The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is alerting motorists on Oʻahu of parking restrictions on Kamehameha Highway on O‘ahu’s North Shore in anticipation of the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024.

No parking will be allowed on either side of Kamehameha Highway from ‘Ili‘ohu Place to the Mission of Saints Peter & Paul Church beginning Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at 10 p.m. through the duration of the event.

Temporary barriers will be placed in the shoulders to prevent parking and allow safe pedestrian access. Honolulu Police officers will be patrolling the area enforcing the parking restriction. Vehicles parked within the restricted area will be cited and/or towed at the owner’s expense. Should the event be cancelled, the barriers will be removed as quickly as possible and the parking restriction will be lifted.

Electronic message boards will be strategically placed at key decision-making points including Wahiawā, Kahalu‘u and Kahuku to alert motorists to parking restrictions and heavy traffic on the North Shore. Additional signs will be placed on both ends of the designated area near Waimea Bay to notify drivers of the parking restriction.

HDOT asks those travelling to the North Shore to be patient, to drive safely and to expect delays. As with past ‘Eddie’ events, the number of cars on the road is expected to significantly exceed the capacity. HDOT is collaborating with the Honolulu Police Department, City and County of Honolulu Parks and Recreation and Transportation Services Departments to mitigate impacts to the best extent possible.

Twelve-year-old Maui athlete, Micah Diaz earned the gold medal in the Intermediate 80 pound division of the 2024 USA Boxing National Championships on Thursday.  The 7th grader from Lokelani Intermediate School is a member of the South Side Boxing Club of Maui.

The event runs from Dec. 16-21 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Virginia.

Micah’s father, Michael “Mikey” Diaz, Jr. called the win a huge accomplishment, saying the national title puts Maui and Hawaiʻi on the map in youth boxing.

Micah fought four straights days, competing against other accomplished boxers from around the country. Family members say Micah had under two years of training.

Joining Micah on the journey were Anthony Farias-Vazquez, 15 and Entienne Hardy, 20. They were accompanied by head coach Nante Manangan and team mom Tiana Diaz.

“This gives our community hope that all things can be done if you put in the work and shoot for the stars. We want this amazing story to get out and encourage our island that it can be done. With God all things are possible,” said Mikey Diaz.

The Sentry today announced the return of Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, and Xander Schauffele to The Plantation Course at Kapalua when the PGA TOUR’s Opening Drive begins at The Sentry from Jan. 2-5.

As the first of eight Signature Events during the 2025 season, The Sentry welcomes TOUR winners from the previous season, including FedExCup Fall winners, and the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings through the FedExCup Playoffs in August.

Åberg earned his second trip to The Sentry after finishing in the top 50 of the 2024 FedExCup standings (No. 16). The Sweden native captured eight top-10 finishes during his 2024 campaign, including runner-up finishes at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Masters Tournament, respectively, a T2 finish at the BMW Championship, a T4 finish at the Genesis Scottish Open and a T5 finish at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. The Sentry 2025 will mark Åberg’s second consecutive appearance at The Plantation Course at Kapalua, where he finished T47 in 2024.

Denver native Clark collected his third career TOUR victory at the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am after just 54-holes when the event concluded due to dangerous weather conditions. The 31-year-old earned seven top-10 finishes in addition to his win this season, including a runner-up finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, a T2 finish at THE PLAYERS Championship and a T3 finish at RBC Heritage. Clark will make his second start at The Sentry following a T29 finish at the 2024 edition.

Matsuyama began his two-win campaign in 2024 with a victory at The Genesis Invitational, where he defeated Will Zalatoris and Luke List by three strokes for his ninth career TOUR win which broke a tie with K.J. Choi (8, South Korea) for the most wins by an Asian player on TOUR. In August, the Japan native found the winner’s circle again at the FedEx St. Jude Championship for his 10^th career TOUR victory and first in a FedExCup Playoffs event. In addition to two titles, Matsuyama earned five top-10 finishes, including a T6 finish at THE PLAYERS Championship, sixth-place finish at the US Open, and a T9 finish at the TOUR Championship. Matsuyama will make his eighth start at The Sentry, where he holds three top-five finishes (T3/2015; 2/2017; T4/2018; T41/2021; T13/2022; T21/2023; 58/2024).

