Sports

Molokai Keeps 1989 Memories in Play

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

Molokai Dispatch photo file.

As an assistant girls’ volleyball coach at Molokai High, Billy Dudoit used to always gather his players together. He would look into their eyes, in mid-game huddles, in post-game debriefings, and tell them how to block better and serve straighter. But when he gathered them together that Saturday night, on Oct. 28, 1989, he knew his usual rhetoric wouldn’t cut it.

That evening, he and much of the Molokai community were camped out at the island’s lone airport, waiting for reports on a missing plane carrying 20 passengers, including eight Molokai High volleyball players, girls’ head coach Odetta Rapanot and school athletic director John Ino.…

Molokai Football Secures Semifinals Berth

Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

Photo by Kristie Caparida.

Overcoming turnover issues and a late injury to their starting quarterback, the Molokai Farmers managed a 42-21 win over the Hana Dragons on Saturday, Oct. 11, in Molokai’s final regular season game at home. With the win, the Farmers guaranteed themselves second place in the league and a spot in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) semifinals.

“We started off slow,” said head coach Mike Kahale. “…Definitely a bunch of miscues, a bunch of fumbles, but the kids put it together when they needed to.”

After a scoreless first quarter, the Farmers’ offense broke open. Receivers Kaimana Kahale and Willie Dela Cruz both hauled in touchdown passes from quarterback John Michael Mokiao-Duvauchelle.…

New Coach, Same Goals for Cross Country

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014

Last week, Molokai High Cross Country Coach Mahina Hou Ross departed on board the Hokule`a. Now Molokai’s cross country runners, under the direction of interim coach Manu Adolpho, have dreams of a shorter but meaningful journey of their own: traveling to Oahu for the state cross country championships.

“We have been training hard as a team and putting in the miles needed to get us to where we want,” said senior Luke Kikukawa, who placed seventh overall in the Farmers’ Sept. 20 meet. “…We’re expecting, if not our entire boys’ team, some to qualify for the state meet on Oahu.”

Race statistics back the boys’ hopes, as Molokai has turned in multiple top three finishes in this season’s meets, with Keaoalono Ross and Markis-Grayson Aldridge joining Kikukawa as top 20 finishers.…

Farmers Air Riflery a Force to Fear

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014

Junior Kea`a Davis competes in the standing portion of Molokai’s Oct. 2 match. Davis finished 26th, while the Molokai girls finished fifth and the boys placed first.

Molokai High air riflery coaches Daniel Imakyure and Chinky Hubbard have come to the same conclusion. Both men, with extensive firearms backgrounds, have peered through the sights of their students’ air rifles, taken the 33-foot shot at miniscule paper targets and come away surprised by the experience.

“I tried it out myself,” said Hubbard, the Molokai girls’ coach. “It’s not that easy.”

“It’s actually pretty difficult,” boys’ coach Imakyure admitted.

This season, however, Molokai High School (MHS) student marksmen are making it look deceptively simple.…

Farmers Football Sweeps St. Anthony

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

Photo by Bianca Moragne.

The Farmers football team’s defense came together strong in the second half of the game to win last Saturday’s home conference game against the St. Anthony Trojans by a score of 20-6.

“Defensively we came out a little sluggish in the first half, but we brought it and played ball in the second half,” said Head Coach Mike Kahale.

Kahale said the team has a lot to work on, especially after injuries on the field. Junior Alden Abafo, a defensive back and running back, was hit hard and injured in the third quarter while running the ball and sat out the rest of the game.…

Volleyball Falls to Seabury

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

Photo by Catherine Cluett.

The Lady Farmers volleyball team put up a valiant fight in a pair of home games against the Seabury Spartans last weekend. Seabury won both three-set games, with 25-13, 25-15, 25-12 Friday night, and concluding Saturday 25-10, 25-18, 25-17. Previously undefeated, the Lady Farmers now stand at 4-2 this season.

The Farmers also celebrated the team’s seniors, Kelsie Espiritu-Tanabe, Rebecka Adolpho, Shanrese “Lehiwa” Pedro and Kiana Simmons Friday night with colorful decorations, a slideshow, and lei.

The Lady Farmers’ next home event will be Oct. 23-25 when they host the MIL Championships.…