PO‘IPU — The rumble of thunder and thick black clouds hanging over the ocean heralded the start of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation golf season on Saturday at Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course — heavy with humidity but without a whisper of
PO‘IPU — The rumble of thunder and thick black clouds hanging over the ocean heralded the start of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation golf season on Saturday at Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course — heavy with humidity but without a whisper of wind.
Jeannie Warren, mother of Waimea High School golfer Kawena Warren, kept checking the weather map on her cell phone, which was dressed for the occasion in a plastic Zip-Lock bag.
“My last phone was destroyed when we were in Koke‘e and it hailed,” Jeannie Warren said. “I thought it was somewhere else, but it was in the backpack where it was damaged by the hail.”
A low pressure trough at the surface and aloft, west of Kaua‘i, posed the threat of heavy showers and was reinforced by the grumble of thunder as golfers worked through their warm-ups on the driving range.
“This is the first time in Island School’s history that we actually have a golf team,” Sam Pratt said. “We’ve had individualists in KIF golf previously, but this year we actually have enough for a team.”
Kawena Warren, exchanging her volleyball and cheerleader outfit for a golf suit, is also one of three golfers from Waimea High School, being joined by Mariah Paiste, the returning Menehune golfer, and Juliette Cowell.
Kaua‘i’s girls include Taylor Viquelia, Daezsa Tomas, Jenae Park and Sabrina Barrier, while Kapa‘a’s girls include Na‘ea Oda and Meleane Moala.
Pono Tokioka leads off the contingent of Kaua‘i boys, while Kenji Miyata anchors the Kapa‘a boys crew. Tresten Nakashima, not present for the opening day round, anchors the Menehune.
As the groups worked through the holes, the thunder grew louder and more frequent, Pratt noting the proximity because of the precursor to the booms. When the wind began to tease the leaves of the trees, golfers began to worry.
“They’re going to get wet,” said Mark Morioka, father of Kaua‘i golfer Reyn Morioka, who was following the action.
“I don’t know if they’re going to call the match, but one thing is certain — they’re going to be wet by the time this is done,” he said.