Six-time TOUR winner Morikawa is set to make his return to Maui after finishing in the top 50 of the 2024 FedExCup standings (No. 2). The California native collected eight top-10 finishes during the 2024 season, including runner-up finishes at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday and the TOUR Championship, respectively, a T3 finish at the Masters Tournament and T4 finishes at both the PGA Championship and the Genesis Scottish Open. Morikawa will make his sixth consecutive start at The Plantation Course at Kapalua, where he holds five top-seven finishes in as many appearances (T7/2020; T7/2021; T5/2022; 2/2023; T5/2024).

The Sentry 2019 champion, Schauffele, secured his return trip to The Plantation Course at Kapalua after earning two major championship victories during the 2024 season. The 31-year-old collected his first major title at the PGA Championship in May, which marked his eighth career TOUR win and first since 2022 Genesis Scottish Open. Just two months later, Schauffele picked up his second title at The Open Championship to become the first player to win both the PGA Championship and Open Championship in the same year since Rory McIlroy (2014). Apart from his two victories, Schauffele earned thirteen top-10 finishes, eight of which were top-five finishes including a T3 finish at The American Express, T4 finish at The Genesis Invitational, T2 finishes at THE PLAYERS Championship and FedEx St. Jude Championship, respectively, and a runner-up finish at the Truist Championship. The California native is set to make his eighth consecutive appearance at The Sentry, which features four top-10 finishes (T22/2018; Won/2019; T2/2020; T5/2021; 12/2022; W/D/2023; T10/2024).

The Opening Drive returns to Maui as it hosts The Sentry at The Plantation Course at Kapalua for the 27^th year. From premium hospitality options like The Cook Pine Club to a reimagined grounds-access experience with the Gallery Pass, The Sentry offers something for every fan. All tickets to The Sentry and General Parking passes can be purchased by visiting TheSentry.com.

FedExCup Champions Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas and Billy Horschel are set to return to The Sentry when the PGA TOUR’s Opening Drive begins at The Plantation Course at Kapalua from Jan. 2-5, the tournament announced.

As the first of eight Signature Events during the 2025 season, The Sentry welcomes TOUR winners from the previous season, including FedExCup Fall winners, and the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings through the FedExCup Playoffs in August.

Seven TOUR titles in 2024, including the FedExCup, secured Scheffler a return trip to the Valley Isle and The Sentry. The Dallas native earned his first title of the season in March at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard where he became the eighth multiple winner of the event. A week later, the 28-year-old picked up his second win of the season as he became the first player to successfully defend a title at THE PLAYERS Championship. Scheffler returned to the winner’s circle twice in April as he posted victories in back-to-back weeks at the Masters Tournament and the RBC Heritage. In June, Scheffler earned wins at the last two Signature Events of the season: the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday and the Travelers Championship, respectively. After holding the lead in the FedExCup standings for the final 25 weeks of the season (since the completion of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard), Scheffler earned the 2024 FedExCup title defeating Collin Morikawa by four strokes at the TOUR Championship. Scheffler will make his fourth start at The Sentry, where he holds two top-10 finishes in three appearances (T13/2021; T7/2023; T5/2024).

Norway native Hovland will make his fifth consecutive appearance at The Sentry after finishing in the top 50 of the 2024 FedExCup standings (No. 12). The 2023 FedExCup Champion captured two top-10 finishes in 16 events last season including a third-place finish at the PGA Championship and a T2 finish at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The 27-year-old’s T18 finish at The Sentry 2023 marks his best finish at the event in four starts on Maui (T31/2021; T30/2022; T18/2023; T22/2024).

Cantlay is slated to make his seventh start at The Sentry after finishing in the top 50 of the 2024 FedExCup standings (No. 17). The 2021 FedExCup Champion earned four top-five finishes on the season at three Signature Events and one major championship (T4/The Genesis Invitational, T3/RBC Heritage, T3/U.S. Open, and T5/Travelers Championship). The 32-year-old has two top-five finishes in six appearances at The Plantation Course at Kapalua (T15/2018; 4/2020; T13/2021; 4/2022; T16/2023; T12/2024).

Two-time winner of The Sentry (2017 and 2020), Thomas returns to The Plantation Course at Kapalua after finishing in the top 50 of the 2024 FedExCup standings (No. 14). The 2017 FedExCup Champion earned six top-10 finishes this season, including a T3 finish at The American Express, two T5 finishes at the RBC Heritage and the Travelers Championship, respectively, and a T2 finish at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. The 2025 event marks Thomas’ ninth appearance on Maui where he holds three top-5 finishes in addition to his two victories (T21/2016; Win/2017; T22/2018; 3/2019; Win/2020; 3/2021; T5/2022; T25/2023).

