How did you get involved with Special Olympics?
What got me involved in Special Olympics was I had meet a wonderful little lady that is severely mentally challenged years ago. (See above photo.) This little lady I love with all my heart as if she was my birth daughter. She touched my heart and soul with her smile, her mother and her changed my life and made me in to the caring and giving man I am today. I learned from this little lady I had a gift. That gift is I’m able to read people’s eyes that are severely mentally challenged and know what they are trying to say or what they want because they are not able to talk with their voices. I able to bring a lot of happiness to there life’s cause I understand them when so many people do not.  In December 2004, I was introduced to Special Olympics in Honolulu by my best friend and her daughter, who is severely mentally challenged, at an event called the Jingle Bell Walk. From that event, I have branched out over the years to reach as many athletes with disabilities and those without that I can so no one is ever left out.

What is MSC?
The Web site MSC, Making Smiles Count, was my way of honoring the one I think of as my daughter. Anytime I see her, she melts my heart with her smile. MSC came about from her initials, but out of respect I would not use her name. So I came up with the name Making Smiles Count. The photos started out as a way to show the happiness I was bringing to so many athletes. As a gift from me to the athletes and their parents, they could  go to the Web site and print out there pictures. But over the years, I noticed the need to educate people of the different levels of athletes. Most volunteers in Special Olympics do not understand the severely mentally challenged at all and they treat the athlete as if they were a new born baby. I show people the right way to treat and help the severely challenged athletes all the time.
My goal with this Web site is the following “Where no one is left out.”  I have been going around the country getting involved in different states of Special Olympics. My focus right now is on a program called MATP ( Motor Activity training program). I have noticed a large amount of states dropping this program. This is the only program in Special Olympics for the lowest level of athlete. In the next couple of months, I will be making contact with Special Olympics North America which is based in North Carolina with hopes I can  prove to them that this program needs to stay threw out all of Special Olympics. The one I call my daughter is not signed up in Special Olympics anymore because her mother told me there is nothing for her level. This saddens me a great deal that she and many others are being left out.
I have always hoped one day out of the year all of Special Olympics organization throughout the United States would unite with one another as one. This would allow one state doing very well with donations to help another one that is not. Will this day ever come?

Describe your interaction and experience with Special Olympics West Hawaii.
I came about Special Olympics West Hawaii during the kickoff barbecue at the start of February 2010. I was driving  by and saw the Special Olympics West Hawaii sign at Kahaluu Beach Park. When I stopped to see what was going, I was amazed just how happy everyone was and how good of a time everyone was having. The athletes were even hugging each other. I met David Ross, the director of Special Olympics West Hawaii, that day and from there I was welcomed with open arms with my style of training. The athletes in West Hawaii are wonderful to train and help. Many of them are very playful and love to joke around. My style of training is very different than most. The athletes loved how much fun I made their T-ball training.

Please enjoy the following photos taken by Jeremy at T-Ball and the kickoff barbecue. To view the entire album, click here.

T-BALL& SOFTBALL
- Occurs from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Old Kona Airport ball field, located on Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona.
- First practice is Feb. 16.

SWIMMING
- Occurs from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursday at Kona Community Aquatics Center, located on Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona.
- First practice is Feb. 16.

POWERLIFTING
- Occurs from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Mondays and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays at The Club, located at 75-5699 Kopiko Street in Kailua- Kona.
- First practice is Feb. 20.

TRACK & FIELD
- To be announced

See more of his fantastic photos taken that day by visiting the West Hawaii Today’s Web site, www.westhawaiitoday.com, or click here.

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

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.

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.

NOTE: This profile is part of a weekly series intended to show the hearts and guts of Special Olympics West Hawaii participants. It is also a chance to get to know each other better. Readers will hopefully gain a better appreciation and knowledge of what each athlete, coach, volunteer, family member, friend or supporter brings to the organization. Enjoy!

Name: Damian S. Extor
Age: 19
Hometown: Bellevue, Washington

What sports and activities do you participate in with Special Olympics West Hawaii? Which activity do you like best?
I play basketball, softball and soccer. I help at fundraisers and like to go to picnics. I like soccer because you can kick hard, but I like football best because you can tackle and run.

What have you learned through SOWH or gained from being part of a team?
You need to be on time. Listen to your coach and teammates.

Why did you join SOWH?
I couldn’t play in Washington anymore because we moved here.

How long have you been with SOWH?
I have played with Special Olympics for seven years.

What is the best part about participating with Special Olympics?
The best part is meeting new people. All the people at Special Olympics I consider my ohana.

Do you have any hobbies or activities that you like to do during your free time?
I like to collect and play with toy cars. Mattel is better than Hot Wheels cars. I love cars. I also like video games and music. I also collect pens. I don’t like chores.

Who is your favorite professional athlete or role model and why?
I like to watch the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong is very good. He is awesome.

Share an accomplishment — something you’re proud of.
I’m proud that I’m learning to work at the Arc of Kona. I like getting a paycheck.

What goal do you hope to accomplish?
I might try track or swimming.

Favorite pitch, swim stroke or sports technique/move? Why?
I like hitting home runs.

While the Cop on Top event in Kailua-Kona earlier this month may not have netted Special Olympics West Hawaii’s goal of $15,000, the $13,101 donated will help the organization purchase equipment and uniforms, train coaches and send athletes to area and state Special Olympics tournaments this fall and winter, said Special Olympics West Hawaii Area Director Dave Ross.

“We had a good turnout, people were very generous. Our goal was $15,000, which we didn’t reach, but we made more money this year in a bad economy than last year when the economy wasn’t that bad,” Ross said, noting that the 2008 event netted about $11,300 in Kona. “Thumbs up to everybody.”