Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 3, 1 March 2014 — Helping Molokaʻi ond Lānaʻi high school athletics [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Helping Molokaʻi ond Lānaʻi high school athletics

n January, The Downtown Athletic Club Hawai'i held its second annual benefit fundraiser in front of Murphy's Bar and Grill in downtown Honolulu. The Downtown Athletic Club Hawai'i is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing a puhlie forum for sports enthusiasts in the Aloha State. Its mission is to: support and advance the sports programs in Hawai'i's puhlie schools;

aid student-athletes in achieving theirpost-secondary school educational goals; foster and provide opportunities for student-athletes in Hawai'i to leam about and experience different cultures; and to promote the participation of Hawai'i student and amateur athletes in loeal, national and intemational amateur sports eompehtion. The sold out event, "Cheers for Moloka'i and Lāna'i High," raised funds for both the Moloka'i and Lāna'i high schools' athletic programs. For the event, Merchant Street fronting Murphy's Bar and Grill was closed and there were food stations with 'ono treats from Moloka'i and Lāna'i. There were items such as: venison, dried squid, poi, smoked beef, sweet bread and kūlolo. Murphy's also provided cocktails and pūpū was provided from Hukilau. There was also entertainment provided by Jerry Santos, Kapena de Lima and Brother Noland. Currently, Moloka'i High School's athletics budget is underfunded by about $32,000. Lāna'i High is forced to travel with partial squads and only offer a limited number of sports due to its laek of funding. Both schools also stmggle with getting proper gear and equipment for their athletes and often are unahle to participate in the pre- or post-season games. Because they are the only high schools on their islands, they face tough hnaneial challenges because to compete they need to travel off-island. The teams' typical travel routine takes them to Maui, Lāna'i or

Moloka'i by boat. This ean be hard on some of the athletes due to the rough seas causing seasickness. Lodging for these teams is not glamorous as they often sleep on cold, hard gym lloors or on old, wom wrestling mats and travel by old buses that sometimes break down. Athletes of Moloka'i and Lāna'i know that if you want to play sports you will need to fundraise. According to Hokulani Haliniak, athletic director at Moloka'i High,

"I might have enough funds to send a team to maybe three of the five meets, so that means they will need to fundraise to get to the other meets." Teams fundraise constantly, selling everything from chocolate candy to T-shirts, sausage to pies. Though both the Moloka'i and Lāna'i communities are very supportive of their student-athletes it sometimes becomes a burden for them. Because of eaeh island's limited population, it ean be hard to keep asking the same people to support all the various fundraisers over and over again. The "Cheers for Moloka'i and Lāna'i High" event was a godsend for these schools. It was a great success and the fundraising goal was met. Funds raised will be used to help supplement both high schools' travel budget. Scott Simon, volunteer executive director of The Downtown Athletic Club Hawai'i, stated: "The Downtown Athletic Club Hawai'i was truly moved by the dedication shown by student-athletes, coaches and administrators at Moloka'i and Lāna'i high schools year after year despite incredibly difficult travel and forced sacrifices. We wanted to help with immediate budget shortfalls and raise statewide awareness toward a longerterm solution." Simon added, "We're so grateful for the tremendous support shown by Hawai'i's businesses, government and community leaders, and the puhlie who braved the weather and eame out to help raise funds and unite as friends for Moloka'i's and Lāna'i's student-athletes." ■

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Cūlette Y. Machade ChairpErsūn, TrustEE Mūlūka'i and Lāna'i