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Add your commentMolokai Girls Volleyball Finishes on Top
The girls of Kime Ka La outplayed 16 teams to capture the gold medal at the Aloha State Games Women’s B division on June 29.
By Kimberly Helm
June turned out to be a winning month for the Molokai Girls Volleyball Club. Playing on Oahu, which hosts the largest club region in the state, Kime Ka La came out on top in two of the three largest, most competitive and highly respected tournaments in the state.
On June 7 to 9, the club played in two competitive Aloha Region Juniors Tournaments. On the first day's tournament, the club experienced high caliber competition, playing against some of the toughest 18's club teams in the state. Although the club did not make it to the top pool, it stayed competitive throughout the tournament. The second day's tournament was an open junior’s tournament that also included two boys’ teams. Kime Ka La went on to win the tournament with a perfect record of 6-0.
With only a week to prepare, the club returned to Oahu on June 20 to 22 to compete in the Aloha State Games Women's A Division. The division featured current and past collegiate club players. Pool play merged the A division with the open division and the club quickly realized that these women could still play at a very high level. Kime Ka La went on to capture the bronze medal.
The club returned to Molokai for three days of practice and returned to Oahu to compete in their final club tournament on June 27 and 29. The Aloha State Games Women's B division featured 16 teams from across the state. Being that the club is the defending Haili Women's B champions, Kime Ka La's youthful club was the target for teams to beat. After placing second (5-1) in the first day of pool play, Kime Ka La was ready to step up to the challenge in the second day of competition. The team returned to the tournament and played flawless to complete pool play at 6-0, finishing 25-15 in the final to win the gold medal.
Earning the respect in the world of club volleyball is not an easy task and these girls faced the challenge and represented their community of Molokai with humility, dignity and pride. The club members gained meaningful learning experiences that will prepare them well for high school and college competition.
On behalf of the club, coaches Kim Helm and Cheryl Ramos would like to thank the many people and organizations who have made donations, supported their fundraisers and made the time to help them prepare for their season.
“Our successful season reflects the positive environment our girls have had the privilege to be surrounded by,” said Helm.
To Julyn, Alana and the Kaupu Ohana thank you for your wonderful hospitality, you gave us a home away from home (Yah Pearl City!). We would like to thank our parents & families for supporting our philosophies of hard work, respect, discipline and dedication. Thank you for being so understanding and supportive of our passion for the game of volleyball.
Dana, Becky, Darren, Ross & Gramps Takashima Steve, Kulia, Lihau & Kamalu Keliikuli-Peters Va'ai, Naomi & Jericho (Uso) Seumalo Tiare, Tom, Keola, Nanea & Kamaki Ritte-Manangan Michael, Mele, Mikey, & Tristian Hooper Maria, Larry, Melani, Hale, Mahea, Buddy, & Kolu Rawlins Kathy & Walter Mendes Shane, Puanani, La'a, Kea, & Pueo Surmanap Jim Boy & Jalyn Duvauchelle Scarlett, Ka'o, & Da TItas Ritte-Camara Dan, Cheryl, Amber & Michael Sterner Bill, Esther, Braddahs & Sistahs Torres-Umi Tammy, Norman, Tiana, Taupou, & Kaili Levi
Your daughters are a true reflection of careful parenting, unconditional love and pure heart! We are truly and sincerely thankful! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
Catch You Later
New lunar calendar tells Hawaiians when not to fish.
Local Surfers Shred it Up
Friendly Isle rippers medal at state tournament.
By Dispatch Staff
Molokai surfers represented at the season finale for the Hawaii Surfing Association, On Oahu on June 4, 5, and 6. Kaoli Kahokuloa, Taoa Pou, and Mark Shima competed against more than 270 surfers from around the state.
All three Molokai competitors duked it out in the shortboard divisions in nearly perfect surf at Ala Moana Bowl, on Magic Island.
Molokai grown Kahokuloa took third place in his division and won $150, a stuffed prize bag and a huge trophy.
Taoa Pou competed fiercely but didn't advance out of his first round heat.
Shima, as seasoned veteran, slashed his way to a second place finish in his division for the second year in a row. Shima said he’s thankful to surfing legend China Uemura for the hospitality and to Molokai local Steve Morgan for shaping “incredible surfboards that help keep me in the game.”
The Valley of Sufficient Life
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“How can you know if you do not ask, if you are not from here,” he says with his heart.
Some malama Halawa as families once did, but the rainforest of today has conquered the lo`i of yesterday. Nature and man have changed the `aina, but the story Pilipo tells has not changed, passed down from countless generations of Halawa kupuna.
He says, things are not secret, they are sacred. Pilipo’s ultimate message is respect – to care for the valley he believes one must know what it was before and to understand the ultimate sense of place. Nana i ke Kumu, “seek the source.”
His tutu kane, David Kapuwai Akina, once told him to share the mo`olelo of Halawa, so people can know and respect where they live and where they are.
“When?” Pilipo asked.
“When you feel it, burning in your soul – that is me, and you know the time is right,” was the message his tutu kane left.
Pilipo may not be here tomorrow. He is one of the last of the unbroken generations of Halawa farmers still in the valley. He asks all to look at Halawa as a whole, spiritual and physical, to obtain a greater sense of place. Mana is found in the knowledge and respect of the ahupua`a.
