OIA Red East Kaiser Cougars Runs Past Moanalua Na Menehune 42-38

It was a "Wild Wild West" shoot out last night at the Kaiser High School gym between the Kaiser Cougars and the Moanalua Na Menehune Varsity Girls Basketball team.  Talk about speed and quickness.  Both teams were up and down the court defensively and offensively putting points on the board.  The excitement was so intense at times, we were all on the edge of our seats.  My camera sure got a workout.

The Kaiser Cougars #20 Ashley Soong scored first, giving them the lead 2-0 with 6:57 on the clock in the 1st period.  Na Menehune #25 Hoku Mateo answered right back to make it 2-2 with 6:26 left in the 1st period, and #1 LaChae McColor scoring 2 more points from the outside for Na Menehune to take the lead 4-2.  At the end of the 2nd period the Cougars led 25-21.  It was a back and forth battle all night, and at the end of the 3rd period the Cougars still led 35-34.

It was defensive game down to the wire with 7:29 left in the 4th period, and the Cougars held on to the lead, 39-36.  Na Menehune #1 LaChae McColor (photo above) fought hard to come back to make it 38-39 with 1:19 on the clock.  With penalties against Moanalua and free shots, the Kaiser Cougars ended the game on top 42-38.  What a great and exciting game tonight. "Congratulations" to both teams.  For more stats, "click here." Come back later for more photos.

2012 Shop With A Cop at Ke'eaumoku Walmart Honolulu

Photo with Santa (John Shaw) Tagiifiti and Asst./Chief Clayton Kau

Every year just before Christmas, the Honolulu Police Department and Walmart partner up to host the annual Shop with a Cop event. This year is a little special. I spoke to Corporal Kevin Nakano (photo below) of the Honolulu Police Department, District 1 Community Policing Team who related that this year besides partnering up with Walmart, the military's 624th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor participated as well, and were joined by heroes from the Law Enforcement HPD Officers who came out on their own time this morning.

"What we do is take children out to go shopping for Christmas, usually children that have hardship in their family or maybe their family is incarcerated. This year we have some individuals who have lost their fathers in the war with Afghanistan.  Some of them have lost their parents to illness and just have economic needs.  So that's what we do to help these families and bring Christmas to them.  Since many of them don't have much money,  we share the Aloha spirit and take them shopping.  This year we also had some kids from the homeless shelter and got them on buses to view Honolulu Hale to see the Christmas lights." 

Seeing these children on one side seems sad and very emotional, but to see their smiles and hear their thank yous was very touching, and makes you realize how lucky most of us are.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all the children that were present this morning at the Shop with a Cop annual event.  A special Mahalo to Mr. Eddie Flores Jr., President of L&L Drive-Inn and L&L Hawaiian Barbecue for donating the breakfast to all the kids at today's event. "Click here" to see all the candid photos and a short video clip.

2012-2013 OIA Red East Division - Moanalua Na Menehune Basketball

Moanalua Na Menehune Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach Greg Tacon

The 2012-2013 OIA Red East Boys Basketball season has started for the Moanalua Na Menehune Varsity Boys who so far under Head Coach Greg Tacon have 7 wins and 5 losses. I spoke to Head Coach Greg Tacon and he said "defensively we're really a good team, we work well and function well as a group which is important to us." 

"This year we have two starters back from last year, senior point guard Kahanu Pu'ulei-Auld (photo left), all state guard extremely fast, great in the open court. The other returnee is 6'4" sophomore, Eliet Donley who is probably the easiest person I've ever coached. He does everything correctly, nothing about him is flashy and he's really efficient."

"We also have three others, but the one that stands out is senior 6'3", Justin Hudcovic who's really accurate, has a great attitude and a hard worker. We have a couple transfers, 5'10" Ola Brown from the Academy of the Pacific and 6'4" Austin Failauga who came from Mid-Pac and is a former sophomore from Moanalua High School. The main thing is we continue what we do best and try to play our other kids who didn't get a chance to play and give them some experience playing time." Click here to see some candid photos.

