Wa`akapaemua Goes the Distance
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Community Contributed
By Bozo Dudoit
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Sports
Add your commentHelmet Drive
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.
Braced for the Bull’s Eye
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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
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Damien Pires, who has participated for about 10 years, said part of the fun is getting to hang out with old friends.
“I like getting back together with my friends from Maui, picking them up from the ferry,” he said. “We’re just having fun.”
First-place youth finishers included Kaheki Cuello (pee-wee, 560 points), Kainoa Aragosi (youth, 471), Gyson Aalone (young adult bowhunter freestyle, 497) and Kelson Uradomo (young adult freestyler, 576). In the adult divisions, first place was awarded to Tachibana (bowhunter freestyle, 571), Michael Kinores (freestyler, 576), Barry Agtarap (freestyle limited, 505), Marshall Rocine (traditional, 320), Sonny Aragosi (bowhunter freestyle limited, 475), and Frank Pupuhi (bowhunter freestyle guest class, 566). In addition to NFAA patches, all first-place finishers received trophies.
Lee thanked the tournament’s sponsors, which include MR Variety, Maka’s Corner, 808 Electric, Take’s Variety Store, Island Archery, and the Lee, Rapanot, Tancayo and Tachibana `ohanas, as well as Molokai’s bowhunters and everybody who participated.
Paddlers Raise Thousands
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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.
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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.
Kick Your Way to the National Football League
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.
More Molokai Paddlers at States
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
Molokai Youth Compete in Naish Paddle Championship
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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.
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In the men’s division, Jamie Mitchell from Australia took first place in prone and Dave Kalama took first place in unlimited. In the 14’ division, it was Jeremy Riggs and in the 12’6 division it was 16-year-old Connor Baxter that came out ahead. In the women’s division, Candice Appleby won prone; 18-year-old Talia Gangini was victorious in the SUP unlimited, Sonni Hoenscheid dominating the 14’ division and Tomoko Okazaki winning the 12’6 division. Riggs Napolean, age 13, won the 14’ class in the under 16 division, placing 19th overall.
Josie took second in the women’s under 30 12’6 division, while her brother Alex finished fourth place to Baxter, one of the top paddlers in the world. Older sister Kaela, 16, finished fourth in the under 30 14’ class, while I took the role of a racing chaperone paddling back and forth between the Molokai kids.
This event was quite the experience for these young paddlers, who brought home respectable times of 2:09 and 2:10 considering the light winds and lack of muscle power compared to other paddlers. Perhaps the best part of this event was that their confidence rose, knowing that the deep blue and rolling swells of the ocean are not as scary as they once appeared.
It was also refreshing to see other young paddlers in the race with 12-year-old Skylar Lickle from Maui, 13-year-old Heimoana Delongeaux from Tahiti, Maleko Lorenzo from Maui, 13-year-old Riggs Napoleon from Oahu, the 14-year-olds Bern Roediger, Noah Yap, Travis Baptiste and 16-year-old Connor Baxter. These kids are paving the future for hopefully many more young paddlers to enjoy this sport.
A great event by all and perhaps next year there will be more of a line up from Molokai.
Gains on the Gridiron
Last year, Molokai High School’s (MHS’s) club football team played its first two games in 50 years. About 20 players were on the roster, and head coach Mike Kahale joked they played with “chicken-skin goosebumps,” and wore donated, dyed uniforms that came out looking “doo-doo green.”
More than 30 players participated in tryouts for the club team’s second season last week, and they look forward to playing more than twice as many games as last season – including their home opener on Sept. 17. They were brimming with confidence, and had used fundraising and donations to purchase their own uniforms – in proper Molokai Farmer green.
Molokai Paddlers Bring It to States
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With 17 crews on the water, Molokai was well-represented this year in the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (HCRA) state championship, held at Hanakaoo (Canoe) Beach Park on Maui last Saturday. Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club brought 12 crews, while Kukui O Molokai and Molokai Canoe Club had two and three, respectively.
“We’re going against the best in the state – all you can do is try your best,” said Molokai Canoe Club President Liko Wallace.
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Fall Sports Round-up
It’s time to stock up on all things green – face-paint, T-shirts, banners and signs, as the Molokai High School (MHS) sports teams get ready for your support. The Farmers are gearing up for another fall season when they’ll don their knee pads, lace up their shoes and get behind their rifles in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL).
Girls’ Volleyball
The girls’ volleyball team aims to defend its state title this season while boasting the largest roster Matt Helm has seen in his eight years as head coach. The 14-player squad includes five returnees, and with three consecutive Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) titles under their belts, Helm said he knows the team has “a little target on their back.”
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