| Special Olympics West Hawaii | Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. |
Following the Cop On Top fundraiser, basketball practice will begin Sept. 22. Practices will be held Mondays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. at the downtown Kailua-Kona gym.
Bowling will take place Sundays at noon at KBXtreme in Kailua-Kona, beginning Sept. 25.
For more information, call Special Olympics West Hawaii Area Director Dave Ross at 345-1344.
The Hawaii Police Department will reach new heights Sept. 16 to 18 to support Special Olympics West Hawaii, a year-round program dedicated to helping children and adults with intellectual disabilities improve their quality of life through sports.
For Cop On Top, local police officers will spend Friday through Sunday in the air on scaffolding at the Walmart on Henry Street in Kailua-Kona. They will rally support and drop buckets below to those passing by for donations to Special Olympics.
This year’s goal is to raise $15,000 and the police officers will sleep on the scaffolding for the three nights — or until the monetary objective is reached.
All funds raised will stay in West Hawaii to be used for the local Special Olympics program and its athletes. Cop On Top is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Special Olympics West Hawaii is a nonprofit organization that is funded by donations, said Area Director Dave Ross.
The organization helps athletes develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skill and friendship with fellow athletes, families and the community. Its teams compete in area games on the Big Island and Maui in order to qualify for the State Games on Oahu, where Special Olympics teams throughout the Hawaiian Islands compete for medals, Ross said.
Volunteers are needed to solicit donations and give information about Special Olympics at the fundraiser. Those interested in volunteering should contact Nani Lehano at tlehano@yahoo.com or 430-8689.
West Hawaii Today reporter Chelsea Jensen wrote an awesome article about Fueling Dreams, which benefits Special Olympics, and freelance photographer Laura Shimabuku took some great photos. The story was published June 28 and can be viewed on the newspaper’s Web site or by clicking here.
Enjoy this excerpt:
For athlete Jason Nagatori, 33, every coin or bill dropped into the organization’s baskets helps athletes of all ages and abilities reach their dreams. Nagatori, who this spring is taking part in softball, soccer and basketball, appreciates the community’s help in funding the program to ensure athletes like himself have the proper equipment and can travel.
“Our community has been amazing. Nearly everyone who has walked out has dropped some in,” Nagatori said. “They are pretty generous. So far, so good.”
Special Olympics West Hawaii is running an aid station Sunday, June 26, at the Kona Marathon, which starts and ends at the Keauhou Beach Resort.
SOWH’s station is outside of the West Hawaii Today office, located on Kuakini Highway. Volunteers are needed to pass out water and Gatorade to the estimated 1,800 runners and walkers participating in this Boston Marathon qualifier.
Call Nani Lehano, SOWH volunteer co-coordinator, at 430-8689 to sign up for the following shifts: 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Special Olympics West Hawaii is once again partnering with Tesoro Hawaii and the Police Department for Fueling Dreams.
This fundraising event is from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, at the Queen Kaahumanu Highway Tesoro, located across from Honokohau Small Boat Harbor in Kailua-Kona.
Tesoro is hosting Fueling Dreams events statewide to raise money for Special Olympics, a year-round program of sports training and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities.
Last year, this event netted roughly $3,500, which went directly to flights for SOWH athletes who competed on other islands, said SOWH Director Dave Ross.
Volunteers are needed to pump gas, talk story, clean windshields, wave signs and take donations. Call Nani Lehano, SOWH volunteers co-coordinator, at 430-8689 to sign up for the following shifts: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information about Fueling Dreams, call Ross at 345-1344.
Special Olympics West Hawaii traveled Memorial Day weekend to Oahu, where 52 athletes, coaches and unified partners from Ocean View to Waimea competed in the State Summer Games.
They brought home seven gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals.
At the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, they were among the approximately 850 athletes who competed in Softball, Powerlifting, Swimming and Track and Field.
The opening ceremonies took place in Les Murakami Statium and welcomed more than 2,500 volunteers, who participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run named for fallen officer Troy Barboza. Detective Renee Morinaka represented West Hawaii and enjoyed the run as usual with endless smiles and enthusiasm.
The Sharks and head coach Holly DeGeal medaled in 14 of the 20 events the swimmers entered with Kaiena Costa edging out two other swimmers in the 50m freestyle by less than 1 second.
The Cobras Tee-Ball team used the power of the the Phillip sisters, Malia Conner and Jennifer Poblano to their fourth place finish.
Isaiah Wong crushed the competition with his 440-pound dead-lift in his 180 pound weight class. The dual sport Phillip sisters each took home a silver in the bench press competition.
The Kona speedsters burnt up the Ching Field track with Lendon Cariaga-Ventura and Damian Extor bringing home a combined four medals, including a bronze in the 4×100 Unified relay.
The Kona Magua Unified Softball team played in Murakami Stadium to a third place finish behind the pitching and timely hitting of Don Tornow. A unified sport is a team made up of a 50/50 mix of Special Olympics athletes and community partners without disabilities.
Special Olympics is dedicated to year-round sports training for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The organization trains all year round in three distinct sports seasons and are always open to new athletes and volunteers regardless of prior experiences with the developmentally disabled community.
SOWH’s next sports season consists of bocce ball and soccer. It will host island wide teams on July 31 in a local competition and travel to Oahu in mid August for the State Aukake Classic.
If you have any questions about the program feel free to email us at specialolympicswh@gmail.com or call Area Director David Ross at 345-1344.
The Hawaii Police Department and volunteers will carry the “Flame of Hope” through the streets of Kailua-Kona Sunday, April 10, in an effort to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics athletes.
This event, known as the Troy Barboza Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, is a tradition in the law enforcement community around the world. It begins at 8:30 a.m. at First Hawaiian Bank in the Lanihau Shopping Center. Registration is at 8 a.m.
The “Flame of Hope” will be carried along Alii Drive, go to Hale Halewai and end at The Club in Kona, where the Special Olympics West Hawaii Powerlifting Tournament will be held directly after the run.
The public is encouraged to attend the SOWH Powerlifting Tournament at The Club in Kona. Scores will be used at the State Summer Special Olympic Games on Oahu in late May.
Those who make donations of $20 or more will receive a free commemorative 2010 Troy Barboza/First Hawaiian Bank Law Enforcement Torch Run T-shirt or tank top. A $25 donation entitles the donor to a long-sleeved shirt or one in XXXL size.
For more information about the Torch Run, call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. To donate supplies or volunteer for the tournament, call SOWH Area Director Dave Ross at 345-1344.
Special Olympics West Hawaii is hosting a softball tournament from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the Old Kona Airport fields, located behind the Kona Community Aquatics Center.
Kona, Honokaa and Hilo softball and T-ball teams will compete for spots at the State Special Olympic Summer Games held in late May on Oahu.
Volunteers are needed to help support the participating athletes. Special Olympics West Hawaii, a year-round program of sports training and competitions for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
To get involved or for more information, call Dave Ross at 345-1344 or head of delegation Lona Warner at 989-2080.
Hawaii Lifeguard Surf Instructors and Halona’s Ocean Tours are sponsoring a therapeutic surf day for people with disabilities on March 30 at Kahaluu Beach Park.
Surfing, Hawaiian cultural activities and entertainment will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 30. Donations and volunteers are needed.
Registration is required for surf day participants and volunteers. The deadline is March 16. Call Hawaii Lifeguard Surf Instructors at 324-0442 for additional information or to register.
This annual event benefits Family Support Hawaii, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that strives to support families and communities in providing love and care for our children. Visit www.fsswh.org to learn more about this organization.