Special Olympics West Hawaii

Special Olympics West Hawaii athletes, unified partners and volunteers interested in learning or competing in bocce ball should attend the sport’s first practice, from 3:15 to 5 p.m. June 8 at Pualani Estates park.

This ancient game, dating back to the Roman Empire, closely resembles bowling. It requires skill, strategy and a little luck. There are four to eight large balls, weighing just over two pounds. They differentiated by designs. The Jack, a smaller ball in a different color, is tossed first. Whoever lands his larger ball closest to the Jack gets a point. The person with the most points wins.

Practice will be held from 3:15 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays at the park.

For more information or to get involved, call SOWH Head of Delegation and Bocce Ball Coach Lona Warner at 808-327-0491 or 808-989-2080.

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.

Special Olympics West Hawaii bocce ball practice begins at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, at Pualani Park in Kailua-Kona.

Practice will be held Tuesdays and Fridays. All athletes and volunteers must wear closed toe shoes, absolutely no slippers. Also bring water and snacks.

Athletes with personal assistants will practice from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Athletes that work to 4 p.m. will practice until 5:30 p.m.

For more information, call Lona Warner, SOWH head of delegation, at 327-0491 or  989-2080. Also, send her an e-mail at biglona@hotmail.com.

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.

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.

Live daringly, boldly, fearlessly. Taste the relish to be found in competition in having put forth the best within you.
— Henry J. Kaiser

Laura Shimabuku, West Hawaii Today freelance photographer and owner of Akamai Photographic in Kailua-Kona, took the following fabulous photos, featuring Special Olympics participants competing in the Big Island Games Day Saturday, July 22, 2008. Laura gave her permission, allowing SOWH to use her images and captions on this blog. May her work, featured below, bring a smile to the athletes and coaches, as well as their friends and families.

Ray Donager takes a shot during the bocce competition at the Big Island Games Day for Special Olympics.

Murray Williams lines up his bocce ball shot at the Big Island Games Day for Special Olympics.

Kelly Yonemura lines up his shot competing in bocce ball competition at the Big Island Games Day for Special Olympics.

Kelly Yonemura celebrates a good bocce ball shot.

Robbie Sonoria, of the Special Olympics West Hawaii Soccer Team, drives the ball downfield.

Robbie Sonoria, #13, of the Special Olympics West Hawaii Soccer Team scores a goal.

Teammates from Kelly Yonemura and Ray Donager take a break from the action at the Big Island Games Day for Special Olympics.

Ray Donager takes his shot at the bocce ball competition while his teammates look on.

Adrian Cleintaur celebrates and reenacts his great bocce ball throw at the Big Island Games Day Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics West Hawaii Soccer Team patiently and excitedly waits to receive awards. Front row includes: Alvin Carvalho and Jason Nagatori. The back row includes: Robbie Sonoria, Shannon Salas and Gregory Routery.