Lanai High struggles
to rebuild girls team

A new coach takes over for players
not dropped for drinking

Lanai High School is trying to rebuild a girls basketball team after the team's two coaches were fired and nine of its 11 players were dismissed over allegations that they drank alcohol together this month during a trip to Oahu.

The news of the coaches' firing and the underage drinking by athletes stunned the tiny island community with a population of about 3,500 people, including 176 high school students.

"We might have a problem, but you know we're a strong school no matter what," said Kim Dupree, whose daughter Chant'e was one of the two team members who did not participate in the alleged incident.

On a March 10-13 trip to Oahu for a preseason tournament, nine players -- all under the legal drinking age of 21 -- allegedly drank beer that was provided by their coach, Russell Zablan.

Zablan and his assistant Dale Kapua were fired. Zablan declined comment, and Kapua could not be reached for comment.

Lanai police are investigating the allegations.

Police Lt. Tivoli Faaumu, commander of the Lanai District, said he would not describe underage drinking on the island as a problem, but it was a concern.

"We want to step up and be more vigilant in this area to make sure we don't let it get out of control," Faaumu said.

He recalled that during a high school graduation party last year, 14 juveniles were arrested for underage drinking who probably had obtained the alcohol from adults.

The school's athletic director, David McHugh, said he hopes the latest incident becomes a lesson in developing positive values and discourages underage drinking.

"We've got to educate our kids that this is wrong," he said. "The message is we're small, we're isolated but we're not free of social problems. ... Kids will only do what they're allowed to do. Everybody has a responsibility in terms of educating our students."

As for the basketball team, McHugh said, several girls and a new coaching staff joined the remaining two teammates, Dupree and Christie Ayudan, in drills Tuesday afternoon at the school's gym.

McHugh said many residents have volunteered to help rebuild the program, including the new coach, Verna Del Rosario.

"We have every intention of going forward with the season," McHugh said.

But he added that he wants to make sure the players are ready to play, so they will not get injured on the court. He plans to make a final decision this week on whether they should continue the season.

Parent Kim Dupree said there is a possibility the team will have to forfeit the first game, on April 1, before being ready to compete, but she is happy about the way the school is trying to field a team.