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| Eight-Man Football has helped Ka`u High School become more competitive, bringing home league titles. If the Trojan's win on Saturday, they take the 2016 championship. Photo from Ka`u High School |
Fed by one of the smallest school populations in the state with about 60 seniors graduating each year, the Ka`u team was so small in numbers that for generations, players took on both offense and defense positions. Year after year, they found it exciting but overwhelming to tackle the big schools, whose well populated teams fielded larger and more specialized players.
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| Kalei Namohala led the change to Eight-Man Football |
Ka`u High Athletic Director Kalei Namohala led the change in 2013 when the Trojans faced canceling football season, unable to field the number of players needed for a traditional team. She declared that Eight-man Football is particularly appropriate for Ka`u's agile and fast-running athletes. It shows off passing and interception skills. There are fewer tackles in the game. It is higher scoring with fewer injuries.
Namohala banned together small Big Island high schools and challenged small schools on Moloka`i and Maui to help jumpstart Eight-Man Football. With community fundraising, the Trojans flew and sailed to other islands, to Moloka`i and Maui, and launched the new league, taking on teams in small rural towns like those in Ka`u.
In recent games this season: Ka`u’s Jacob Flores scored three touchdowns on Oct. 12 to win a rematch against Pahoa. With a score of 14-14 at the end of the fourth quarter, the game went into double overtime. Flores’ accomplished his first run into the end zone during the second quarter. Another one in the third quarter brought the score to 12-14, and a 91-yard safety by Ka`u added two more points.
Flores ran six yards for a touchdown in double overtime to bring the final score to 20-14.
During the Oct. 8 game for Ka`u’s homecoming celebration, Zachary Kai scored the Trojan’s two touchdowns, playing Kohala. The Trojans led 14-10 in the first quarter, following Kai’s runs into the end zone and a good two-point conversion run by Jamal Buyuan. The Trojans’ score remained at 14 through the rest of the game, while Kohala scored in the second and fourth quarters to bring the final score to 24-14.
In recent games this season: Ka`u’s Jacob Flores scored three touchdowns on Oct. 12 to win a rematch against Pahoa. With a score of 14-14 at the end of the fourth quarter, the game went into double overtime. Flores’ accomplished his first run into the end zone during the second quarter. Another one in the third quarter brought the score to 12-14, and a 91-yard safety by Ka`u added two more points.
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| Ka`u played Kohala for homecoming, takes on Pahoa this Saturday and could clinch the island championship. Photo by David Berry |
During the Oct. 8 game for Ka`u’s homecoming celebration, Zachary Kai scored the Trojan’s two touchdowns, playing Kohala. The Trojans led 14-10 in the first quarter, following Kai’s runs into the end zone and a good two-point conversion run by Jamal Buyuan. The Trojans’ score remained at 14 through the rest of the game, while Kohala scored in the second and fourth quarters to bring the final score to 24-14.
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WALK-IN VOTING AND LATE REGISTRATION FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION BEGAN TODAY, with the only site in Ka`u at Pahala Community Center. Ocean View Community Association executive director Sandi Alexander said this morning that calls are coming into Ocean View Community Center, with prospective voters looking for the place to go. Ocean View Community Center is not an option this year.
Late registration and voting take place at Pahala Community Center Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 4.
Ka`u and Volcano residents can also register and vote at Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo, Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; West Hawai`i Civic Center Community Room, Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Waimea Community Center, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon.
Locations for the Tuesday, Nov. 8 General Election, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., include : Cooper Center in Volcano at 19-4030 Wright Rd; Ka`u High School Cafeteria at 96-3150 Pikake St. - turn into the school grounds; Na`alehu Elementary School Cafeteria at 95-5545 Hwy 11; Ocean View Community Center at 92-5545 Mamalahoa Hwy; and Miloli`i Halau.
Locations for the Tuesday, Nov. 8 General Election, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., include : Cooper Center in Volcano at 19-4030 Wright Rd; Ka`u High School Cafeteria at 96-3150 Pikake St. - turn into the school grounds; Na`alehu Elementary School Cafeteria at 95-5545 Hwy 11; Ocean View Community Center at 92-5545 Mamalahoa Hwy; and Miloli`i Halau.
