Hundreds of fans cheered a mean, green touchdown-scoring machine last Saturday, as the Molokai High School (MHS) club football team blanked visiting Seabury Hall in the first matchup of the season.
“It felt good – it was an exciting game,” said sophomore Noah Caparida. “We’re looking like a real team.”
.JPG)
The 26-mile Pailolo Channel is one of the windiest but best courses in the state, according to its paddlers. Last Saturday, 70 teams assembled for the fifth annual six-person outrigger race from Maui to Molokai known as the Pailolo Challenge. Molokai’s Wa`akapaumua men completed the race in 4th place overall with a time of 2:59.48. The club also paddled a women’s crew, finishing 10th in the open women’s division.
.JPG)
Molokai’s Clint Labrador said the course held five to six foot swells on race day. “The finish was intense as we were battling with Hawaiian Canoe Club's first crew from about One Alii Park for 3rd place,” he said. “They got us by a half canoe length at the very end, but we managed to give them a run for their money.”
With nine newcomers on the Molokai High School (MHS) girls’ volleyball team this year, head coach Matt Helm said before the season started that “there would be a lot more teaching going on” than in 2010, when the Lady Farmers clenched the state title and their third consecutive Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) crown.
It looks like they’re learning fast, as the girls in green went undefeated in their first two MIL games last weekend, downing Lanai in three sets each match.
“We are definitely improving,” Helm said after Saturday’s match, which the Lady Farmers won 25-15, 25-15 and 25-20. “We’re going in the right direction.”
.JPG)
Community Contributed
By Bozo Dudoit
.JPG)
Football’s future on Molokai is bright. It is the second year of a three-year plan to becoming an MIL sanctioned sport and to officially be a part of the Molokai High School (MHS) athletics. The current football team operates independently from the high school and all funds for equipment and travel are from generous donations, marketing and public relations and fundraising. It can be a huge endeavor, but things are looking up! This year the team will don new uniforms and helmets, dressed in proper Molokai Farmer green.
.JPG)
It’s a Saturday morning in Kalae, and the woods are quiet – until, suddenly, they’re pierced by the sound of a whistle. Moments later, dozens of “pop pop pops” seem to come from across the two-and-a-half-acre course all at once, as colorful arrows catapult through the air and lodge themselves in cardboard bales. The Molokai Bowhunters Association (MBA) is kicking off its marked animal target competition, an annual event sanctioned by the National Field Archery Association (NFAA).
As the tournament progresses, other sounds filter through the tall trees: laughter among friends as they move along the
.JPG)
.JPG)
Community Contributed by Clare Seeger Mawae
After a couple-year hiatus, the Molokai Challenge was brought back to life on Aug. 13 by two young Molokai SUP paddlers, 11-year-old Josie and 9-year-old Alex Mawae. Sixteen-year-olds Shauden Pedro and Kaela Pereira joined the event and all of them did so well despite challenging conditions of the crossing. In effort to raise money for charities of their choice, Youth in Motion relay teams crossed the Pailolo Channel from Maui to Molokai. They then continued their journey independently from Kamalo to Malama Park where six-man canoes joined in and paddled the last leg with them.
The purpose of this event is to inspire youth in following their dreams and realizing that no matter what challenges may be presented, opportunities do exist. The crossing from Maui is a chance for adults to give back to the next generation and a chance for youth under the adult chaperones to go out and accomplish challenges while inspiring other youth that they can do the same. At this year’s Molokai Challenge, participating keiki athletes raised well over $2000 in pledges to donate to their chosen charities.
.JPG)
Last Saturday on Maui, the three stand-up paddle teams gathered at D.T. Flemmings Beach Park, while participating kite boarders prepared themselves at an adjacent beach. The winds were perfect to start paddling to Molokai, since a southwest swell was running and causing turbulence with a strong current in a northeast direction making tactical decisions important. Out past mid-channel, the winds picked up and the swells and wind were lined in a perfect direction to make it over to Kamalo.
As Molokai was approaching with three miles to the destination, the Molokai Challenge lived up to its name, with shifts in wind and swells. The last three miles took almost 1.5 hours to complete because of the challenging factors, making crossing the channel seem quite easy. Four hours and 25 minutes later Josie Mawae touched shore with a huge smile on her face. Team Pa`a Hana with Shauden Pedro continued past Kamalo due to the shifting wind and then pulled out in line with Rice Patch. Two kiting teams had a blast making the most of the wind and swells giving an incredible air show at Kamalo.
Malama Park came alive with the kupuna singing and playing their instruments, dancing hula, talking story bringing forth flowing ideas of the future of this cultural park.
This was an amazing experience for the young paddlers and after the crossing was over, they were made it quite clear that this was just the beginning in the long distance racing quest. Both Josie and Alex Mawae are ready and set to mark their calendars for 2012 with more events and for sure doing the Molokai Challenge again, but this time with more experience and training under their belt.
For more information on SUP racing and/or trying the sport on Molokai you can contact Clare Seeger Mawae from Stand Up Paddle Association of Molokai and Youth in Motion via email at clare@youthinmotion.org.
Maui County Department of Parks & Recreation News Release
Young pro football fans will have the opportunity to exhibit their football skills when the Maui County Dept. of Parks & Recreation hosts an NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition on Aug. 27 at the Kaunakakai ball park at 9 a.m. The competition is free and open to boys and girls ages 6-15. For competition information, call Kaunakakai gym staff at 553-5141 or 553-5819. Entry forms are available online at NFLyouthfootball.com or from the Kaunakakai gym.
The NFL Punt, Pass & Kick football competition allows youngsters to showcase their talents in punting, passing and kicking with scores based on distance and accuracy. Age classification is as of Dec. 31 of the current year.
Community Contributed by by Penny Martin
In addition to the three Molokai canoe clubs – Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club (CC), Molokai CC and Kukui O Molokai – who participated in the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association state championship earlier this month, these individuals also represented Molokai while rowing for other organizations.
Nicki Tachibana, Keauhou CC – Women’s Novice A, 5th place, 4:40.81
Conrad Martin, Kailua CC – Men’s Novice A, 1st place, 7:27.44
Hoku Keala, Hui Nalu CC – Women’s Freshman, 4th place, 8:22.01
Carlton Helm, Lanikai CC – Men’s Junior, 1st place, 7:02.00
.jpg)
Community Contributed
By Clare Seeger Mawae
The 6th Annual Naish Paddle Championships was held on Maui on July 24 from Maliko Gulch to Kahului Harbor, a distance of 9.54 miles. More than 220 world-class international competitors in both prone and stand up paddle divisions gathered for this event. Two Molokai youth, Josie Mawae, 11, and Alex Mawae, 9, were the youngest competitors in this prestigious line-up.
.jpg)
Add your comment