Horschel is set to return to The Sentry after picking up his eighth career TOUR victory at the Corales Puntacana Championship in April. The Florida native defeated Wesley Bryan by two strokes in his debut appearance at the event, marking his first win since the 2022 Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. In addition to his victory this calendar season, the 2014 FedExCup Champion earned six top-10 finishes include a T2 finish at The Open Championship. Horschel will make his eighth appearance at The Sentry (T6/2014; T22/2015; T11/2018; T25/2019; T24/2021; T23/2022; T30/2023). 

The Opening Drive returns to Maui as it hosts The Sentry at The Plantation Course at Kapalua for the 27^th year. All tickets to The Sentry and General Parking passes can be purchased by visiting TheSentry.com.

The Hawaiʻi State Junior Golf Association | First Tee – Hawaiʻi (HSJGA|FTH) conducted the 2024 Tour Championship at Wailea Emerald Golf Course this weekend Dec. 7-8. This event was 36 holes and by invitation only. A total of 57 junior golfers from across the state teed up in the event. This tournament was the final event that awards points to the season race to the coveted HSJGA | FTH Player of the year.

Our 2024 Tour Championship winners were as follows:

• Boys 7-10: Logan Matsumoto, Pearl City
• Boys 11-12: Neal Manutai, Lāʻie
• Boys 13-14: Lakota Lee, Kīhei
• Boys 15-18: Renner Chumley, Lahaina
• Girls 11-12: Madison Sur, Honolulu
• Girls 13-14: Kira Uno, Honolulu
• Girls 15-18: Alexa Takai, Honolulu

The age divisions, par, and approximate yardage were as follows:

• Boys 7-10, Par 72, Red Tees (5,268 yards)
• Boys 11-12, Par 72, White Tees (5,776 yards)
• Boys 13-14, Par 72, Emerald Tees (6,609 yards)
• Boys 15-18, Par 72, Emerald Tees (6,609 yards)
• Girls 11-12, Par 72, White Tees (5,776 yards)
• Girls 13-14, Par 72, BlueTees (6,345 yards)
• Girls 15-18, Par 72, Blue Tees (6,345 yards)

The HSJGA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that introduces the game of golf and its traditions to the youth of Hawaiʻi. The HSJGA develops life skills through fun, affordable and competitive programs that educate, motivate, and inspire. The association’s goals are to provide the following:

• Opportunities that teach responsibility and develop qualities of leadership and integrity, while assisting juniors in becoming productive members of the adult community.
• Rules, etiquette, and instructional clinics on the game of golf.
• Golf at a minimal cost to juniors.
• An environment to promote and encourage good sportsmanship and friendship among junior golfers.
• Opportunities to travel and participate in state and national tournaments.
• College workshops to assist all juniors with their preparation for higher education.

The three-day 2024 Kaapuni Invitational basketball tournament sponsored by Maui Toyota concluded on Saturday. Results from each day are posted below.

Saturday, Dec. 7 Results

At Baldwin – 

• St. Louis 71 Kohala 43
• Villa Park 64 Baldwin 47

At Seabury – 

• Oak Hills 72 Konawaena 33 (No Box Score for Oak Hills)
• Seabury 63 HBA 37

Friday Dec. 6 Results

At Baldwin

• Oak Hills (CA) 88 Hawaii Baptist 46
• St. Louis 75 Baldwin 43
• St. Louis 56 Oak Hills (CA) 54

At Seabury – WILL UPDATE WITH BOX SCORES

• Villa Park (CA) 90 Konawaena 62
• Seabury 71 Kohala 40

Thursday Dec. 5 Results

At Baldwin – 

• Villa Park (CA) 64 Kohala 32
• Oak Hills (CA) 80 Baldwin 48
• St. Louis 71 Villa Park (CA) 55

At Seabury – 

• Konawaena 51 Hawaii Baptist 48
• Seabury 78 Konawaena 53
• Kohala 51 Hawaii Baptist 48

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College will host the first-ever international Academic Esports tournament, welcoming student teams from six countries for the week-long competition. From Friday, Dec. 13 to Wednesday, Dec. 18, gamers from Korea, United Kingdom, Australia, Norway, Germany, Austria, and UH Maui College’s own esports team will face off in popular titles like Valorant, League of Legends, and Rocket League. A special team from Maui High School will also compete. 

