BRETT GIBSON / EASTERN PROGRESS
Fatai Hala’api’api feels more
at ease now that her parents have
moved to Kentucky to be with her
When the phone calls from Kentucky to Lahaina increased to every night, and the tears of homesickness began to flow like the waterfalls on Hana Highway, Fatai Hala'api'api's parents made a difficult family decision.
Hala'api'api's mother, Ofa Taufa, a resident of Lahaina for more than 27 years, and her husband, Sosefo, quit their jobs at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua and moved 4,413 miles to Richmond, Ky., on Nov. 23.
"It wasn't easy; it was a tough decision," Ofa Taufa said, "but as a parent I feel that this is a new step for Fatai and my job as a parent is to support her in whatever she chooses to do."
What Hala'api'api had chosen to do was to accept a Division I women's basketball full scholarship at Eastern Kentucky University -- much farther from Maui than she had ever been in her life.
With mom and dad in the arena for every home game, what Hala'api'api has done is remarkable. The 6-foot-1 graduate of Lahainaluna High School has broken -- no, smashed -- Eastern Kentucky's season record for blocked shots and already climbed to No. 7 on the career list.
With three more blocks this weekend -- including her 11th multiple-block game -- true freshman Hala'api'api has 40. The old record was 35, set 12 years ago by a junior.
"We are excited about the future she has here," coach Larry Joe Inman said. "She will be the kind of player who everyone will always remember."
On Feb. 5, Hala'api'api had a career-high five blocks in a game against Morehead State.
At least one of them was highlight-tape quality.
"A Morehead player broke free and drove into the lane to shoot," Inman said. "Tai cuffed the ball and slammed it to the floor."
She also had a career-high 10 points and eight rebounds in that game.
"We are hoping she will be dunking next year," Inman said. "She is almost there now."
Fatai is not surprised by her early success. "The (college) game is faster, but I am about where I expected to be," she said. "I had a triple-double against Pearl City in states (state tournament) last year."
Her biggest improvement, Hala'api'api and coach Inman agree, has been in emotional maturity.
In the Morehead game Hala'api'api herself was blocked twice.
"Early in the year that would have bothered her and affected her play," Inman said, "but last night she responded and brought the ball back inside and scored or got fouled."
With her parents living nearby, Hala'api'api is enjoying her new life.
"I lived my whole life in Lahaina. I wanted to experience new things," she said. "I'm meeting new people, the basketball program is really good and they have four seasons over here -- and snow."
Mom and dad are adjusting, too.
"The first month was pretty tough, but our blood and our bodies are adjusting," Ofa said. "The town is almost like Lahaina, very small. There are a lot of white people -- we worried about that part -- but it's amazing how helpful, generous and wonderful the people here are.
"But we miss the food the most and we are dying to meet a Polynesian."
Tip-ins: Eastern Kentucky has signed Nancy Hoist of Konawaena for next season. "She did really good in open gym during her recruiting trip," Hala'api'api said. "We expect Nancy to make an immediate impact," Eastern Kentucky coach Larry Joe Inman said. ... Fatai Hala'api'api wears No. 50 and her teammates call her "Hawaii 5-0." ... With five games left in the season maybe she will match her number and nickname with 50 blocks. ... Inman is looking for more players from Hawaii. "Fatai's athletic ability has also made our football coaches aware of Hawaii," Inman said.
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Travis Lee earns his
100th career victoryNCAA wrestling champion Travis Lee reached 100 career victories yesterday for Cornell (N.Y.) University.
Lee, unanimously ranked No. 1 at 133 pounds, won all three of his matches at the Virginia Duals to improve to 33-1 this season.
As usual, he was dominating, winning by a pin in 1 minute, 14 seconds and by decision scores of 23-8 and 18-7.
Lee is a 2001 Saint Louis School graduate from Liliha. He became the first from Hawaii to win a NCAA Division I wrestling championship last year, in the 125-pound division.
His career record for Cornell is 100-10; the past two years he is 67-1.
Next up for Lee and Cornell are the Eastern Intercollegiate championships March 6-7 and the NCAAs March 18-20.
SWIMMING
Northern Colorado junior Saree Ho'opi'i of Pukalani, a former state champion for Maui High, was named Swimmer of the Year yesterday at the Midwest Classic Invitational at Indianapolis.Ho'opi'i won three individual events -- qualifying for the U.S. Open meet in each -- and anchored four winning relay teams.
She helped set a school record in the 400-yard freestyle relay and anchored the winning 200 and 800 freestyle and 400 medley relays. Sierra Binek (Waiakea '01 of Volcano) swam the third leg on the 200 freestyle relay.
BASKETBALL
Two days after she was named an academic All-Star for the second year in a row, Monica Tokoro (Iolani '01 of Aiea) scored 34 points for Cal State-Los Angeles, giving her 55 in two nights.On Thursday, Tokoro was selected to the Verizon Academic All-District Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
On Friday, she led all players with 21 points and nine assists in an 81-70 loss to Cal State Bakersfield and last night she hit a season-high 34 in a 93-80 victory over Cal State Stanislaus.
Tokoro, a Division II All-American last season, has 1,472 career points and needs 57 more to become Cal State-L.A.'s all-time leading scorer.
Arrita Lane (Aiea '01) had 22 points and 11 rebounds Thursday as Fresno State upset Tulsa 85-76 in the WAC.
Sophomore Branden Kawazoe (Waiakea '02) scored a season-high 23 points, making seven of 11 field-goal attempts, for Pacific (Ore.) in Friday's 86-77 loss to Whitworth.
SOFTBALL
Sophomore Ianeta Le'i (Iolani '02) slugged a three-run home run in the sixth inning to give BYU a 7-6 victory over Loyola Marymount on Friday in the Softball by the Beach Invitational at Santa Barbara, Calif.
