Page 2 - MidWeek - May 3, 2023

2 MIDWEEK MAY 3, 2023
Saying Goodbye
“Where words fail, music speaks.” — Hans Christian Andersen
The Way Of The Warriors
Transitions are pivot- al moments in music. Complicated and arduous to compose, these precious few bars connect one melody to the next tune, progressing music to devel- op a new chapter of its story. Transitions in life are equally difficult.
he University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team will try to serve up a three-peat this weekend at the NCAA championship tournament in Virginia. Be-
not the last. While studying music in college, my aunt neared the end of her life. Taking my violin to her bed- side at a Kailua hospice, I performed Massenet’s Med- itation from Thais. Like so many years ago, when words fail, music speaks.
Michael-Thomas Foumai is the director of artistic en- gagement and first composer in residence for the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. His music has been performed by the Los Angeles Philharmon- ic, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orches- tra and Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Lynne Johnson and Robin Stephens Rohr.
loved by so many, it’s been quite the trip for the VolleyBows and local fans watching this team of local, national and in- ternational studs ply its trade on the hardwood (or Taraflex).
Summer ended early with an afternoon rain hitting the asphalt of Grandpa’s Mau- nalani Heights driveway. The sweet aroma of the gardenia bushes permeated the living room. I was 10 years old and picked up the violin for the first time. Scratchy tones from the metal strings reso- nated in the house. Grandpa didn’t mind my noise.
For many folks, UH volleyball has been COVID relief, as we’ve witnessed this squad winning back-to-back national titles during the relative lockdown by 3-0 set scores over arch-rival Long Beach State in 2022 and Hawai‘i’s long-time sports nemesis BYU in 2021. Oh, and the 2020 squad was 15-1 before the coronavirus ended the season for everyone in mid-March.
The author played the violin to bring comfort to his dying grandfather.
UH has won 90% of its matches over the past three years (72-8!) against the best college competition around. It heads into this season’s final weekend having just won the Big West Conference tourney on April 22. It is peaking once again, undoubtedly a scary sight for tired opponents.
Laid in a hospital cot set up in the living room, he lived his final days at home. He was in constant pain, but my out-of-tune violin de-
Eating and drinking be- came painful. Talking turned to grunts and eye blinks. Soon, the cancer stopped even that. Only music pro- vided painless nourishment. Feverishly, I practiced through the music books, skipping to the advanced sections. There was no more time.
bedside, he looked asleep; tears in the way, I couldn’t bring myself to say “good- bye,” but I had done so every day with my violin for the past month and a half.
With all of the starters back from last year’s team, the performance of these volley-brawlers perhaps comes as no surprise. Yet, how many teams in how many sports have difficulty repeating their successes annually? One of the great things about sports is it is real-life drama unfolding live in person or as reality TV on our screens of choice. (And please, do not confuse this showcase with the contrived, edited melodrama of so-called “reality” shows. Ugh!)
lighted him. I learned a new melody each day, and he lis- tened to my new tune when he woke.
I was too young to know it then, but the violin offered me a way to heal, comfort and say goodbye, a transition leading to the next chapter of my life with music. Grand- pa’s passing was my first experience with death, but
This volleyball team not only displays a seamless blend- ing of cultures and creativity, but also features an easy-to- be-seen aloha that UH players share for one another, local fans and their coaches. Hawai‘i averaged more than 6,600 fans at each home match this year; many schools would gladly take that 6,600 attendance figure over the course of their entire home season!
KELLEY
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
On a Sunday October af- ternoon, his eyes gazed up- ward one last time. At his
Win or lose, triumph or trauma this weekend, UH’s elite leapers have proven to be incredible ambassadors of vol- leyball and our islands. Their infectious perseverance, cho- reographed antics on the sidelines and knowing smiles with fans enhance this volleyball phenomenon.
College coaches nationwide acknowledge what a thrill it is to play in Hawai‘i or to play anywhere against Ha- wai‘i. For this long-running show, now occurring annually in Mānoa, we should be thankful, appreciative and grateful. So, here’s to UH coach Charlie Wade, his terrific, talented team, and everyone else associated with this class act. Go Warriors!
Think about it.
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com