Water sportsmen Clyde Aikau and Bobby Puakea will be honored at the 24th annual Ala Wai Challenge, an event featuring outrigger canoe racing and ancient Hawaiian Makahiki games.

This cultural event will be held Jan. 25 at the Ala Wai Neighborhood Park and Clubhouse from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will showcase how the Hawaiian people competed in unique sport games.

Puakea, a master canoe builder, has coached many canoe clubs over the years. Aikau is a big wave surfer and brother of the late Eddie Aikau.

The event, sponsored by the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, also features a variety of handmade Hawaiian crafts, free entertainment, food vendors and other activities.

The double-elimination outrigger canoe race is a quarter-mile race along the Ala Wai Canal, which is open to all skill levels.

The Hawaiian games feature bowling a round stone through pegs, spear throwing, dart sliding, stone throw and tug of war.

Admission is free.

For more information about the Ala Wai Challenge or the Waikiki Community Center, contact 923-1802 or visit its Web site at www.waikikicommunitycenter.org.

GYMNASTS COMPETE IN ALOHA GYMFEST

A total of 250 gymnasts from Japan, Canada, Australia and the United States are scheduled to compete today and tomorrow in the 33rd annual Aloha Gymfest.

The meet, hosted by the Kokokahi Gymnastics Team, is at Kailua High School Gym.

The 25-team competition begins at 3 p.m. today with a compulsory competition. The meet continues at 8 a.m. tomorrow with the top-level gymnasts competing at 6 p.m.

Today's admission is $3 for children and $6 for adults. Tomorrow's admission is $6 for children and $12 for adults.

For details, call 235-6866 or go to www.kokokahigymnastics.com.

BASEBALL TRYOUTS FOR SUMMER TRAVEL TEAM

Tryouts will be held Feb. 1 for Hawai'i high school players interested in being on the 808 Dragons 18-under baseball travel team that will play in the Shockers Wood Bat Classic in Lynwood, Wash.

The tryouts are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Radford High School baseball field.

The team will consist of 15 to 18 players, who will play a minimum of six games at the tournament, June 29 to July 6, in front of college recruiters and major league scouts, according to organizers.

For details, e-mail Dean Sato at dean.sato@hawaiiantel.net.

NOTE

The Couch Potato Basketball League for players 6 feet and under will start play Feb. 15 or 22 and run every Sunday at Halawa Gym. For details, e-mail couchpotatoball@gmail.com.