jen Kunishima, owner of Hawaii Doggie Bakery and Gift Shop. ‘Paws for a Cause’
T-shirt profits benefit
New York’s rescue dogsTrudi Mahelona, head baker at the bakery, came up with an idea to help those canine workers who suffered. She designed the "Paws for a Cause" T-shirts. The shirts will be sold and the profits will be donated to the New York Fire Department Canine Unit.
"We are so overwhelmingly sad about everything that has happened. Heather Ho was one of the victims (at the World Trade Center) and she was also my classmate from preschool to high school," said Mahelona.
Volunteer veterinarians assisted the search-and-rescue dogs. Some dogs were suffering from exhaustion, heatstroke or dehydration. Others were covered with debris or had lacerations on their footpads. The dogs also suffered from severe depression, explained Mahelona.
The T-shirts are available at the Hawaii Doggie Bakery and Gift Shop until the end of the year. The fund-raiser will begin in conjunction with the canine costume contest Sunday.
Universal Pictures and Beach Orchid Film Productions tomorrow 10/26 and Saturday 10/27 and Nov. 2 and 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will hold open casting calls for extras for the motion picture "Surf Girls" which films on Oahu Dec. 12 to Feb. 12.
The production will break for the holidays Dec. 23-Jan 4.
The auditions will be held at the Turtle Bay esort's Bayview Lounge with free parking for those signing up.
All ages and ethnicities are invited as long as they fit the profile of surfer or beachgoer. Casting directors want applicants to bring a photo or a picture will be taken at the time of the audition.
The production is still casting for at least three of the four main female leads and two male roles. Producers also are seeking "an excellent female surfer, 14-17 years old, precocious with a bad attitude." The speaking role is for one of the leads.
"Surf Girls" is a romance set against the world of big-wave surfing directed by John Stockwell.
The casting information hotline at the Hawaii Film Studiois 539-3331.
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