KAPAA — Aukai Arruda swept awards in a number of categories during the Fun in Fellowship Dodgeball Tournament at the All Saints Church in Kapaa. The orange-shirted player was a crowd favorite not only during the tournament, which spanned Friday
KAPAA — Aukai Arruda swept awards in a number of categories during the Fun in Fellowship Dodgeball Tournament at the All Saints Church in Kapaa.
The orange-shirted player was a crowd favorite not only during the tournament, which spanned Friday and Saturday, but during practice rounds when his mohawk hair styling caught the eye of spectators. That trait combined with his court hustle and leadership, captured hearts.
Arruda, a member of both the L’il Stars, an 8 and under team garbed in bright pink, and the Moving Targets, a 10 and under team in orange, was named to the Best Effort Award in the Keiki Division. His L’il Targets also getting the Tournament Team, Best Sportsmanship and Best Uniform awards following two days of competition at the All Saints Gym in Kapaa.
Joining Arruda on the L’il Targets team were Kyrus Domingcil, Xailer Duarte, Kaiwi Harder, Taylin Oana, Zion Ramirez-Oana and Joshua Rego.
Joining Arruda in the Best Effort Awards were players Michael Fitzgerald, Lance Haugh, Donavan Gonzales, Kamalei Gonzales, Trevlon Burdett, Ethan Inanod, Kaula Apana, Ekolu Pa and Will Gasparino.
Division winners include the L’il Targets, topping the 8 and under, followed by the Poi Dogs 8, and The Invisibles.
The 10 and under division saw the Poi Dogs 10 with Kaula Apana, Kamakana Dawson, Kaniala Fonzalez, Mason Kaiminaaoau, Maluhia Kauhane, Sela Kauvaka, Kawaiola Torio and Ekolu Pa take top honors followed by the Moving Targets and All Natural.
Levi Cummings and Ricky Rego of the Kauai Ballers, who topped the 13 and under division of the Youth Division, made it to the Best Effort awards, being joined in the circle by Raven Cummings, Austin Masada, Raiden Kurisu, Pohaku Kauhane, Ethan Garrison, Kainoa McFarland, Alyssa Rogers, Koa Baclayon, Eryn Yamashiro, Reis Nakamura, Mana Kupihea, Kai Brun and Teston Alfiler.
The Off Targets with Akoni “AJ” Arruda, Jaden Domingcil, Ethan Inanod, Raiden Kurisu, Kaimi Malina, Isaac Nagahisa, Austin Olivera and Braden Tabura, earned the Tournament Team and Best Uniform awards. The Yellow Jackets, with Austin Camat, Julia Cannizzaro, Mia Fitzgerald, Audrey Garrison, Ethan Garrison, Jeremiah Gardner and Alyssa Rogers, earned the Best Sportsmanship award.
Father Ryan Newman, arriving to take charge of the All Saints Church in June, was joined by Rachel Hinkel, Damian Lynch, Shane Nishioka-Healy, Sierra Riemenr, Ty Shiramizu, Cassidy Yatsko, Jack Yatsko and Michelle LaMadrid on Galen’s Gang, who topped the Masters Coed division.
Runner-up honors in the Masters Coed include the Abdulah Fataai Oompfufus Coed and the Minions.
4ever Rooted, with Matthew Cummings, Ashkon Kuhaulua, Rashaan Kuhaulua, Weston Moniz, Chaz Pacleb and Kanai Thronas-Kahoonei, topped the Masters Kane division followed by the Manapua Munchahs. The Munchahs even got some playing time from Kauai County Council Vice Chair Nadine Nakamura, who was drafted into action by Faith Shiramizu minutes ahead of their match in the preliminaries.
“In the final match of the tournament, defending Masters Kane champions and a popular crowd favorite, Manapua Munchas, battled the new team of 4ever Rooted,” Sybil Nishioka, the tournament chair, said. “The crowd went wild in a tight battle of titans with 4ever Rooted emerging as the victors.”
According to tournament chair Sybil, Contagious moved up from last year’s 17 and under championships as LOST finished third in the Masters Kane flight but earned Tournament Team, Best Sportsmanship and Best Uniform awards in the Masters Division.
Tyler Costa, Devin Gandia, LaDeveon DD Jones, Aharon Kaleikini, Damian Lynch, Shane Nishioka-Healy and Ty Shiramizu make up the team.
“Under different names each year, this group, Contagious, has taken Best Uniform awards for the past four years,” Sybil said. “This year, they did not disappoint, entering the courts as ‘contagious’ zombies to the music of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller.’”
Sybil said this year’s FIF Dodgeball Tournament included participants ranging in age from 4 to 55 years old and came from all parts of the island, state and the Mainland.
Waipouli Warriors, a team from Southern California in the Masters Coed division, are already making plans to return in two years to compete.
“This annual event, hosted by the All Saints Episcopal Church, is kept free to the community through a grant from the Sloggett Trust,” Sybil said. “We would like to thank the volunteers for their countless hours of service, and the businesses and organizations who donate prizes.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
