Former Rainbow Wahine player leads clinic
PUHI — Former University of Hawaii women’s volleyball player McKenna Granato headed a clinic for Island School’s girls volleyball team.
The former Rainbow Wahine outside hitter led a group of 14 players Saturday morning at the Wilcox Gymnasium on the Island School campus in Puhi.
Puuwai Canoe Club hosts Buddy Peters long distance race
WAILUA — Twenty teams from local paddling clubs competed in this year’s Buddy Peters Long Distance canoe race Saturday.
Crews started in the water off Wailua Beach Park, paddled their way to past Hanamaulu Bay nearby the Lihue Airport and then back to Wailua Beach Park. The course was about 8 1/2 miles long.
Kawaihau clinches 3rd straight Little League Hawaii district title
KAPAA — Local youth baseball club Kawaihau Little League recently won its third straight district championship and will defend the state title it won last year.
However, this is a new team that will be headed back to states this year, said head coach Kaupena Kaauwai.
Congrats and good luck to recent grads prepping for big changes
I recently ran into Kauai High School graduate Iwi Rivera at the Kauai Athletic Club in Lihue.
(Yes, I know. My gut may suggest otherwise, but I’m doing my best to be somewhat active and healthier. And you know what else? Despite the general consensus of the physical fitness community, I know that I have the look of a champion. #AndyRuiz)
Freediver Elijah Aasand talks competing, briefly holding a national record
LAWAI — Kalaheo native and snorkeling tour guide Elijah Aasand, at least for a little while, held a national freediving record.
Recently, his friend and freediving mentor Kurt Chambers surpassed Aasand to claim the record. But, he is in good spirits about it.
Hole-in-one in Princeville
PRINCEVILLE — Billy Gould of Princeville made a hole-in-one at the Princeville Makai Golf Club this past weekend.
Visitors win in Hanamaulu; home teams prevail in Kapaa
KAPAA — It paid to be one lucky dugout at the Kauai Senior Softball League games where the visitors won three of four games at the Peter Rayno Softball Stadium in Hanamaulu, and the home teams held court in the triple-header at the softball park at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapaa. The Hanamaulu Hillsiders took on the task of hosting the games at the Rayno Stadium while the Keonimana Gents groomed the softball diamond in shape for their three contests.
KIF tennis all-stars announced
The finalists from the Kauai Interscholastic state qualifying tournament in April were named league all-stars.
Freediver from Big Island sets national records
Kurt Chambers, a freediving instructor based in Kailua-Kona, set two new U.S. national records in the sport of freediving—swimming to depth on breath-hold. He accomplished the feats at the Asian Freediving Cup, which was June 9-11 in Panglao, Philippines and organized by the instruction agency Freedive Panglao.
Change not always welcome, but most times is necessary
It’s finally here. Oracle Arena closed its doors to NBA games.
Whether the Golden State Warriors won or lost on Thursday, by the end of the season, the franchise will move out of its home of 47 years in Oakland and into its new, sterile, state-of-the-art arena across the Bay in San Francisco — the Chase Center.
KIF track and field all-stars named
LIHUE — The event winners from the Kauai Interscholastic Federation track and field championship finals in April were named league all-stars. The list of standouts was released by the league earlier this week.
Gents hold off Solid Steel; Barteks on the rise
ELEELE — The Kauai Senior Softball League turned up the heat with seven games held at Kauai’s two all-grass fields — the softball stadium in Eleele Park and the Rebel Field at Puhi Park. On a hot day with little to no wind, West Kauai conducted four games with a busy schedule in Eleele while the Ohana Motors Rebels welcomed three contests to their lush acreage in the Puhi Neighborhood Park. Six of the seven games resulted in lop sided scores with a premium on hitting.
Westside Wrestling Club hosts annual camp, tourney
WAIMEA — The 2019 Westside Wrestling Camp concluded Saturday in Waimea.
Part of the camp’s itinerary was the 2019 Sam Silva Memorial Tournament. About 30 wrestlers competed across seven brackets in the tournament at the Clem Gomes Gym at Waimea High School.
Kauai Hoops Classic set for next week
LIHUE — The 11th annual Kauai Hoops Classic basketball tournament is set to kick off Thursday, hosted by local club Kauai Lynx Basketball.
About 60 teams from Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Big Island and Alaska will play in boys and girls divisions. The tournament will play Thursday through next Sunday.
NBA Finals Game 3 incident latest in players-fans trend
The Toronto Raptors took a 2-1 NBA Finals series lead after beating the Golden State Warriors in Game 3, 123-109, in Oakland on Wednesday.
But unfortunately, the top headline isn’t the fact that the “underdog” Raptors are taking it to the defending champs or that the Warriors — despite a career-performance by star Stephen Curry — couldn’t keep home-court advantage.
Hanalei Canoe Club re-opening youth program
HANALEI — North Shore paddling association Hanalei Canoe Club will re-establish its youth program and begin practices nextweek.
The club initially was not going to have a youth program this season because of limited access to Weke Road leading to the club hale, but it found a new location for the young paddlers to practice.
About 100 participate in annual NBC Kauai Basketball Camp
KOLOA — About 100 campers participated in this year’s annual NBC Kauai Basketball Camp at the Southside Sports Center in Koloa.
The five-day camp was hosted by local nonprofit The “W” of Kauai.
Kiran Costa reflects on HHSAA Hall of Honor awards dinner
It’s been a few days since Kapaa High School graduate Kiran Costa was formally recognized as one of the state’s best and brightest of this year, but he says he hasn’t yet fully grasped the fact that he is one of the few standouts.
“To chose 12 of about 1,000 kids, that’s actually pretty crazy,” Costa said Tuesday. “But, no, it hasn’t sunk in. I’m definitely grateful for it, but for some reason, it hasn’t hit me. But to be named one of the top athletes is an awesome award.”
Gents extend seniors league lead; Rookies on the move
WAILUA — The Kauai Senior Softball League moved into the season’s home stretch with a seven-game schedule on the Eastside with games at the Wailua Houselots Garden and the Bryan J Baptiste Sports Complex. Kawaihau was on tap to host the four games in Wailua, while the East Kauai Legends took their turn hosting a triple-header in Kapaa.
Kapaa’s Marshall 1st KIF female to get wrestling scholarship
KAPAA — Kapaa High School graduate Shanayah “Ini” Marshall is looking forward to what is ahead of her.
Her goal was to continue on to college, and in doing so, she perhaps unintentionally accomplished a little bit of local history.