Special Olympics West Hawaii

Special Olympics West Hawaii is participating in the 32nd annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, a statewide event that occurs simultaneously Saturday, May 15, on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai.

More than 9,500 walkers raised $1.12 million and helped 190 local charities, including SOWH, in 2008.

The Big Island event begins at 6:45 a.m. for runners and 7 a.m. for walkers at the Mauna Lani Resort. The course is 3 miles. Participants can register from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. prior to the event.

Volunteers are needed to man the SOWH aid station located along the walking route. Want to help? Call SOWH Area Director Dave Ross at 345-1344 or e-mail sowhdave@yahoo.com.

SOWH athletes, coaches, volunteers, families, friends and supporters are also encouraged to participate in the Charity Walk. The entry is $35 for adults and $25 for those under 18 years of age, which includes a morning of fun, food, entertainment and exercise.

For more information about the Charity Walk, call Ian Pullan, of the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, at 885-2000.

Due to a change of management at Safeway in Kailua-Kona, Cop On Top will now be held in the Spring instead of in the Fall.

This annual fundraiser for Special Olympics West Hawaii will start at 6 a.m. Thursday, April 29, and conclude in the afternoon of Saturday, May 1. During those three days, local police officers will live on scaffolding in front of Safeway on Henry Street, rallying support and dropping buckets below to those passing by for donations to SOWH.

This is the biggest fundraiser for the organization dedicated to helping children and adults with intellectual disabilities improve their quality of life through sports.

SOWH needs volunteers to help collect donations in front of Safeway during the event. To get involved or for more information about Cop On Top, e-mail volunteer coordinator Dulcie Sorenson at specialolympicswh@gmail.com or call SOWH Area Director Dave Ross at 345-1344.

The Hawaii Police Department and volunteers will carry the “Flame of Hope” through the streets of Kailua-Kona Sunday, April 11, 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 9 a.m. at First Hawaiian Bank in the Lanihau Shopping Center.

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. 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 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 28, at the Old Kona Airport fields, located behind the Kona Community Aquatics Center.

Six Big Island 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, e-mail volunteer coordinator Dulcie Sorenson at specialolympicswh@gmail.com or head of delegation Lona Warner at 989-2080. Also visit www.sowh.org.

Please enjoy the following photos taken during the kickoff 2010 barbecue at Kahaluu Beach Park, where Special Olympics West Hawaii athletes, volunteers, coaches, friends and families celebrated last year’s season with awards and yearbooks. Throughout the day, there was live entertainment, signups for Spring sports, ono grinds and lots of mingling.

To view the entire album, click here. Nikki Cleintuar, a SOWH volunteer and fantastic lady, took these photos.

Special Olympics West Hawaii is looking for coaches and volunteers for its Spring sports season.

Athletes will be competing in swimming, softball and t-ball, powerlifting and track and field from February to May. Coaches will be trained at no cost.

Special Olympics West Hawaii is a year-round program of sports training and competitions for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

To get involved or for more information, call SOWH Head of Delegation Lona Warner at  989-2080  or e-mail biglona@hotmail.com.

Special Olympics West Hawaii will have its Kick-Off 2010 barbecue from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, at Kahaluu Beach Park. Anyone interested in learning more about Special Olympics, what the organization does and who it serves are welcome to attend.

There will also be sign-ups for Spring Sports (swimming, softball/t-ball, powerlifting, track and field), handing out 2009 yearbooks, and yearly awards. Lunch will be provided and guests are encouraged to contribute as they see fit. Live music, great people, an awesome cause.

For more information, e-mail SOWH volunteers chairwoman Dulcie at specialolympicswh@gmail.com or call SOWH area director Dave Ross at 345-1344.

Special Olympics West Hawaii held an area-wide bocce tournament Oct. 24 at Pualani Park in Kailua-Kona.

This was an important contest for the athletes and their unified partners as it was the qualifier for the next level of competition: the Holiday Classic on Oahu. Having practiced twice a week since late summer, everyone was ready to roll.

Bocce is traditionally offered in the summer season, but has also been added to the winter schedule this year to replace bowling, which is unavailable due to the closure of Kona Bowl for renovation.

An official West Hawaii sport for only a few years, bocce has been steadily gaining in popularity with athletes and attracting many new unified partners as well.

Among veteran players, the competition has become quite exciting. One of SOWH’s most senior athletes, Norman “Deadeye” Matsubara, who is over 50 years old and has emerged as the undisputed area champion of the game.  He’s definitely the guy everyone will be watching to win top honors at the Holiday Classic this year.

But on Oct. 24, several first time “rookies” displayed impressive skills and motivation as well. Suffice it to say there will be no resting on laurels with this group.

Results of Doubles competition:
Division A
1st: Stingrays
2nd: Geckos
3rd: Sharks

Division B
1st: Dolphins
2nd: Honus
3rd: Whales

Results of Unified competition:
Division 1
1st: Norman Matsubara and Rich Randazzo
2nd: Isaiah Wong and Laurine Kaleohano-DeLovio
3rd: Linden Ventura and Chris O’Callaghan
4th: Dara Sabri and Kitt Kurtz

Division 2
1st: Adrian Cleintuar and Carl Warner
2nd: Ray Donager and Bob Yong
3rd: Duke Kaawa and Scott Avery
4th: Dorrit Williams and CoeAnn Gierke

Division 3
1st: Michael Tom Makanui and Les Lund
2nd: Edna Phillip and Doreen Parker
3rd: Murray Williams and Pam Haydon
4th: Apple Isidro and Dulcie Sorenson

Please enjoy the following photos taken by SOWH volunteer Nikki Cleintuar. To view the entire album, click here.

Special Olympics West Hawaii is conducting bocce ball practice from 3 to 4:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays at Pualani Estates’ fields. Also, SOHW is holding basketball practice from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Kekuaokalani Gym. For more information, call Lona Warner, head of delegation, at 989-2080.