NAWILIWILI — The idea is that the old guys can still play with the young bucks, said David Chaikin, founder of the Annual Hawai‘i Dinosaur Volleyball Tournament.
Men and women teams from around Hawai‘i and parts of the Mainland opened the 17th Annual Hawai‘i Dinosaur Volleyball Tournament on Kalapaki Beach with opening rounds, Friday.
“Today is advancing rounds, and Sunday will be the finals for both men and women,” said Gary Maguire, a Kaua‘i volleyball coach who was watching the action on the beach.
Chaikin said teams will be in action beginning at 8 a.m. for the finals.
“We have some real world class athletes in this tournament,” Chaikin said. “There are professionals and players from all around. About a quarter of the field are local (Kaua‘i) players.”
Todd Harrison and Ryan Hanaberg comprise a Kapa‘a team that worked its way through, advancing during Saturday’s action.
“Men (teams) have to have a combined age total of 80 and women have to have a combined total of 70,” Maguire said. “If you go over the total, there are points.”
Michael Sullivan, teaming with Derek Iha, had that problem.
“We played against Kalani Vierra’s team and they totalled 93, so right off the bat we had to give them three points,” said Sullivan, a Kaua‘i High School alumni. “But at least we won one game.
“I took vacation for that?” Sullivan added about his team’s short stint.
Chaikin said this is the first time the tournament has come to Kaua‘i since it was started.
“We’ve been to Kona, Maui, and Honolulu,” Chaikin said. “This is the first time we’ve come to Kaua‘i, and from the way everyone is really enjoying themselves, we might be back next year.”
Maguire noted that one of the good features of the Kaua‘i setup is the facilities and the ability for the tournament to be stretched out along Kalapaki Beach, noting that as play wound down, Saturday, there were three courts in play, one being the winners’ court and two being consolation courts.
“On O‘ahu, they can only play two games at a time,” Maguire said. “Here, they can spread things out. The girls were playing farther down the beach, but already wrapped up play.”
The event is sponsored by Duke’s restaurant at Kalapaki Bay, the Kona Brewing Co. Longbard Island Lager, and the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club.
“The guys can still play with the young bucks,” Chaikin said. “It’s all about keeping the dream alive.”
