Press Room

Dr. Michael Bennett Races for Project Vision

July 25, 2010

The Molokai to Oahu Paddleboarding Word Championship drew hundreds of participants, supporters, friends and family to the shores of Hawaii Kai for the dramatic finish of the 14th annual running of a race that crosses the Ka Iwi Channel, separating the Islands of Molokai and Oahu. This 32-mile journey across the 2300-foot deep channel has challenged athletes since the first organized outrigger race in 1952.

In support of the race and Dr. Michael Bennett, founder and president of Retina Institute of Hawaii, the Project VISION bus made a pit stop to promote eye health and preventative examinations. Dr. Bennett was one of the visionaries who conceived the mobile screening facility, which has offered vision screening to thousands from Hawaii’s underserved population across the entire chain of islands.

Dr. Bennett made a strong showing in the 40+ Men’s Individual Paddleboard Division coming in 9th with a time of 6:46:02. An avid waterman, Dr. Bennett loves nothing more than spending time on the ocean when he is not performing cutting edge retina procedures for his patients. He said this channel crossing was one of the hardest things he has ever done. His super-human feat is quite the opposite from getting your eyes screened in the Project VISION bus…which will probably be one of the easiest things you’ll ever do.