It’s the academic approach that makes this tournament unique. Students must excel in three academic challenges: a programming and problem-solving competition that tests technical skills; a business innovation challenge that develops entrepreneurial thinking; and an academic debate forum addressing global gaming culture and sustainability.

It’s the first time ever that a tournament has combined esports games with academics and transferable skills to highlight the best of what esports in education can achieve globally. Esports are a common language that brings people together and has a strong part to play in both education and recreation.

All the action will take place in the Student Lounge in the Pilina Building on the UH Maui College Kahului campus. The public is invited to watch.

Visit https://world.academicesports.net for updates and specific event schedules. You can also follow along live on Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/uiaesport and YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@UiAEsport 

Spearheaded by organizers Rune Andersen, Head of Academic Esports at the University of Agder, Norway and UH Maui College Chancellor Lui Hokoana, this groundbreaking event grew from an international partnership formed a year ago which focused on developing academic esports programs.

“This tournament breaks new ground in how we think about esports in education,” said Andersen. “By combining competitive gaming with real academic challenges, we’re creating something that has never been done before at this international scale.”

“UH Maui College has always included international educational components in our students’ experiences. That is part of what makes hosting this event so significant for us,” said Chancellor Hokoana. “It’s also noteworthy that the international student players will be fully immersed in Hawaiian culture during their stay, experiencing traditional practices, learning about Maui’s rich heritage, and engaging in cultural exchange activities with the local community. While staying on campus, they’ll share their own diverse cultural perspectives, creating a unique blend of global gaming culture with Hawaiian traditions.”

UH Maui College student Malia Mancianti can’t wait for the tournament to begin. “I’m thrilled that gamers from around the world will be joining us to compete. I’m eager to meet new faces, to share the beauty of Hawai’i and the opportunities that are available here at UH Maui College,” she said.

Robin Pohl is the Mittweida University (Germany) team manager. “I’m thrilled about the academic challenges as well as the competition,” he said. “The chance to collaborate with students from around the world while getting to know the Hawaiian culture makes this so much more than just an esports tournament. It’s also a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.”

Participating Universities include:

• Mittweida University of Applied Science, Germany
• MCI, The Entrepreneurial School, Innsbruck, Austria
• Staffordshire University, London, England
• University of Agder, Norway
• University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
• Yonsei University, South Korea
• University of Hawaiʻi Maui College and Maui High School

Local firefighters, lifeguards, police, and military personnel are set to compete in the inaugural First Responder & Military Honolua Classic surf competition, co-sponsored by OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort and Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy.

This invitation-only event will take place at Honolua Bay—a world-renowned surf spot—on a single day when wave conditions reach a Hawaiian scale of 3-6 feet. Organized by Lahaina-born surf icon and waterman Zane Schweitzer and Maui Coast Guard Officer Lt. Dylan McCall, the event honors first responders and military personnel while raising funds for local community programs.

Proceeds will support the rebuilding of the Lahaina Junior Lifeguard Program, preparing Maui’s future lifeguards, and benefit the Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy, which promotes youth ocean stewardship and education in Maui County.

“Supporting the local community and honoring Hawaiian culture are core to OUTRIGGER’s values,” said Edwin Torres, general manager of OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort. “Partnering with Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy and helping the Lahaina Junior Lifeguard Program aligns perfectly with our commitment to mālama (care for) the island, the people, and the ocean. We’re thrilled to play a role in this meaningful event that not only celebrates Maui’s community heroes but also contributes to the island’s safety legacy.”

Schweitzer, who founded the Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy to mentor youth through ocean sports and environmental stewardship, says that Honolua Bay holds a special place in his heart, as a Lahaina native. “The First Responder and Military Honolua Classic is our way of giving back to those who selflessly protect our island and ‘ohana (…) while raising vital support for programs that nurture the next generation of ocean stewards,” Schweitzer said.

The event is set to take place on a weekend during the holding period from Dec. 15, 2024 to Jan. 10, 2025, with the exact date announced 72 hours in advance based on optimal surf conditions.

For more details about the First Responder and Military Honolua Classic, including event updates, volunteering opportunities, or how to contribute, visit the website HERE or call (808) 205-0918. Donations to this vital cause are welcomed HERE.

