KIF football 7-on-7 scrimmages this month
LIHUE — It will still be a while before football season starts, but fans can get a small glance of what’s to come this year.
Kauai High School will host seven-on-seven scrimmages on July 13 and July 20 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Games will be held on Kauai High’s football practice field behind the gym.
Ike Loa volleyball players headed for college
POIPU — When local volleyball club Ike Loa started a couple of years ago, the goal was to help Kauai’s young talent reach the college ranks, if that was where they wanted to go.
A handful of former Kauai Interscholastic Federation players that have also played for the club reached that goal.
Padres pitcher, Omao native Kirby Yates talks MLB All-Star nod
Prior to the start of this season, San Diego Padres pitcher Kirby Yates’ goal was to simply play better than in the previous season.
He’s done that and then some.
Turning the page to a new chapter; mahalo nui loa
About five-and-a-half years ago, a 26-year-old malihini arrived on Kauai.
Hana Hou routs Rebels; mud stops Kapaa games
Heavy rains in Kapaa on Saturday inundated the softball diamond at the Bryan Baptiste Sports Complex. Three of the four games slated to be played on the field were postponed due to the unplayable conditions of the ballpark. The fourth scheduled game between the Keonimana Gents and Kuku’s Aces was moved to Kaumakani at the Wally Sonoda Field. Games between the East Kauai Legends and Kawaihau, Solid Steel and Da Kruzers, and the Islanders versus the Hanamaulu Hillsiders will be re-scheduled.
Ike Loa competes at Volleyball Festival national tourney
Some of Kauai’s young volleyball players were on the mainland and took on clubs from all around the country.
Local youth club Ike Loa Volleyball Club competed in the 2019 Volleyball Festival National Championships from June 27 through 30 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
More than 600 run in 39th Haena to Hanalei Run
HANALEI — Hanalei Canoe Club hosted the 39th annual Haena to Hanalei Run on Saturday.
Approximately 635 runners crossed the finish line Saturday nearby the Hanalei Pier. Afterwards, runners and supporters gathered at the Hanalei Canoe Club hale for a pancake breakfast.
Never Forget Sandy G golf tournament Aug. 4
LIHUE — The YWCA of Kauai will host the 12th annual “Never Forget Sandy G” golf tournament Aug. 4 at The Ocean Course at Hokuala.
The event aims to raise awareness about domestic violence.
Jacob Grossmann accepted into Houston Dynamo youth academy
Budding soccer player Jacob Grossmann aims to one day play in the pros. He will soon take a big step toward making that dream a reality.
Grossmann, 13, was accepted into the youth academy of Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo in Houston, Texas.
US teams representing as Fourth of July nears
Since the Fourth of July is near, I figured it’s a good time to write about what the holiday means to me — pride in one’s country. Despite some of the country’s faults, I’m proud to be American. And it goes beyond just wearing red, white and blue and firing up the barbecue.
Hanalei Bay Swim Challenge set for next month
HANALEI — Namolokama O‘Hanalei Canoe Club will host its annual Hanalei Bay Swim Challenge on July 27.
The swimming challenge this year will be its 12th running. The club’s annual fundraiser was canceled last year; flooding in mid-April 2018 damaged the area.
Hole-in-one at Wailua
WAILUA — Dr. Floyd Pohlman of Wailua Homesteads made a hole-in-one at the Wailua Golf Course on June 18.
Kauai’s Grossmann, Shiroma play in regional tourney
Albion SC Hawaii, a youth soccer club based on Maui, participated in the 2019 US Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships on June 17 through 23 in Boise, Idaho.
Kauai players Jacob Grossmann and Kauli‘a Shiroma played for Albion SC Hawaii at the regional tournament. Shiroma is from Kapaa, and Grossmann is from Kekaha.
Haena to Hanalei run this weekend
HANALEI — Hanalei Canoe Club will host its annual Haena to Hanalei run Saturday on Kauai’s North Shore.
The races were canceled last year after the flooding in mid-April 2018 damaged the area.
A’s stun Hana Hou; Rookies, Gents, Rebels roll
HANAPEPE — The Kauai Senior Softball league packed as much as action as possible into an eight-game marathon. The Rookies trimmed the Wally Sonoda Softball Park in Kaumakani for four games while Hana Hou set up a four-game series at the Hanapepe Stadium softball diamond.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)