KAPA‘A — The Angry Birds, a 10 and younger team, swept the special awards en route to the tournament team trophy during the All Saints’ Episcopal Church 7th annual Fun in Fellowship Dodgeball Tournament, which wrapped up Saturday at the
KAPA‘A — The Angry Birds, a 10 and younger team, swept the special awards en route to the tournament team trophy during the All Saints’ Episcopal Church 7th annual Fun in Fellowship Dodgeball Tournament, which wrapped up Saturday at the All Saints’ Gym in Kapa‘a.
Duke Bush, Austin Camat, Mason Gibson, Tyler Hawthorne, Vincent Noguchi, Bronson Oliver and Jared Oliver made up the Angry Birds. Each player elaborately prepared as a character from the Angry Birds game to capture best uniforms, best sportsmanship and the tournament team as voted on by spectators at the free two-day event, which started Friday afternoon.
The Li’l Stars, made up of Akoni “AJ” Arruda, Aukai Arruda, Kyrus Domingcil, Jaden Domingcil, Kailer Duarte, Paul Ishida and Joshua Rego, topped the keiki 8 and younger division over the Poi Dogs 8 and the Green Lanterns 8.
Akoni “AJ” Arruda played up, joining Maika Bandmann, Jaden Domingcil, Raiden Kurisu, Kaimi Malina, Braden Tabura and Jaylen Sinclair, as the moving targets to capture top honors in the keiki 10 and younger division.
Aukai Arruda, Tyler Hirakawa, Mason Carvalho, Donovan Gonzales, Tyler Hawthorn, Haiden Genegabuas-Hirakawa, Akoni Arruda, Kaniala Gonzalez and Kawaiola Toro were presented with best effort awards for the keiki division.
The Kaua‘i Rush 13 and younger team of Kai Brun, Eljay Camat, Kiran Costa, Logan Gibson, Jason Hawthorne, Coleman Langstaff, Rilen Loo, Clifton Oliver, Kaikoa Pezario, Riley Pezario and Kaenan Lacaden took the tournament team and best dressed honors in the youth division.
The Ping Pong Mafia of Joy Claypoole, Shane DePonte, Dylan Devin, Tanner Henry, Noah LaMadrid, Justin Langstaff, Shane Nishioka-Healy and Ryan Perez were honored for the best sportsmanship in the youth division, the group evoking audience response to its music through its jovial manner on the court.
Christopher Yam, Thomas Yam, Kurt Napoleon, Aaron Renaud, Mosese Fifita and Taylenn Daligdig made up the Eastside Pride coached by Luther Yam, who topped the youth 13 and younger division play over the Kaua‘i Rush and K-RAK.
Nakoa Ibaan, Bryton Lumabao, Nick Tabura, Kalani Ubongen, Rashaan Kuhaulua, Casey Nakamura and Cassidy Yatsko formed the 808 Tires, which topped the youth 17 and younger division play over the Fried Teriyaki Musubi and the Sons of God.
Michelle Fitzgerald sparked the return of the Abdulah Fataai Oompfufu teams and the coed team of TJ Batis, Kylan Chinen, Michaela Fitzgerald, Michelle Fitzgerald, Marde Boy Marcos, Eryn Yamashiro and Colby Baliaris captured the best sportsmanship trophy in the masters division. The team also topped the coed division play over the Super Woomen and Jabawakmeez squads.
Tyler Costa, Devin Gandia, LaDeveon DD Jones, Aharon Kaleikini, Damian Lynch, Shane Nishioka-Healy, Sean Shiramizu and Ty Shiramizu formed LOST. The group of “lost” tourists entering the arena with guidebooks, luggage and awe-struck “lost” looks was enough to earn the group the tournament team and best uniform honors.
Sybil Nishioka, the tournament coordinator, said LOST, competing under different names each year, was successful in taking the best uniform title for the past three years in the 17 and younger division, this year playing as master’s.
Schyler Arakaki, Erin Doi, Benny “Rouge” Faliza, Hank Ibia, Dustin Julian, Michael Julian, Dayson Nanbu, Brysen Saito and Christian Tanicala formed the Manapua Munchahs who topped the master’s kane division play over LOST and the Abdulah Fataai Oompfufus kane team.
This was a comeback for the Manapua Munchahs who lost the championship last year in a tight battle.
Nishioka said this year’s participants ranged in age from 5 through 56 years old, although the tournament has had people as young as 4 years old and as old as 64 years old.
“They come from all over the island and state,” Nishioka said. “There was even a team from Texas called The Lonestars joining us this year.”
She said the event is kept free to the community and hosted by the All Saints’ Episcopal Church with funding from a generous grant from the Antone and Edene Vidinha Trust.
Numerous volunteers, businesses and organizations devote countless hours of time as well as contributing prizes, which were distributed through the help of Kaua‘i County Council members Nadine Nakamura and Kipukai Kuali‘i.
“This was probably the best tournament to date,” Nishioka said. “The matches were running on time with participants and spectators enjoying the action, both on and off the court and getting into the spirit of fun in fellowship.”
