Waikiki Beach Walk pumps up Halloween

Ed Moody has met his match – and it’s a 1,000-pound pumpkin. On Oct. 21, the master pumpkin sculptor will take on his arch nemesis, a jack-o-giant, for all to see at Waikiki Beach Walk. This classic man vs. pumpkin battle takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Waikiki Beach Walk fountain plaza where families and visitors are invited to get into the early spirit of Halloween and enjoy family activities, contests and more. Michigan-resident Ed Moody brings more than 25 years of pumpkin carving experience with him for this year’s pumpkin production. Pumpkin carving initially began as a fun Halloween activity for Moody and his sons that evolved into a passion for sculpting life-sized pumpkins weighing in at more than 1,000 pounds and attracting tens of thousands of viewers each year. Waikiki Beach Walk is also hosting local artist Wayne Takazono, who will etch the faces of company founders Roy and Estelle Kelley into a pumpkin in honour of this year’s 65th anniversary of Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. The Waikiki Beach Walk pumpkin extravaganza will also feature fun and festive activities for keiki and the whole ohana to enjoy, including a keiki Halloween costume contest, colouring contest, temporary tattoos, prize wheel and giveaways. Lil’ ghouls and goblins are invited to dress up in their favorite Halloween costume for a chance to win prizes from Waikiki Beach Walk merchants and Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. Costumes will be judged at noon on the categories of most creative, cutest, scariest and best overall. Pictured, Master Pumpkin Carver Ed Moody (r) with his wife Ingrid (l) and Lorry Chong, 2011 Miss Hawaii Chinese Queen, at the 2011 Pumpkin Carving Festival in Hawaii. (http://www.pumpkincarvingfestival.org) (Photo courtesy of Pumpkin Carving Festival)