Christmas In Hawaii with Hokulani - "Santa Paws"

Christmas in Hawaii is no different then the rest of the world. As I was finishing up my shopping at one of our local malls, I followed a long line of children and camera flashes going off. Wondering what was going on, I asked some of the kids and thinking at the same time maybe it's "Santa." I stood in line just to get a glimpse of this Santa Claus, and "wow, bow wow," it was a "santa paws." What a sight of Old Saint "Paw" Nick. Actually, this is "Hokulani" who dresses for all occasions and belongs to Mr. Norman Dung of Kaneohe. Cute yeah? Hokulani wants to wish "Merry Christmas" to all those shoppers for stopping by and taking my picture."

As for me, I continued my shopping and followed the music to the center stage of Ala Moana Shopping Center where Kumu Hula Tiare Noelani Chang and her Halau from Wai'anae were performing. Great performance! I spoke to Kumu Hula Tiare Noelani Chang after their performance and was told that she started her Halau in 1995 in her back yard for the purpose of

teaching young girls hula for church performances. She has been teaching the culture of Hawaii to youth in Wai'anae for 15 years. You can find her website at noelani-chang.com. Much Mahalo to Hokulani and Kumu Hula Tiare Noelani Chang for sharing my Christmas in Hawaii. 

2012-2013 OIA Paddling New Season at Ke'ehi Lagoon Park On Oahu

On Saturday, December 15, 2012, the OIA started it's 2012-2013 paddling season with a regatta race on Oahu at Ke'ehi Lagoon Park.  It was a beautiful morning, with windy conditions causing 4 canoes to flip over (photo above).  No students were hurt, but the excitement was high among all the participants as they were getting ready to start at sun break.  Parents, uncles, aunties, grandmas, cousins, and family friends filled the beach with their tents and lots of food for the regatta racers.  They was so much "aloha" among all that attended to give their support to the 22 high schools participating in today's long distance races.

At the end of the competition, the winners were JV Girls West "Waianae," JV Girls East "Kaiser;" Varsity Girls West "Waianae," the Varsity Girls East "Kalaheo;" JV Boys West "Radford," JV Boys East "Kalaheo;" Varsity Boys West "Nanakuli," Varsity Boys East "Kalaheo;" JV Mixed West "Nanakuli," JV Mixed East "Kahuku;" Varsity Mixed West "Leilehua," and Varsity Mixed East "Kalani." Congratulations to all, and a great season to follow.  To view all the candid photos of this event, "click here."

U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selects Top Ranked Player "Scott Pagano"

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin McKay, Staff Sergeant Anthony Roy, Scott Pagano and Sergeant Ty Ramon

Tonight during half-time at the Moanalua Varsity Boys Basketball game vs. Damien Memorial School at Moanalua High School Gym, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl selected top ranked player Moanalua High School standout, defensive lineman "Scott Pagano" who earned elite status on the 2013 team.

Scott Pagano of Moanalua High School , Honolulu, Hawaii, has been selected to play in the 2013 U.S. Army-All American Bowl, joining an elite group of All-Americans. Those selected will play in the game on Saturday, January 5, 2013, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. This annual event will be televised live on NBC at 1:00 p.m. EST and will feature the nation's top 90 high school football players.

"Scott is a talented athlete whose leadership and teamwork qualities have made him a standout at Moanalua High School," said John Myers, Director of Marketing, Army Marketing and Research Group.  Only the strongest wear the Army colors, and Scott possesses mental, emotional and physical strengths similar to the Army Strong Soldier, that have afforded him that honor. We are proud to welcome all of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl players and commend each of them on their selection."

Pagano was selected by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee, which consist of All American Games network of regional directors and Rivals.com.  U.S. Army All-Americans are eligible for the U.S. Army Player of the Year Award, the Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year Award, the American Family Insurance Defensive Player of the Year Award, the Pete Dawkins Game MVP Award, and the Felix "Doc" Blanchard and Glenn Davis Awards.

As a result of Pagano being selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, his head coach Arnold Martinez is invited to travel to San Antonio and attend the U.S. Army Coaches Academy, an elite three-day learning experience featuring NFL coaches, as well as participate in bowl-week activities. Congratulations to Scott Pagano for his selection to play in the 2013 U.S. Army-All American Bowl, joining an elite group of All-Americans on Saturday, January 5, 2013, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The above information was provided by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. "Click here" to see event photos.