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| Rep. Tulsi Gabbard speaking in Ka`u. Photo by Ron Johnson |
Gabbard. Both companies serve Ka`u, Time Warner with Oceanic Cable television and internet and AT&T with cell phone coverage. In a statement today, Gabbard proclaimed, "It is dangerous for a handful of billionaire-owned companies to consolidate to the point where our media (and content) is owned and controlled by a select few, while discouraging competition and raising rates on consumers. Already, 90 percent of the channels—from HBO to ESPN to MSNBC—are controlled by the same six networks."
Gabbard said she fears that the AT&T and Time Warner's $85.4 billion merger "will increase costs for consumers, reduce choice and competition, threaten net neutrality, and risk union jobs and wages for thousands of employees. The only people that benefit from this deal are the shareholders and CEOs who always have the most to gain by these kinds of massive mergers. Bigger is not always better. Further consolidation of the media could hurt millions of American consumers."
The congresswoman sent a link, asking,
"Can you sign our petition to the FCC and the Justice Department calling on them to take immediate action to block the disastrous merger of AT&T and Time Warner?"
Gabbard stated that "AT&T is already first in the nation as a provider of pay TV—thanks to their 2015 acquisition of DirecTV—and it is the second-largest wireless company and third-largest broadband provider in the country, per The Los Angeles Times. That means this merger will put their competitors at an unfair disadvantage in the market because they can favor content they own. That is anti-competitive—and will hurt consumers, as well as start-up content providers, who have historically been the ones hurt by such monopolies.
Gabbard stated that "AT&T is already first in the nation as a provider of pay TV—thanks to their 2015 acquisition of DirecTV—and it is the second-largest wireless company and third-largest broadband provider in the country, per The Los Angeles Times. That means this merger will put their competitors at an unfair disadvantage in the market because they can favor content they own. That is anti-competitive—and will hurt consumers, as well as start-up content providers, who have historically been the ones hurt by such monopolies.
"Both Republicans and Democrats—Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump—have expressed concerns about this merger," Gabbard noted. She said, "This is not a partisan issue. It never should be when it comes to protecting consumers. But we know that special interest groups and lobbyists will be descending upon Washington to ensure this merger succeeds, which is why it is important we start mobilizing and putting the pressure on the FCC and Justice Department now—before it’s too late."
"We should always look to support innovation in business, but another consolidation of media conglomerates where big business wins and the American people lose is the last thing we need in a system that is increasingly stacked against consumers," Gabbard concluded.
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ISLAND OF HAWAI`I VISITORS BUREAU is the new name for the Big Island Visitors Bureau. The organization is encouraging the change to apply to the island’s name as well, urging the marketing community to drop the Big Island name. The Island of Hawai`i Visitors Bureau also plans to shut down the Big Island Visitors Bureau office in Hilo, keeping an office on Kona side.
Regarding the new logo, the organization's executive director Ross Birch stated: |
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| Health eating is proclaimed by the new Hawai`i Island Food Alliance |
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KTA RAISES FUNDS FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS through October. Ka`u supporters can donate at any KTA checkout stand throughout the Big Island. One hundred percent of donations taken at KTA food stores supports Boys & Girls Clubs. Many Ka`u children spend the afternoons after school at the Boys & Girls Clubs.
LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING is the presentation tonight at 7 p.m. in Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. The illustrated talk features archaeologist Dusten Robbins discussing ways that Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park uses Light Detection and Ranging to manage cultural resources. $2 donation supports park programs; park entrance fees apply.
ULANI NUI, COCONUT LEAF plaiting is the demonstration tomorrow, Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon and Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai1i Volcanoes National Park. Rangers teach the craft and participants can take home their work. Free; park entrance fees apply.
HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION takes place at Pahala Community Center tomorrow, Wednesday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. for children in grades K - 8. Call 928-3102.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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