The Sentry has announced Nick Dunlap, Austin Eckroat, and Robert MacIntyre have committed to play in the opening event of the 2025 PGA TOUR Regular Season when it returns to The Plantation Course at Kapalua from Jan 2 through Jan. 5.

As the first of eight Signature Events during the 2025 season, The Sentry welcomes TOUR winners from the previous season, including FedExCup Fall winners, and the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings through the FedExCup Playoffs in August.

Dunlap, playing on a sponsor exemption in just his fourth start on TOUR, claimed his first victory of the season at The American Express to become the first amateur to win on TOUR since Phil Mickelson (1991/Northern Telecom Open). Just seven months later, playing as a professional, the PGA TOUR rookie earned his second title of the season at the Barracuda Championship. With that victory, the 20-year-old became first player in history to win on TOUR as an amateur and professional in the same season, and the first player since Tom Kim to win twice on TOUR before turning 21 years old.

Eckroat earned his maiden TOUR title at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches to become the second PGA TOUR University alum (2021) to win on the PGA TOUR joining Ludvig Åberg (2023 RSM Classic). The Oklahoma native collected his second career TOUR title and second of the 2024 season at the World Wide Technology Championship in November. The 2025 event will mark Eckroat’s first appearance at The Sentry.

First-year PGA TOUR member MacIntyre is set to make his debut at The Sentry following a 2024 season that saw six top-10 finishes including his first two career TOUR victories. The 27-year-old won his maiden TOUR victory at the RBC Canadian Open in his debut appearance at the event, becoming the 17^th player to make the RBC Canadian Open his first TOUR victory. Just one month later, MacIntyre returned to the winner’s circle at the Genesis Scottish Open and joined Colin Montgomerie (1999) as the only players from Scotland to win the Genesis Scottish Open in the 42 times it has been played since first being contested on the DP World Tour in 1972.

Joining Dunlap, Eckroat and MacIntyre at The Sentry as first-time PGA TOUR winners are Rafael Campos (Butterfield Bermuda Championship), Chris Gotterup (Myrtle Beach Classic), Harry Hall (ISCO Championship), Stephan Jaeger (Texas Children’s Houston Open), Jake Knapp (Mexico Open at VidantaWorld), Maverick McNealy (The RSM Classic), Matt McCarty (Black Desert Championship), Matthieu Pavon (Farmers Insurance Open), Taylor Pendrith (THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson), Davis Thompson (John Deere Classic), Aaron Rai (Wyndham Championship), and Kevin Yu (Sanderson Farms Championship).

The Opening Drive returns to Maui as it hosts The Sentry at The Plantation Course at Kapalua for the 27^th year. From premium hospitality options like The Cook Pine Club to a reimagined grounds-access experience with the Gallery Pass, The Sentry offers something for every fan. All tickets to The Sentry and General Parking passes can be purchased by visiting TheSentry.com.

As the PGA TOUR’s season-opening event, The Sentry features one of the most accomplished fields in golf contested at one of the most unique settings on the PGA TOUR. For information about the 2025 event, please visit TheSentry.com. Fans are encouraged to follow The Sentry on Facebook, X and Instagram. 

As Vili Toluta’u watched a group of Maui Rugby Union players practice for their upcoming trip to the Global Youth Sevens Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, he thought back to his youth.

Toluta’u, a Baldwin High School graduate who works for T.J. Gomes Trucking, was a four-time rugby All-American at Central Washington University, a four-year Major League Rugby player who won the championship with the Seattle Seawolves in 2018 and was named most valuable player of the game, and was a member of the United States men’s national rugby union team team, the USA Eagles, in 2018.

“I wish I had this kind of opportunity when I was their age as well, but luckily it worked out for me,” the 30-year-old Toluta’u said Tuesday at Maui Lani Regional Park. “But for these guys, trying to open their eyes, what they’re working up to, they’ve got to realize that they’re going to a country that their first sport is rugby, so they better step up their game.”

The Maui Rugby Union is sending a team to one of the most prestigious U18 tournaments in the world — it is certainly the most important trip the club has ever sent a team to, according to club officials. The Global Youth Sevens Tournament will run from Dec. 13-15 and the Maui contingent is set to leave next week Tuesday.

The team consists of 13 boys from the Central Maui area. Another player, 16-year-old Maui High School junior Ulalei Pulu, will play for Belmont Shore, a girls team from Long Beach, Calif., that is going to the event. Pulu is making her second straight trip to the tournament with Belmont Shore. 

