After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the VW Club of Hawaii finally got the green light to bring back Hawaii’s “happiest VW week” in 2022. The 20th Annual Shaka Weekend made history, as the club filled the iconic Aloha Stadium with hundreds of VWs and bid farewell to this local landmark, which will be torn down in 2023.
The VW Club of Hawaii which promotes the festivities was founded in 1997 by a group of friends. The original group had been enjoying the VW scene in Oahu Island starting in the late 1970s-early ’80s. Todd Matsumoto (the club founder and president) and executive board members Angie Cariaga, Gordon Ortiz, Richard Carvalho, Geri Salvador, Hannibal Cabacungan, and Sal Acosta passionately serve the VW community in Hawaii, bringing fun and exciting activities throughout the year. The club celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022. Todd is also widely known as a legend in the Hawaiian VW scene for legalizing VW-based fiberglass-bodied dune buggies and kit cars in the State of Hawaii.
Aloha Stadium will be demolished later in 2023 after 55 years of history. It hosted 35 NFL Pro Bowl games, concerts by Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, The Rolling Stones, Bruno Mars, Eminem, and countless artists. The stadium gave the VW Club of Hawaii a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gather Volkswagens inside the stadium before being torn down.
One hundred twenty-three lucky enthusiasts and their VWs drove into the stadium’s infield at 10:30 AM, and we made history.
