---

TheBuzz

BY ERIKA ENGLE

Monday, July 23, 2001

Kona in synch
with swimmers

It won't be on TV, but Kona made a big splash with United States Synchronized Swimming last week.

The United Airlines Open Synchronized Swimming Championships wrapped up Saturday, after bringing more than 350 swimmers, coaches and families to the Kona Community Aquatic Center, the Royal Kona Resort and other area businesses.

USSS is the Indiana-based governing body for synchronized swimming in the United States, according to Publications Coordinator John Servizzi.

"We run the Olympic team to the beginner levels," such as the just-ended meet, he said. Servizzi said the staff at the Royal Kona Resort was "very accommodating to the girls."

"We were running late at the pool and the folks at the Royal Kona held the (Wednesday night) luau -- stalled it -- so that our girls could make it. It's just one example of how they bent over backwards for us."

"The entire city of Kona," he said, "the vendors, with all the girls out shopping and the parents enjoying the nightlife here, everyone has just been very warm and welcoming." He said the girls will return home to their respective states with a good sense of the words "aloha and mahalo." Servizzi said because people involved in synchronized swimming tend to be affluent, "they will definitely leave some money in the area."

Hawaii County Acquatics Recreation Assistant Terry Miura agreed the economic impact was positive.

"We're trying to spark interest in the islands," Servizzi said, "as this is the perfect place to have a synchronized swim team. You can swim outside every day, all year round." The organization is online at www.usasynchro.org.

Open arms for those "in between jobs"

It's billed as The Mega Job Fair of Hawaii, with hiring managers from more than 19 organizations on hand to accept applications and talk with those handing 'em in. Event sponsors Ameriquest Mortgage Co., JobsHawaii.com and Hawaii Employment Monthly are hosting the Aug. 13 fair at the Hawaii Convention Center.

---

Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com