PUHI — Face masks, social distancing and other COVID-19 restrictions could not stop the hundreds of people who turned out for the Kaua‘i Victory Tour by coach Charlie Wade, University of Hawai‘i-Manoa Athletic Director David Matlin and the UH men’s volleyball team Saturday at the Grove Farm Market.
The tour provided an opportunity for Kaua‘i people and fans to offer their congratulations to the National Collegiate Athletic Association national champion Rainbow Warriors, which earned the title May 8 with a three-set win over Brigham Young University, 25-21, 25-19 and 25-16, at the Covelli Center on the campus of Ohio State University.
This is Hawai‘i’s first NCAA team title in any sport since the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team defeated Stanford University in the 1987 NCAA championship match.
COVID-19 restrictions prevented fans from bringing anything over for autographs, but instead there was a provided photo autographed by all players on the tour. Additionally, random-number drawings offered a cache of prizes, including green HPM buckets filled with produce, and a variety of other giveaways from sponsors of the Saturday tour.
“Something told me I needed to come today,” said Johnny Gordines of Tropical Flower Express, a vendor at the Grove Farm Market, where Terry was kept busy with people picking up their Memorial Day orders for graveyard flowers. “This is something nice to see.”
Activities by the Hoala program by Texaco offered a putting contest for gift cards, and photos were limited to within the socially-distanced ropes keeping the UH Rainbow Warriors and their spectators safe.
Pink-shirted Grove Farm volunteers performed a variety of tasks to keep things flowing, including fetching freshly-prepared coconuts from Grove Farm Market vendor Adam Coyaso.
“Too bad this is not the football team,” said Kaua‘i County Councilmember Bernard Carvalho Jr., who is a former football player for UH. “These men are champions, and it’s all good — we’re all Warriors.”
Capping the day, Grove Farm’s Warren Haruki, getting help from Mayor Derek Kawakami and state Senate President Ron Kouchi, representing the island’s legislative team, presented an award of $20,210 “from Kaua‘i” to the University of Hawai‘i Foundation, represented by Wade and Matlin, in support of the men’s volleyball team.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
