Monday, August 31, 2009

The West Oahu Baseball Tournament 2009 Championship

During the week of July 27, 2009 and August 1, 2009, there have been 2 groups in the youth division, 10 and under and 12 and under. Under the 10 and under are: (1) Shockers (2) Mililani Gold (3) Kolohe Chibi Abunai (4) Kolohe Midgets (5) Go Nutz and (6) Windward Giants. Under the 12 and under are: (1) C-Dawgs (2) Mahiko Park Rats (3) Manoa Dirt Bags (4) Crusaders (5) Windward and (6) Texas, the only mainland team. The Championship playoff was between the Mililani Gold and the Windward Giants, 10 and under and the C-Dawgs and Manoa Dirt Bags, 12 and under.

The final game went to the Windward Giants who scored 11-9 over the Mililani Gold. Due to errors, Mililani Gold fell short at the end and the Windward Giants took the 10 and under Championship. As for the 12 and under, the Manoa Dirt Bags ran away with the Championship with the final score 17-3 over the C-Dawgs. "Congratulations" to all the teams who made it to the finals.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Oli Aloha No Palolo

On August 15, 2009, the "Na Koa o Anuenue" Football Team from Honolulu, Hawai'i, took on the Kamehameha-Maui Football team and came out Victorious with only 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter to score a 26-20 in the final. It was a chilling and chicken skin experience from the start to the end of the game. Bottom line, you had to be there and for myself, it was "awesome" to see what I have never witness in a football game.

The game started out by a chant called "Oli Aloha No Palolo" which describes the area where Anuenue is situated. The alaka'i or team captains went forward to present the lomi sticks and a pu'olo (ti leaf bundle) to the Kamehameha Football Team. Talk about chills and chicken skin, "wow", that was "awesome" to watch and again, I have to say that you had to be there to feel like you were back in history.

After the presentation, the team did the dance, Ku'i Moloka'i a true Hawaiian male dance. "Congratulation" to the Anuenue Football Team, Coach Timothy Kealohamakua Wengler, his staff and players!


Tricia Yoshimura 2008 Libero of the Year All-Pac West Volleyball Team

Tricia Yoshimura was awarded the Libero of the Year award in the 2008 All-Pac West Volleyball Team in the Pacific West Conference. She leads the conference with 551 digs. When she graduated from the Hawai'i Baptist Academy in 2006, she was uncertain about playing on the West Coast. Tricia made a last minute decision to continue playing volleyball and headed to Oregan State. She was offered a position on the team as a walk-on. Tricia started a few games, then decided she wanted to come home to Hawai'i. Coach Daryl Kapis of HPU in Honolulu spoke to her OSU coach and that is how she began playing for HPU. As coach Kapis commented, Tricia is one of the best all-around players as of 2008. Last year, Tricia led the conference in digs and averaged 5.2 digs per game. Tricia's teammates added that she is all over the court and are amazed at how she gets all of the balls. Tricia feels this team shares a bond and connection which is good.

Friday, August 21, 2009

COACH TIMOTHY KEALOHAMAKUA WENGLER

Coach Wengler related his experience started at the youth level as an assistant and head coach for small pop-warner teams namely, the Kaimuki Eagles, Kalani Faclcons, and the Palolo Vikings. As the
head coach at Palolo Vikings, he coached many of the immersion students and competed against many others. As they
matured into the high school, it was they who asked him to make their dream come to life and for Anuenue to have a team of our own rather than having to play for the
neighboring Roosevelt High School team. The following 2005-06 we wrote for a
grant through OHA and began the first Hawaiian immersion High School
Football team which we named “Na Koa o Anuenue”

Na Koa o Anuenue Football Team 2009

Coaches, Timothy Kealohamakua Wengler - HC, Reid Kawano DC, Neil Ane LB,Gary Loo OL, Louis Oana OL, Laiana Wong LB, Sam Wahilani DB/QB, Robert Cullen RB, La'akea Suganuma Cultural/Spiritual, Mina Tsukihara Athletic Trainer, Garrett Tam Equip./Mgr., Noah Wengler Team Mgr., (no photo) Wondalee Rios Team Mother and Vaiola Soma. Team, Aki Keli’ikoa, Nahale-A,‘Opunui, Lau, Kilauea, Cullen, Mahuka, Cullen, Kaipo, Fernandez, Kekai, Armitage, Kanani, Vigil-Ako, Manuela, ano’i-Hide, La’akea,Mokiao, Keali’i, Keama, ‘Imaikalani, Gante, Ikaika, Pua’oi, Kalani, Fernandez, Makana, Otani-Wengler, Makamae, Kaleopa’a, ‘Olino, Soma, Pele, Kahiapo, Kamea, Ka’awa, Wili’oho, Kamai, La’amaikahiki, Waiwai’ole, ‘Lokepa, Lee, Kakela,Yam-Lum, Hemakana.