Just For Kicks

By Al Chase

Thursday, March 15, 2001

Hawaii an easy sell as host
for regional tournament

Hawaii is a whole lot easier to sell when the special things the 50th State is known for are part of any presentation, especially on the mainland.

That tactic worked for Hawaii Youth Soccer Association representatives last month in Las Vegas.

The 19-member U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV board voted 17-2 to hold the 2003 regional tournament in Hawaii.

Hawaii was bidding against Spokane, Wash., whose representatives were selling the idea that it's cheaper to go there.

Herb and Michelle Schreiner, Michelle Nagamine and Ron Hata headed up Hawaii's delegation.

"We put on such a show. It was fun," Herb Schreiner said. "We had three girls from a hula halau dancing in front of the door when the members went in to the lunch meeting.

"We set up a table, about 20 feet long, that was packed with stuff. We decorated the place with 50 orchid plants."

The Schreiners wore matching Hawaiian outfits from Hilo Hattie. Michelle added another touch -- a haku lei.

All the board members received an orchid lei.

Hata offered everyone chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, Kauai cookies and Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau brochures.

There was a bulletin board with the architectural plans for the Waipio Complex, huge banners showing a panoramic view of the complex and a poster portraying the aerial view.

Michelle Schreiner made Hawaii's presentation.

She told the group that Hawaii had supported the regionals all these years, how much Hawaii's soccer community appreciated their hospitality and now Hawaii was asking to be their host.

"She basically sold the complex and that's basically why we got it," Herb Schreiner said. "That was important, because places have received bids in the past, but the fields weren't ready. Spokane is building a complex, but it's not finished. Everyone was amazed at how the (Hawaii) complex looked.

"We heard there was a lot of lobbying going on about the price of going to Hawaii, so we spent a full day telling them that was bull."

They played two videos. One was of the grand opening ceremonies at Waipio and adult and youth matches there. The other, with the song "Hawaiian Style" as the background music, focused on the people of Hawaii.

The Hawaii group then made baskets from lauhala leaves and stocked them with an orchid plant, a Hawaiian calendar, two T-shirts related to the complex, macadamia nuts, two bags of coffee, guava jam, cookies and an invitation to attend the regionals, June 23-28, 2003.

Montana did not vote for Hawaii, citing cost, and Washington voted for itself.

"Now the work begins," Herb Schreiner said. "We've seen opening and closing ceremonies at other places, and we want Hawaii's to be the best ever."

Approximately 250 teams from 13 Western states will be entered in the tournament.

Busy month in Waipio

The Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex will be busy the last week of this month.

Hawaii's Olympic Development Program camp will be held March 25-28 with approximately 300 players attending.

AYSO's annual Kirk Banks tournament follows March 29-April 1, with 170 teams representing every island competing in five age divisions.

There is a VIP division for the physically and mentally challenged players.

The finals for the Under 12, 14, 16 and 19 will be held in the main stadium April 1.