Special Olympics West Hawaii

Special Olympics West Hawaii is participating in the Holiday Classic, held annually in December at both Hickam Air Force Base and the Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base. This event includes a multi-division three-day Basketball tournament and Individual Skills Competition, Singles, Doubles and Unified® Team Bowling competitions, and traditional and Unified® Doubles Bocce tournaments. The Holiday Classic marks the end of the Fall season.

Participating athletes, unified partners, coaches and chaperones must proudly wear their SOWH yellow T-shirts, bring a brown bag breakfast and be at the Kona International Airport no later than 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5. They will be departing on Mokuele Airlines Flight #891 at 9:36 a.m. and arriving in Honolulu at 10:16 a.m. However, unified partner Ronona Della-Cioppa and athlete Apple Isidro are on Hawaiian Airlines Flight #217, leaving at 7:03 a.m.

Please remember that due to heightened security, all liquids must be under 3.4 ounces and placed in a separate Ziplock bag for screening. Double check the placement of liquids, which will save big hassles at the airport.

Besides breakfast on Dec. 5, all other meals and housing are included. Athletes may bring spending money if they desire. Those traveling with medicine must fill our a medication release form.

SOWH will be staying at Pearl Harbor and Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base. Towels and soap will not be provided. Maps are available of Hickam Air Force Base, Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base, and Naval Station Pearl Harbor on the Special Olympics Hawaii Web site.

Packing list includes: a good attitude, three pairs of shorts, three shirts, four pairs of socks, athletic shoes, four pairs of underwear, sleep clothes, swim trunks or bathing suit, dance clothes, toiletries, shower towel, feminine hygiene products (if necessary), jacket, hat, sunscreen, water bottle and medication.

“It will be a great weekend of fun and competition,” said Dave Ross, SOWH area director.

The Holiday Classic schedule is as follows:

Friday, Dec. 5
12 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Team Basketball (All Divisions) - Hickam Air Force Base Main Gym, Pearl Harbor Sub-Base Gym & Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Semper Fit Center.
12 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Unified Bowling - Kaneohe Bay Lanes, Doubles Bowling -Hickam Lanes and Pearl Harbor Lanes
7:30 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies - Hanger # 35 - Hickam Air Force Base

Saturday, Dec. 6
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Competition, Team Basketball - (All Divisions) - Hickam Air Force Base Main Gym, Pearl Harbor Sub-Base Gym & Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Gym
8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Competition, Bocce - Football Field behind Hickam Bowling Center
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Competition, Singles Bowling - Hickam Lanes & K-Bay Lanes
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Competition, Bocce Doubles, Football Field behind Hickam Bowling Center
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Olympic Town - Beside Hickam Bowling Center & K-Bay Bowling Center
7 - 10 p.m.: Victory Dance - Kaneohe Bay Enlisted Club

Sunday, Dec. 7
8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.: Competition, Individual Skills Basketball - Pearl Harbor Sub-Base Gym
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Competition, Team Basketball - (All Divisions) - Hickam Air Force Base Main Gym, Pearl Harbor Sub-Base Gym & Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Gym
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Competition, Bocce Unified Doubles- Football Field Behind Hickam Bowling Center
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Competition, Unified® Bowling - Hickam Lanes and Kaneohe Bay Lanes
12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Closing Ceremonies - Hickam Main Gym & K-Bay Base Gym

For more information about the Holiday Classic, contact Lona Warner, SOWH head of delegation, at 808-327-0491, 808-989-2080 or biglona@hotmail.com.

Sign-ups are now underway for the Special Olympics West Hawaii basketball, bocce and bowling leagues. Participants will learn teamwork and skills of relating to the games. Everyone is welcomed, including athletes, unified partners, volunteers and coaches.

Basketball is bouncing its way into the season, which kicks off Thursday, Sept. 25. Practices will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Old Kona Airport gym.

Bowling begins Sunday, Sept. 28. Practice will occur at 10 a.m. Sundays at Kona Bowl, located at 75-5591 Palani Rd. in Kailua-Kona. Mandatory bowling for SOWH athletes will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18, in Hilo and Sunday, Oct. 26, in Kona. Unified partners are also required to be present Sunday, Oct. 26, in Kona.

All SOWH athletes and unified partners will compete the Holiday Classic at both Hickam Air Force Base and the Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base. This event is from Friday, Dec. 5, to Sunday, Dec. 7. It includes a multi-divison basketball tournament and Individual Skills Competition, Singles, Doubles and Unified Team Bowling competitions, and traditional and unified Doubles Bocce tournaments.

“Everyone is welcomed, but you can only participate in one sport for the state games,” said Lona Warner, SOWH head of delegation. “If you cannot be there for all these dates, do not sign up. Bocce will be determined as soon as we find out how many athletes and unified partners are interested in the sports. Please call me as soon as possible.”

To get involved with the SOWH bowling, bocce and basketball leagues, contact Warner at 327-0491, 989-2080 or biglona@hotmail.com.

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.

GET EXCITED. That’s right, sports fans, enthusiasts and budding athletes. Basketball and bowling seasons for Special Olympics West Hawaii is approaching. These sports begin September 28 and last until the first weekend of December, when SOWH will compete at the Holiday Classic at Hickam Air Force Base on Oahu.

Athletes interested in competing and showing off their mad skills should sign up with SOWH Area Director Dave Ross, who can be reached at 808-345-1344 or sowhdave@yahoo.com.

Volunteers are needed to serve as unified partners for bowling. SOWH is also seeking people willing to take coaches training for these sports.