“It’s an incredible experience and I know it’s going to help them in the future to learn more about rugby, because we’ve always heard about New Zealand and the New Zealand All Blacks,” said Maui Rugby Union president and coach Siua Lolohea, who had an extensive rugby playing career. “And now you’re going there.”

Sio Filikitonga, a 16-year-old Maui High sophomore who has been playing rugby since he was 5, is excited to be going on the trip. He is also a football player for the Sabers.

“Very excited to go see the competition out there and learn different things and see new things,” Filikitonga said. “Rugby helps (football) a lot with form tackling, just knowing to run the ball and stay active.”

Filikitonga said the trip will be an opportunity to show what Maui rugby is all about. This team has made several trips to Mainland tournaments, but this is the first international event.

“Our islands are small, people like to doubt us, and we just want to go in and show people that we can compete with everybody else,” Filikitonga said. “We’re not just stuck over here.”

Team member Ma’ake Lolohea, a 15-year-old Maui High sophomore and Siua Lolohea’s son who has been playing the game since he was 3, has never been to New Zealand. The Maui team is made up of 15- and 16-year-olds, while most of the competition will be 17-18.

“I wouldn’t say they’re any different from Mainland teams, just the competitiveness is bigger,” Ma’ake Lolohea said of what he expects to see in the tournament. “We can learn a lot, more passing and tackling, just how much different it is playing U18 and how it is in New Zealand. It’s going to be pretty fun to see how much of a different level they are compared to us, just how much different it is.”

The Maui Rugby Union started in 2007 under the guidance of Jack Breen, who handed over the reigns of the organization to Siua Lolohea two years ago. One large part of Breen’s original mission was to help Maui players get to college on rugby scholarships — over the years, he lost count on how many Mauians have gone on to play the sport in college, but said it is more than 50.

“Heck, we’ve had dozens of kids reach All-American level in college,” Breen said. 

The club currently has about 80 active players, mostly from Central Maui and South Maui, as it recovers from being slowed down by the pandemic and the Lahaina wildfire. 

It has had as many as three club teams in Maui Interscholastic League schools, including boys and girls clubs at Lahainaluna and a girls club at Maui High, in a program that started three years ago. Since the Lahaina wildfire, the Lahainaluna clubs have gone dormant, but there is still a girls club team at Maui High.

Adrienne Pulu, the Maui Rugby Union treasurer, a girls coach and Ulalei’s mother, is hopeful that the club team route can lead to rugby becoming an MIL sport. MIL surfing also was born through the club route.

“That’s my hope is to become an MIL sport, but baby steps, we’re hoping to get more traction with the club route,” Pulu said. “We hope to revive the Lahainaluna club … they had good numbers, we had a couple scrimmages here, but then after the fire there was some interest, but we just couldn’t pick it back up yet.”

The Pulus went to the same event last year when Ulalei played for Belmont Shore. Ulalei Pulu is one of 10 members of the Maui High club team and she will have that team in mind as she travels to New Zealand.

“I think it’s cool to represent my school because rugby is not big out here and to show them that I have competition, that I can compete with them is very cool, and a great way to represent Hawai’i,” the 5-foot-3 Ulalei Pulu said.

Ulalei Pulu said the sport has strengthened her relationship with her mom and she appreciates what the adults are doing to make this trip possible. Lolohea said most of the funding for the trip is being provided by Ulupalakua Ranch owners Pardee and Sumner Erdman, both of whom are large rugby boosters who sponsor an annual tournament on Maui. To keep expenses down, the Maui contingent will stay in a church.

Ulalei Pulu is grateful for the people making it happen, including her own mother.

“It strengthens our relationship as a mother and daughter,” Ulalei Pulu said. “There’s some times she just understands what I’m going through more than I do.”

Toluta’u, the greatest Maui rugby player ever, is happy to see the opportunity arrive for this group. Toluta’u routinely shows up at Maui Rugby Union practice to work out, coach and mentor the youngsters in the same shoes he used to be in. The 69-year-old Breen also shows up to practice often as well and he was running the Maui boys going on the trip through their paces on Monday. Neither will make this trip, however.

“There’s a lot of opportunities and blessings might come their way.” Toluta’u said. “So, they’ll see what they have to get up to, to get there.”