Sports

I’m On a Boat

Monday, February 8th, 2010

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has become a regular guest at the Molokai Makahiki Games. Boats from surrounding islands have been making the trip to Kaunakakai for several years to take in the unique native Hawaiian customs.

This year, three boats made the journey and were offering tours to local residents throughout the day on Saturday. The Kiska from Hilo, the Kittiwake from Kauai and a small 45-foot response boat from Maui opened their decks to a steady stream of visitors.

He’s Going To Be a Contender

Friday, February 5th, 2010

One of Molokai’s favorite local sons, Ekolu Kalama, is hitting the waves again for the Stand Up World Tour 2010. Sunset Beach Pro on the North Shore of Oahu starts on Feb. 6 and the trials go until Feb. 14.

Good luck Ekolu!

Building Economy with Sports

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

State of Hawaii News Release

Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. announced last week that he is proposing legislation to establish a Hawai‘i Sports Commission that would enhance the state’s potential to become a worldwide leader in sports and sporting events.

The 13-member commission would be given the full-time responsibility to attract, develop and promote sports and sporting events throughout the state and generate revenues for Hawai‘i’s economy.

Sports Round-Up

Monday, January 18th, 2010

The Farmers brought home three first place finishes from the wrestling meet held at King Kekaulike last weekend. The meet was the second of the year for the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL), but the first that Molokai competed in.

Junior Kevin Dudoit battled through a series of tough opponents to win the 135-pound weight class. On the girls’ side Charisse Manley won the 130-pound division and the biggest surprise of the day was freshman Michal Torres-Umi who won the 120-pound division in her first ever high school meet.

Dudoit and Manley were top competitors last year and are continuing to get better, but Torres-Umi was a pleasant surprise.

“Her last match was a pretty big win. She beat out a junior or a senior from Baldwin,” said Molokai coach Randy Manley. “Our girls’s team did very well overall. If things stay consistent, they should have a very good finish.”

Manley said he was missing several wrestlers who couldn’t make the trip this weekend, but would help fill some of the gaps in the Farmers’ lineup. He was able to use this meet to figure out what weight classes he needed to place his strongest wrestlers in and is looking forward to this week’s meet.

“We're thinking that if we put everybody in the mix, we should look pretty good by the end of the season,” Manley said.

The Farmers are back in action this weekend with another MIL meet at Kamehameha- Maui.

Swimming
Even though the Molokai High School boys’ swim team is too small for a relay, the kane swimmers managed to place seventh out of nine teams in the first of two meets this past weekend.

The MIL Invitational at Kihei was the first back-to-back meet for the swimmers this year, who dropped their individual times considerably on the first day and held them steady on the second. 

Paddlers Ready for Redemption

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

A week after being disqualified in the waters of Kahului Harbor, the Molokai High paddlers are returning for redemption. The girls’, boys’ and mixed teams will all be back in Kahului this weekend for their third Maui Interscholastic League race of the season.

The boys’ team was disqualified in their first heat last weekend when the nose of their canoe crossed the starting line a little too early. Molokai coach Jonathon Smith said the team probably would have finished in third place.

“We all kind of believed there were some officiating calls that were errors, but we weren’t there to make the call,” Smith said. “We were feeling a little pushed against with calls on both the boys’ and girls’ sides.”

High-Scoring Farmers Fall Just Short

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

The Molokai High girls’ soccer team made history Friday afternoon by becoming the first Farmers team to score multiple goals in a game during a 4-2 loss to St. Anthony. In a rematch on Saturday, the offense exploded again, this time netting a program-record three goals. Molokai couldn’t quite pull out the win, but played their best game to date this season in the 4-3 loss.

Facing a 3-0 deficit at the start of the second half of Saturday’s game, junior captain Chelsea Sakamoto gave Molokai the spark it needed. Sakamoto chipped around a St. Anthony defender and ripped a shot at lower right corner of the net to get the Farmers on the scoreboard. Seven minutes later, Sakamoto found herself alone at the top of the goalie box again. This time she pushed one just over the hands of the Trojans’ goalkeeper.

Winter Break Sports Round-Up

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

The Molokai High boys’ paddling team took advantage of calm waters in Lahaina two weeks ago by posting their best time of the year en route to a second place finish in the Dec. 19 tournament.

“The team was really pumped, they were all very happy with the results,” said head coach Jonathon Smith.

Smith said this team – made up of Mahi Kan-Hai, Punohu Seitz, Ka`ili Levi, Ka`oli Place, Gaig Yap and Eric Gilliland – is off to the best start since he has been coaching.

“We expected to do pretty well, but we are definitely pleased with where we are at right now,” he said.

Christmas Champs

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

One of the most exciting parts of the holiday season is the chance to gather with family and old friends. Molokai High School graduates took advantage of that chance to hold an alumni softball tournament on Dec. 25-27. The tournament champion this year, above, was Team Bad Temper with players who graduated between 2005 and 2009. The team members were (Top, from left to right): Titah Maliu-Calairo, Mili Rawlins, Taija Espaniola, Mele Reyes, Cheyanne Keli?iho?omalu, (bottom) Trinity Torres-Umi, Lacey Santiago, Leilani Oneha, Iza Rapanot, and La?e Pa.