Kalani hires Arakawa
as soccer coach
When Greg Van Canfort became Kalani's interim athletic director, he realized he had to sacrifice one of his lifelong passions: coaching soccer.
After all, the 40-something Van Canfort had coached the Kalani boys team for the past six years. Before that, he coached the Falcons girls for 10 seasons.
Van Canfort, who still plays the game as a goalkeeper for Honolulu United Gold, has high expectations of a soccer mentor. His concerns compounded when he struggled to find a replacement. Van Canfort finally found one in the one place he had yet to actually search: on the HUG practice field.
Van Canfort hired Myles Arakawa, a teammate, and the Falcons now have a new coach.
"I'd been looking everywhere, talked to people, and couldn't get a commitment," Van Canfort said. "Then I realized I had someone right in front of me. Myles' knowledge of soccer is well-respected."
Arakawa previously coached at Iolani until 2001. He is a midfielder on the HUG team that recently won a 40-and-over national title at the Veterans Cup on Oahu.
Kalani starts practice Monday. And now, Van Canfort can take some comfort.
"I woke up one morning and saw the rain falling. It's that time of year to get ready for soccer," he said. "I'll miss coaching, but I know Myles is someone who can do just as good a job, or better."
All in the cards: With a four-way tie for fifth place at the end of the regular season, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls volleyball tournament schedule went through a change that moves dates up.
Since the league doesn't rely on head-to-head competition to break ties, cards were drawn to sift out seedings. Among the four teams locked in fifth -- Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific, Word of Life and Saint Francis -- it was Word of Life that received the No. 5 seed. Mid-Pacific has the sixth seed, Maryknoll the seventh and Saint Francis was No. 8.
The ILH is a large, growing league that doesn't have a whole lot of gyms, so, with time at a premium, drawing cards more efficient than playing tiebreakers.
The postseason tourney, which was scheduled to begin Friday, actually began last night. The tourney championship will be played Nov. 4, the same night as the Oahu Interscholastic Association finals.
That's a bummer for longtime Punahou statistician Alan Lau, who is generally acknowledged as a human abacus of sorts. Lau also does stat work for OC-16 -- which will televise the OIA playoffs -- and will have to choose one or the other now.
The needs of the many: In sports lore and fable, teams from tiny schools in the middle of nowhere can and do win championships, as was the case in "Hoosiers."
On the football field, it's a tough task. There was a team at Honokaa back in the '80s led by quarterback Shane Bell, that nearly won a Big Island Interscholastic Federation title with a roster of 18 players.
It is extremely rare for a small team to contend, let alone win a title. What makes defending state champion Kahuku so prolific is talent and an army of backups.
Nearly two weeks ago, the Red Raiders sat their top two running backs and still blanked rival Kailua 42-0. The X factor for Kahuku, as it has been for several years, is its magnetism, i.e. ability to lure transfers.
There are kids in the South Pacific and on the neighbor islands who long to play for Siuaki Livai. Livai, a math teacher, is a role model for his players and a galvanizing leader in the highly supportive community.
One recent transfer was Kaniela Tuipulotu, who was a 6-foot-1, 215-pound freshman at Lahainaluna. At Tuipulotu's first fall camp, Lunas coach Bobby Watson said the raw but coachable youngster could end up playing a variety of positions, from running back to linebacker to tight end.
Tuipulotu is now a 250-pound defensive tackle at Kahuku.
Athlete of the Week
» Aaron Amaral, Nanakuli boys volleyball: 16 kills, four aces to rally Nanakuli past Moanalua on Saturday in a first-round OIA playoff match.Honor Roll
AIR RIFLERY
» Andrew Itsuno, Pearl City: Shot 260 to win OIA boys championship at Kapolei.» Brian Martin, Waimea: Shot 255 against Kapaa.
» Brandon Nakamoto, Kauai: Shot 252 against Island School.
» Laura Perreira, Waipahu: Shot 252 to win OIA girls championship.
» Robert Siko, Punahou: Shot 520 to win ILH boys championship.
» Deana Sin, Sacred Hearts: Shot 532 to defend her ILH girls championship.
» Kittie Wu, Kalani: Shot 252 to finish second in OIA girls championship.
BOWLING
» Evan Kam, Iolani: 246 high game against Maryknoll.» Rich Kodama, Hawaii Baptist: 262 high game, 658 high series against Kamehameha.
» Brett Tatsuno, Mililani: 247 high game against Aiea.
» Darin Villegas, Aiea: 247 high game against Mililani.
» Carter White, Mid-Pacific: 256 high game, 656 high series against Assets.
CROSS COUNTRY
» Anthony Bararres, Mililani: Ran 16:12.1 to win the OIA West boys championship at Waialua.» Kalen Darling, Moanalua: Ran 17:36.48 to win the OIA East boys championship at HPU.
» Lauren Ho, Hawaii Baptist: Ran 11:57.34 to win the 2-mile ILH girls meet at C.O.R.P.
» Jeremy Kamalamala, Kamehameha: Ran 16:12.76 to win the 3-mile ILH boys meet at C.O.R.P.
» Ann Miranda, Castle: Ran 13:50.12 to win the 2-mile OIA East girls championship at HPU.
» Sarah Mitman, Mililani: Ran 12:24.3 to win the OIA West girls championship at Waialua.
FOOTBALL
» Jaycee Alapai, Nanakuli: Rushed for 110 yards, 26 carries, one touchdown vs. Kailua.» Billy Case, Hawaii Prep: Completed 12 of 16 passes for 251 yards, including two touchdowns against Keaau.
» Vaa Faualo, Damien: 98 yards rushing on 21 attempts against Kamehameha.
» Michael Kopra, Hawaii Prep: 113 yards rushing on 17 carries, with two touchdowns against Keaau.
» Donny Mapusaga, Aiea: 109 yards rushing on 21 carries against Roosevelt.
» Brashton Satele, Pac-Five: Rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yard run against Iolani.
» Kevin Sullivan, St. Louis: 96 yards rushing, 15 carries, one touchdown against Punahou.
» Damien Torres, Kailua: Rushed for 84 yards, caught 88-yard touchdown pass against Nanakuli.
» Cody Walker, Pac-Five: Six receptions, 97 yards, scored on a fumble recovery vs. Iolani.
KAYAKING
» Cole Scott, Punahou: 1:01.42 in 250-meter sprint in ILH event at Ala Wai Canal.» Mele Carr, Punahou: 1:14.17 in 250-meter sprint in ILH event at Ala Wai Canal.
VOLLEYBALL
» Chris Burt, Mililani: Nine kills against Roosevelt.» Joshua Fial, Pearl City: Eight kills against Castle.
» Daniel Galarza, Leilehua: 22 assists against Kaimuki.
» Edward Garcia, Leilehua: 10 kills, three blocks against Kaimuki.
» Kyle Maki, Roosevelt: 23 assists against Mililani.
» Clarence Sesepasara, Nanakuli: 10 kills against Moanalua.
» Noah Williams-Solomon, Mid-Pacific: Nine kills (.637), nine digs against Lanakila Baptist.
» Tricia Yoshimura, HBA: Four aces against Word of Life.
To nominate ...
To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday:
Phone: 529-4782 Fax: 529-4787 E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com |
