Muddy Fun, Basketball And Soccer
(from left) Stuart Lee, Kamrin Kaikoana and Michael Holt get muddy. Photo courtesy Sean Soon
I get plenty of emails telling me about upcoming athletic events and athletic achievements around Oahu. Here are a few items that recently caught my eye:
First, the inaugural Makahiki Challenge March 10 at Kualoa Ranch get ready to get plenty dirty because this event actually combines the challenges of an obstacle course and a 5K Mud Run! The organizer is former Kamehameha football, basketball and track star Kapu Gaison.
“I was living in California for several years, and all my friends were doing mud runs there,” he says. “When I moved back here (last year), the only one that I knew about was the military Swamp Romp. So we put something together that would be a lot of fun. This one is an obstacle mud run where there will be places to run, plus mud pits to crawl through and lots of (other challenges).”
“You can get as dirty as you want to,” he says. “When I was doing it, I was diving into the mud. But some people actually tip toe through it. It’s up to you how dirty you want to get.”
Proceeds from the Makahiki Challenge go to Spirit of Aloha and other charities. It’s partially sponsored by Primo Beer, and the motto fits perfectly: “Mud Over Matter.” You can get more information by going to makahikichallenge.com.
Gaison says he’s hoping for about 500 participants, including teams, with a concert to follow. The cost for individuals is $55, or $50 per person for teams.
Next, for up-and-coming basketball stars (who may not want to get as dirty as the mudders above), it’s the second annual Hui O Momilani Basketball Clinic. I wrote about last year’s popular clinic that is spearheaded by former Punahou girls basketball coach Mike Taylor and legendary basketball clinician Dennis Agena. This year’s clinic is set for Saturday, April 14 at Pearl City High School.
The one-day clinic is available for elementary school and junior high youngsters. Boys and girls in grades 1-3 can participate in the morning session, while students in grades 48 have the afternoon session. Cost for the clinic, which will feature ball handling and other drills made famous by Coach Agena, is $50. For more information, email momilanibasketball@gmail. com.
Finally, congratulations to AYSO Leeward Region soccer. The popular youth soccer program earned a $2,500 grant from Liberty Mutual Insurance for teaming up with the Responsible Sports program. AYSO’s Leeward Region 269 was among only 20 youth sports organizations across the country to earn the grant. You can learn more about the company’s sports mentoring program at ResponsibleSports.com. The grant dollars are expected to help Hawaii teams compete in the 2012 AYSO National Games.
“AYSO Leeward Region 269 has demonstrated a clear commitment to helping kids understand the life lessons youth sports have to offer,” says Matthew Schlechte, senior branch manager of Liberty Mutual’s Honolulu office.
Congratulations and good luck to all.
And keep those emails coming.
