Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
By COLIN M. STEWART
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Beauty pageant contestants throughout the state are preparing to strut their stuff in Hilo this weekend in the hopes of earning a very prestigious title. They’re getting new hairdos, buffing and polishing their nails, as well as working out the finer details of their routines.
Barring the utter pandemonium that could break out in the event of a stray cat finding its way into the venue, everything is set to go off without a hitch.
Running through Monday, The Orchid Island Dog Fancier Club Inc. will celebrate its 100th AKC sanctioned all-breed show at the Edith Kanakaole Multipurpose Stadium in Hilo.
For dog fanciers, as they call themselves, a dog show is not just an opportunity to prove whose dog is the fairest of them all.
“It’s an opportunity to see different dogs of different breeds, to talk to the breeders, to learn about breeding,” said club President Lei Taft. “And sometimes, it’s just good fun to see a 5-pound dog compared to a 200-pound dog.”
And, said club member Lisa Dangelmaier, it’s a great way to make friends.
“One of the nice things about being involved is that almost instantly, you’re part of a larger community throughout not only the nation, but the world,” she said. “I have friends in Australia, Denmark. Then locally, here in Hilo, (getting involved in dog shows) is how I met most of my best friends.”
Taft joined the club in 1974, just a year after its founding, and has seen interest in the sport of dog showing grow on Hawaii Island by leaps and bounds since the early days.
“Way back in the ’70s, we had to bring in all of our breeding stock,” she said. “It was more difficult. It took a huge commitment from a breeder’s standpoint.”
While issues like quarantines and shipping of dogs have become easier over the years, she said, the sport remains one that requires a lot of dedication. There are only four or five shows on the island each year, she said, and participants must be willing to part with a lot of cash, and spare time, to travel to Oahu and the mainland if they want to show their animals regularly.
Ultimately, both women agreed, the sport is open to anyone and everyone.
“That’s what’s so wonderful about it,” Taft said. “We share a common love for dogs. Attorneys, doctors, refuse collectors, it doesn’t matter. Everybody is from different walks of life. It may be harder if you have less money, but it still can be done.”
The No. 1 most important thing participants must have is an undying love for dogs, she said.
“For some people, (the attraction) can be the fact that they could win something, and the honors and whatnot. But for me, anyway, it’s about spending some quality time with that dog. It’s about taking a little vacation together. We have fun. And Hawaiian Airlines makes a fortune on us,” Taft said with a laugh.
For Lisa Dangelmaier, the object of her affection is the Cairn Terrier. Gaining worldwide fame through Toto in “The Wizard of Oz,” the breed is a working dog from the Scottish Highlands.
“They’re not usually as flashy as some of the more stylish dogs,” she said. “They’re more unexpected. I just love the dogs themselves. For me, it’s all about preserving the breed. Building on what people did before us and carrying on the traditions.”
Dangelmaier said that this weekend’s show will display that passion that each dog owner has for his or her animal.
In addition to the all-breed show, the weekend will feature a pair of trials on Saturday and Sunday for the Hilo Obedience Training Club. The three-day event is open to the public and there is no admission fee. Hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, visit BaRayEvents.com, or contact Angelese Russell at 326-1483.
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.