Special Olympics West Hawaii

West Hawaii Today reporter Daniel Brock wrote a super “Short Hops” brief, which was published Tuesday, Aug. 26, in the Sports section. It details how the Special Olympics West Hawaii soccer team captured the gold medal at the Aukake Classic on Oahu.

Here is an excerpt:

The team — comprised of Jason Nagatori, Alvin Carvalho, Shannon Salas, Robbie Sanoria and Hanato-Wells — went 6-0 in the five-on-five tournament, scoring 22 goals and conceding just four.

Perhaps more impressively, due to the illness of a pair of players, they did so with no substitutes for the entire run of play.

“It’s fun to get to see these guys enjoy themselves,” said Coach Andy Barfoot, who along with assistant Steve Strand, has worked with the team for the past several months. “But we do work hard at it.”

CONGRATS! To view the “Short Hops” item online, visit www.westhawaiitoday.com or click here.

In honor of SOWH bowling season kicking off Sunday, Sept. 28, the following is a list of films featuring one of America’s favorite sports.

Check out these five flicks in your SPARE time.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI — This 1998 movie features “a bowling team,” which represents stability for a special man called “Dude” (Jeff Bridges). This film will be long remembered for the scene in which Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) pulls a gun from his bowling ball bag to settle a dispute over whether or not an opposing player made a foot foul.

KINGPIN — This 1996 movie follows Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson), a down-on-his-luck former bowler who apprentices a young Amish boy (Randy Quaid). The culmination of this odd pairing is a chance for Munson to defeat his lifelong foe, Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray), at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.

RACING WITH THE MOON — This 1984 movie stars Sean Penn and Nicolas Cage. It tells the story of two pinsetters who work in a stunning four-lane alley. With time running out before they are to begin serving in World War II, they deal with the ups and downs of their relationships.

THAT NIGHT — This 1992 movie stars Juliette Lewis as a teenage girl who falls in love with the counter boy at the local bowling alley. It features several scenes that take place in a large bowling alley, where of course love blossoms.

DREAMER — This 1979 movie tells the story of a down-on-his-luck bowling center employee (TIm Matheson) who aspires to be a professional bowler. An elderly man mentors the “dreamer,” aiding him on his quest.

HUG A TREE — or at least help plant one.

Special Olympics West Hawaii is helping reforest a native dryland forest, by planting trees from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Volunteers are needed in this effort.

Earlier this year, SOWH participated in a planting day, which athletes and volunteers concurred it was a great time. Those who helped last time are excited to see the results of their previous hard work.

Whether this planting day is your first or 10th, join SOWH as it helps give back to the community who supports its year-round program of sports training and competitions for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

For more information or to sign-up, contact SOWH Area Director Dave Ross at 808-345-1344 or sowhdave@yahoo.com.

“Somewhere, sometime, the leader within each of us may get the call to step forward.”
James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

Special Olympics West Hawaii is continuing to grow stronger each season.

However, Area Director Dave Ross insists that the program’s continued success depends on its dedication and hard work towards athletes, the community and its volunteers.

There are several vital roles volunteers can fill in addition to the coaching staff, unified partners and event volunteers.

Each Special Olympics chapter is supposed to have a management team in place to oversee all aspects. SOWH needs a volunteer coordinator, a families/outreach coordinator and a fundraising chairperson.

“For our program to truly thrive, we must put our energy into all of these departments,” Ross said. “If you or anyone that you know may be interested, please contact me as soon as possible.”

SOWH recently lost a fabulous volunteer coordinator, Debbie Extor, whose leadership will be missed dearly.

“Debbie has done a great job for the past few years, but needs to retire from the position at this time,” Ross said. “That void is what we need to fill first off and Debbie has assured me that she would help her replacement get aquainted with the position.”

Cop on Top kicks off at 6 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, and ends at 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.

During this annual fundraiser, local police officers sit atop of a scaffold in front of Safeway, located at 75-1027 Henry St. in Kailua-Kona. There they will eat, sleep, play and encourage shoppers to donate money toward SOWH. They will also increase awareness for this year-round program that offers sports training and competitions for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Donations can be made from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. over those three days.

