This blog post was written by Ariyanna Ellison, SportsAbility Alliance Sports Management Intern. 

Making Waves: Tallahassee Northside Kiwanis Paddles to Victory in SportsAbility Alliance's 2025 Big Kahuna Fundraiser Event 

This year’s Big Kahuna Event delivered another unforgettable day on water as teams paddled with passion, purpose and competitive energy! Under clear skies at Maclay Gardens State Park, the annual SportsAbility Alliance Big Kahuna fundraiser event brought together sponsors, participants and supporters for fun-filled outdoor leisure. 

The atmosphere was full of excitement as participants anxiously lined up for the voyager style canoe race, an annual tradition that continues to bring supporters of SportsAbility Alliance together year after year. When the final splashes settled, Tallahassee Northside Kiwanis emerged as victors in a thrilling finish against the reigning champions, North Florida Christian High School Baseball team! With strong coordination and steady strokes, they powered through the course and earned a well-deserved win.

Thank you to all of our boat sponsors! 

• Bradfordville Kiwanis Club
• Capital City Kiwanis Club
• Killearn Kiwanis Club
• North Florida Christian Baseball Team
• Tallahassee Northside Kiwanis Club
• Virtual Kiwanis of the Big Bend 
• Wilson Family Medicine 

 Your support and dedication to inclusion and leisure have a meaningful impact, helping us share the mission of SportsAbility Alliance. 

With clear skies and sunshine, this year’s Big Kahuna Canoe Race Event was filled with enthusiasm from start to finish. We want to give a special shoutout to the amazing teams and volunteers who helped paddle and brought great energy to the event. 

Volunteers from Sail High School Key Club, James S. Rickards High School Key Club, Leon High School Key Club, Godby High School Key Club, Florida High University Schools Key Club, John Paul II High School Key Club, Boy Scouts Troop 10, Florida State University Pre-Physician Assistant Society, FSU CKI, FSU Sport Management and Tallahassee State College added a vibrant spirit as team members paddled with confidence and determination. The involvement of all not only boosted competition, but reflected a true spirit of service, commitment and fun!

A big thank you to Kalem Wooten and Brent Edson for serving as our canoe crew, keeping each race organized and flowing smoothly. We’d also like to thank John and Joseph Beeman for providing rescue boat support services throughout the event! We couldn’t do it without your support! 

To our boat sponsors, volunteers, participants and spectators – thank you for bringing enthusiasm, teamwork and support to this year’s Big Kahuna. It is because of your commitment and dedication that this tradition continues to grow and bring our community together in the spirit of recreation and inclusion. We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s event such a success.