Sports

2nd Annual Molokai Stampede

Thursday, August 30th, 2007

Stampede! Paniolo from Molokai and the neighboring islands spent last weekend mounted up at Kapualei Ranch, roping cattle for fun and prizes.

The rodeo was originally scheduled for last weekend, but was postponed due to hurricane Flossie. The delay caused some cowboys from neighboring islands to have to pull out of the competition. This is only the Molokai Stampede’s second year, but the Kapualei Ranch hopes that it will continue to grow and eventually be recognized state-wide.

New Restrictions for Upcoming Lobster Season

Friday, August 24th, 2007

In a week, the annual lobster season will begin (September 1) triggering a stampede to catch these crustaceans. This season, fisherman should be aware of a new law which adds restrictions to taking lobster.

On May 6, 2006 Governor Linda Lingle signed into law a bill introduced by Senator Clayton Hee which prohibits the taking or killing of female spiny lobster (to also include female Samoan crab and Kona crab). Therefore, upon the opening of the lobster season on Saturday, September 1, 2007 Molokai fishermen are required to release all wahine lobsters caught in their nets.  For better or worse possession of any female lobster whether dead or alive is now a violation, and hereafter anyone possessing female lobsters will be prosecuted by Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE).

There are two easy ways to distinguish between male and female lobsters.  The easiest way is to examine the tips of the fifth pair of walking legs.  The fifth pair of walking legs are those closet to the tail.  The tips of the male lobster’s fifth walking legs are pointed.  The tips of the female lobster’s fifth walking legs are split to form a claw or pincher.

Another way to distinguish between wahine and kane lobsters is to examine the “swimmerets” under the tail section.  Female swimmerets are much larger than those found on male lobsters.  Additionally, there is a chance that eggs may be attached under the female lobster’s swimmerets.  Please see the illustrations below:

DETERMINING SEX:

Male (top): swimmerets on underside of “tail” (abdomen) each have a single leaf-like segment; end of fifth (last) pair of walking legs similar to other walking legs and not

claw-shaped.

Female (bottom): swimmerets each have two branches – in first set both are leaf-like branches, all others have one leaf-like and one rod-like branches; swimmerets usually larger than on males; end of fifth pair of walking legs claw-shaped (pincher like).

TAKING OF FEMALES PROHIBITED. 

An End of the Year Look into Molokai’s 4-H Club

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

It has been a busy year for our 4-H participants but as usual, a year’s worth of learning, experiencing and giving back to the community. By the way a little background on what 4-H stands for: Head, Heart, Hands and Health; Head for clearer thinking, Heart for greater loyalty, Hands for larger service and Health for better living…for our community, our country and our world.

This year we have 3 seniors that graduated from Molokai High and have completed their time as a 4-Her; they will be moving on to further their education at different colleges. They are Deisha Pico, Charles Frank “CJ” Borden and Reggie Villa. The 4-H Council and Livestock Committees have presented scholarships of $250 per person once they finished their 4-H Learning Experience essay on banquet night. It was quite interesting to hear what they learned and thought about the program as a whole. Best of luck in your future endeavors and you will surely be missed!

Youth in Motion, 2007 Version

Thursday, August 16th, 2007

By Léo Azambuja

The ball was in Molokai’s court this past Saturday. Several University of Hawaii coaches teamed up with local coaches to give Molokai children a one-of-a-kind sports experience.

As a part of a program called Youth in Motion, UH coaches came over to Molokai to give the island’s children sports clinics in basketball, tennis, golf and baseball.

Molokai High School tennis coach Don Whitten was stoked. “It gives the kids the opportunity to play sports they normally wouldn’t,” he said.

Channon Alcon and Lindsay Shosho spent their Saturday coaching the children on Whitten’s turf, the MHS tennis courts. Alcon is the UH men’s tennis team assistant coach. Shosho is an assistant coach at UH, but for the women’s tennis team.

It was Shosho’s first time on Molokai. She said if the clinic was on Oahu, there would have been at least 50 children. Only five children showed up for the tennis clinic, allowing them a more personal experience.

“It’s pretty laid back here, I like it,” Alcon said. It was his second year coaching tennis at the Youth in Motion on Molokai.

For Shosho it was kind of a farewell to the islands. Originally from New York, she moved to Oahu seven months ago to coach tennis at UH. “It has been a wonderful experience,” she said. But an offer from University of Kentucky is taking the young coach away from Hawaii next week.

Just a few yards away, inside the Barn, 14 children bounced the basketball around. Doug Furlong, MHS girls basketball coach, got a helping hand from Jackson Wheeler and Pat Elliot.

Wheeler is the assistant head coach for UH men’s basketball team, and Elliot is the assistant head coach for the UH women’s basketball team. Jackson had already coached the Molokai children in last year’s Youth in Motion. But for Elliott it was her first time on Molokai.

Where there is smoke, there is fire. And where there are children, there is Kauwila Hanchett, from the Molokai Youth Center. The ever-smiling Hanchett brought six children from the center to participate in the basketball clinic.

Down in Kaunakakai, the ball being played was covered in stitches. Four children participated in the baseball clinic. UH assistant baseball coach Keigh Komeigi returned to Molokai to help the Youth in Motion after being here two years ago volunteering in the program.

Letting the laidback island-feeling sink in, hanging out with the children’s relatives afterwards, Komeigi said “it’s really nice to be on Molokai.”

The children were really stoked to participate. Between bites on an orange bigger than his face, the small Riley Tabil said he “learned to catch ball.” His brother, Brandon Tabil, said he learned to heel-click. Makamae Joao learned to improve his backhand, and Korie Dudoit-English learned how to properly hold the bat.

“These are future major-league players,” joked one of the parents. But joke or not, Komeigi remembered Korie from the last clinic he coached, and said the young girl definitely improved her game.

All the way in the West End, little Tiger cubs were hitting the smallest and hardest balls of the Youth in Motion. The three children who participated in the golf clinic at Kaluakoi Golf Club had great time.

Mahalo nui loa to Youth in Motion and all who made this day possible; children, parents, and coaches from Molokai and off-island. Next year the Youth in Motion sports clinic will be on August 16. For additional information please call Clare Mawae at 336-0946 or 553-4227.

Paddling to States

Thursday, July 26th, 2007

Though they were racing the length of the wharf, with every stroke the Molokai Canoe Racing Association competitors were hoping to get closer to Kauai. In the last or four regattas in the season, the canoe clubs were competing for the state championship in Kauai just a few weeks away.