“This is a very important fundraiser for SOWH because it has regularly generated 50 percent of this organization’s yearly operating budget,” said Area Director Dave Ross.

Purchases of select Meadow Gold or Viva products at any Safeway statewide during this time will also directly benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Hawaii.

Volunteers are needed to serve four-hour shifts, during which they will ask for donations, express gratitude, man the information table and pass out balloons.

“If you can only do one Special Olympics fundraiser a year, please, please, please make this the one,” Ross said. “Better yet, grab a friend or co-worker to help out.”

To learn more about the statewide fundraiser, visit www.specialolympicshawaii.org.

To volunteer for Cop on Top or donate to SOWH, call Ross at 808-345-1344 or send an e-mail to sowhdave@yahoo.com. Or, contact volunteer K.C. Strand at zionvideos@yahoo.com or 530-524-6456.

Longtime volunteer Nikki Cleintuar took the following fabulous images of Special Olympics West Hawaii and East Hawaii teams, competing at the Big Island Games Day Saturday, July 22, 2008. A big mahalo goes out to Nikki and Special Olympics East Hawaii Area Director Carey Uchida, who helped with the captions.

ENJOY!

The Hilo Explosions All Stars soccer team suited up and ready to take the field for their first game. Kneeling in front, from left to right, is Karen Rita, Sean Conley and Jann Nakoa. Standing, from left to right, is Coach Jordan Canion, John Garry, Chris Liberato, Greg Villafuerte, Jeff Macaysa, Patricia Ugalde and Coach Sonny Kahili. (Note from Nikki: Wait a second. Who is that wearing the yellow hat and lurking in the background? Isn’t that West Hawaii soccer coach Andy Barfoot?)

The winning soccer team was the East Hawaii All Stars. Here the team proudly shows off their first place blue ribbons. Lower row, from left to right, is Chris Liberato, Greg Villafuerte, Karen Rita and John Garry. Upper row, from left to right, is Jann Nakoa, Sean Conley, Jeff Macaysa and Patricia Ugalde.

Go West Hawaii Lions! Kneeling, from left to right, is Kigen Hanato-Wells and Jason Nagatori. Standing, from left to right, is Robbie Sanoria, Head Coach, Andy Barfoot, Greg Routery, Alvin Carvalho, Shannon Salas, Assistant Coach Steve Strand.

East Hawaii bocce teams proudly display their awards. Mark Tellio and Trevor Yadao captured fourth place. Chandra Chee and Erica Shigematsu received third place. Eleanor Ibarra and Tiare Macanas got second place. Alson Pestrello and Dana Feldner won first place.

Let’s hear it for the home team! The West Hawaii Lions proudly receive their second place red ribbons. In front, from left to right, is Alvin Carvalho and goalie Jason Nagatori. Up in back, from left to right, is Greg Routery, Robbie Sanoria, Shannon Salas and Kigen Hanato-Wells.

The Hilo Explosions Dragons soccer team battled hard for its third place standing. From left to right is Coach Lori Nakashima, Special Olympics East Hawaii Area Director Cindy Uchida, Jocelyn Garcia, Joy Ushijima, Marco Melillo, Michael Mitts, Jason Pascua and Kyle Nakasone.

Here are the members of the West Hawaii bocce team. Kneeling, from left to right, is Kealoha “Ray” Donager, unified partner Kelly Yonemura and Norman Matsubara. Apple Isidro is in the wheelchair. Standing, from left to right, is Henry, Michael Tom Makanui, Amy Aguiar, unified partner Bob Yong, unified partner Carl Warner, unified partner Doreen Parker, Adrian Cleintuar, Duke Kaawa, Murray Williams, Coach Lona Warner and unified partner Amy Chang.

Here are the members of the Explosions bocce teams. Front row is Tiare Macanas, Darwin Nagamine, Brandon Reny Wong and Gail Yoshishige. Second row is Justin Legaspi, Lorien Bentley, Jillian Hatada, Teresa Moore, Denise DeMotta and Eleanor Ibarra. Back row is Mike Kimoto, Suzy Lauer, Les Matsumoto, Karen Melillo and Else Ushijima.

From left to right are Red Waves bocce players Eddie Ah Sing, Ehleeboy Umayas and unified partner Kalei Galario.