Kula High and Intermediate, the smallest Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation school on the island, ran away with a big award yesterday on O‘ahu. The Dolphins, who also compete in the fewest sports, earned the inaugural HMSA Kaimana school award for the
Kula High and Intermediate, the smallest Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation school on the island, ran away with a big award yesterday on O‘ahu.
The Dolphins, who also compete in the fewest sports, earned the inaugural HMSA Kaimana school award for the KIF.
“That’s incredible,” Kula tennis coach Ben Gaskin said. “I know we had a few players to make it to states. That’s an honor.”
Kula’s boys canoe paddling team took a KIF title, along with tennis players Kyle Barrett (boys singles) and the brother duo of Alex and Dylan Latif (boys doubles).
“I just think we had a good group of talented players,” Gaskin said. “The other teams had incredible players too. We had a really strong boys team.”
Despite having the fewest athletes competing in KIF sports this past season, the Dolphins were able to garner critical sportsmanship points throughout the year.
“I think the most important thing to teach them is to be good sportsmen,” Gaskin said. “I saw that in the other teams, so I wanted my players to cheer on their teammates. I love it when the doubles partners gave each other high fives.”
Hawai‘i’s top public and independent high schools gathered to receive student and school honors for achievements in community service, sportsmanship, athletics, and academics during the 2005-06 school year.
Principals, athletic directors, students and family members from across the state attended the first-ever presentation of the HMSA Kaimana Awards and Scholarship Program honors.
Over 200 attendees participated in the ceremony, which was held at the Ko‘olau Golf Club in Kane‘ohe.
“Yesterday’s ceremony was an exciting celebration of the achievements of Hawai‘i’s high school students and their schools,” HMSA president and CEO Bob Hiam said in a press release. “Congratulations to those who earned scholarships and awards. “We’re proud to sponsor the HMSA Kaimana Awards and Scholarship Program, the only program in the state to combine community service, academics and sportsmanship with athletics.”
In addition to Kula’s honor, the program awarded scholarships to three Kaua‘i students for their outstanding achievement in athletics, academics, sportsmanship and community service.
Kassy Morishige and Rachael Taira, both seniors at Kaua‘i High School, and Sharla Shimono, a senior at Waimea High School are among 21 students across the state who earned $2,000 scholarships by HMSA for their exemplary work on and off the field.
Introduced in August 2005, the HMSA Kaimana Awards and Scholarship Program recognizes all-around accomplishments by high schools, rewards individual student-athletes with scholarships and supports excellence in coaches’ education.
The program is administered by the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association and success is measured in the area of athletics, academics, sportsmanship and community service.
For more information on scoring for the 2005-06 school year, visit the HHSAA’s Web site at www.sportshigh.com.
The unique statewide program is a three-year sponsorship by HMSA and represents one of the largest high school athletic sponsorships in Hawai‘i’s history.
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