The sun has journeyed across the valley once more, and as it readies for sleep behind the Western cliffs, shadows cast from the dominating forest grow long. The mo`olelo is there, hidden by the forest but not darkened by the shadows.
“Feel the spirit of Halawa and the ancestors that gave it life,” he asks. “The kupuna of Halawa are alive; like Haloa, they are everywhere.”
Pilipo Solatario is a master storyteller and a Kumu of the Halawa mo`olelo. After many years as the cultural director of Molokai Ranch he has returned to his birthplace. Blow the pu, Pilipo makes time to talk story to all who inquire.
“I speak to educate so all who listen can respect, otherwise our people will be overgrown like the Halawa of today.” This is Pilipo’s hope. This is Pilipo’s message.
Outrigger Races Begin
By Laura Petersen
Kukui `o Molokai canoe club hosted the first regatta of the 2008 season this past Saturday. The day was full of excitement and enthusiasm from both spectators and participants; the entire wharf was lined with cars in support of the event.
The community came together to make the event happen. Some were racing, some cheering, and others were helping out in the water, behind concession stands, taking times or just keeping the music going.
“Our literal club meaning is first canoe on the beach which has a hidden meaning of taking care of your responsibility first,” Kim Markham, a member of the Wa’akapaemua Canoe Club said. “Our philosophy is building the club from the ground up.”
The club starts kids as early as eight years old, so by the time they’re eligible to race they have had much practice.
The Wa`a’s philosophy truly showed during this regatta, as the team finished first place in all events, except one in the Girls and Boys category.
“I remember learning good values such as laulima (working together), kokua (to help), and ha`aha`a (to be humble),” Wa`a club member Penny Martin said, remembering her experiences as a child.
Aunty Penny has taught many people how to paddle and now coaches the Novice A women. She enjoys coaching them because they are full of excitement. She said many of the Masters become fresh again by feeding off of the Novice’s positive energy.
Throughout the day overall thoughts and feelings of paddling and the regatta were the same; ohana, working together, playing together, being supportive and positive, and most importantly preserving and practicing the cultural sport they have known since youth.
The next regatta will be hosted by Wa`akapaemua on the 21 of June followed by Mana’e club on the 5 of the July and ending with the Molokai club on July 19.
Molokai Canoe Racing Association (MCRA) will be having up to four special events at the end of each regatta, beginning at the June 21 event. Each race will be against similar groups - ohana teams, classmate teams, business teams, etc.
The special events will serve as a fundraiser for the association, and paddlers must pay $5 to participate.
Last year was our first time having these special events. Every participant had a great time and MCRA raised extra money for our 2008-2009 paddling season expenses.
If anyone is interested in putting a crew together, please come during the next regatta to the officials stand and sign up. Or make up one of your own events and call out any challengers.
Saved By a Seven
By Brandon Roberts
Lee Derouin was all in, hoping to stay afloat on the river competitive card playing. Looking across the table, Kahealani Maliu had the strong hand and was statistically favored to push Derouin out of the running. But there is unpredictability in the cards, an essence of luck – defying stats and probability.
Derouin did just that, he rebelled against the numbers and picked up a full-house on the final flop, the river, to split the pot and keep him in championship contention at Paddlers’ second poker tournament last Saturday. At play were 50,000 in chips, divided by point percentage amongst the top eight.
Entering the final table, Derouin was fourth on the point’s board, and capped his victory in a head-to-head duel with Maliu, who entered eighth with a 2,350 chip deficit from the season leader Bernice Kalilikane. Yet Maliu worked her magic, playing catch-up to vie for the grand-prize round trip to Las Vegas, a two-night stay, and a one-thousand dollar buy-in to the World Series of Poker satellite table.
Eventually Derouin out-played his competition catching a diamond flush to clinch the Vegas vacation. “I caught a break, that is what poker is all about,” he said, adding how grateful he was to the late Kamuela Kamakana, Paddlers’ Inn, and the dedicated staff.
“If it wasn’t for Kamuela, the poker community wouldn’t have been brought together in this friendly environment. I also want to fire some compliments to Loke Kamakana, Alicia Montemayor, and the entire Paddlers’ staff, who are always here for us, they don’t miss a beat and keep it fun yet professional.”
The top eight competitors fought it out for the last three months against the Molokai masses, who know their cards. The standings going into the final table were points leader Kalilikane, followed by Reyford Stone, Paki Kamakana, Derouin, Elizabeth Poepoe-Lawerence, Tranq Pasual, Larry Sagario and Maliu.
Pa`ina in Paradise
Molokai celebrates class of 2008 graduates.By Brandon Roberts
Graduation is known as a commencement ceremony because it is a new beginning rather than an end. Melodious laughter echoed throughout the ceremonies, and graduates adorned gowns and grins.
Molokai High School (MHIS) and Ho`omana Hou held their graduations the last week of May in the company of friends and `ohana. Mother’s wept with joy and fathers, with pride in their eyes, were unable to contain their emotions.
It is a moment of emotional irony, with students entering adulthood – embracing their new freedom with a hint of anxiety. In the same moment, parents admire the growth of their children into young adults and hope they are prepared for work, college, or whatever the next step is.
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