Short Hops

Kai Opua Canoe Club looking for young paddlers

The Kai Opua Canoe Club is Practice has started with girls going Monday and Wednesday from 3:45 -5 p.m. and boys going Tuesday and Thursday at the same time at Kamakahonu Beach/Kailua Bay Pier. For more information or to register visit the clubs website at kaiopua.org or call Uncle Bo at 938-8577. No prior experience or knowledge of the sport is necessary.

Keauhou Canoe Club looking for paddlers

Practice for the 2017 Regatta Season has started for the Keauhou Canoe Club.

“Special Events” (6 to 11 years) and Special Olympics paddlers practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5 p.m. Youth paddlers (12 to 18 years) is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3:30-5:15 p.m.

For more information call Coach Tandy for “Special events” and Special Olympics at 895-0446 for information, or call Coach Reggie for youth paddling at 896-8464.

Hawaii Swimming offering classes

Hawaii Swimming, located in Waikoloa, is now registering for spring swimming classes for kids and adults of various experience levels. Classes are held on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday through April and May. For more information visit hawaiiswimming.org or call Joe at 572-4665.

DP&R age group basketball

The Department of Parks and Recreation is now accepting registration for age group basketball for kids ages 9-14. Registration forms can be picked up at Kekuaokalani Gym Monday-Thursday from 12:30-2:30 p.m. League play is scheduled to start March 16. The DP&R is also looking for volunteers, coaches and officials. For more information call Diego or James at 327-3553.

Konawaena FFA Golf Tourney Fundraiser

The first Konawaena Future Farmers of America Golf Tournament will be held on March 18 at the Big Island Country Club. The entry fee for the 2-person scramble event is $120 per person and includes golf, breakfast, pupus, lunch and prizes. There will be a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start with registration at 6:30 a.m.

Proceeds for the tourney will assist the Konawaena Future Farmers of America chapter by paying for them to attend the State FFA Conference, which will be held on Kauai.

For more information contact the BICC clubhouse at 325-5044.

Hawaii Cycling Club

Kua Bay Time Trial: Training for Lavaman? The 12.2 mile Kua Bay is scheduled for March 18, starting at 7 a.m. with registration from 6:20–6:40 a.m. outside Bike Works Beach and Sports in the Queen’s Shops.

This time trial is the first half of the Lavaman course, featuring the ever popular and challenging hills to the Scenic Overlook and the Kua Bay turnoff.

This time trial is free to HCC members. One day memberships are available. Students 18-and-under receive a free 2017 membership.

Novices may either compete or ride the course as a non-competitive Saturday ride. Members of other bicycling clubs and athletes training on their own are encouraged to participate. Go t0 hawaiicyclingclub.com for additional information on HCC memberships and all HCC events.

Century Bicycle Rides: Hawaii Cycling Club and Metzler Contracting, the signature sponsor for the

Century Rides, would like to remind cyclists that April 8 is the registration deadline for the three Century Rides. The rides consist of a full 109-mile Century, metric Century or 60 miler, and 30 mile rides, to be held Sunday, April 9, all starting at Spencer Beach Park in Kawaihae at 6:30 and 7 a.m. No sign-ups will be available on the day of the event.

This is the fourth annual Century Rides sponsored by HCC, with all the profits going to Hospice of Kona, a non-profit organization that helps patients and families with end-of-life care.

Registration is $50. To register, go to hawaiicyclingclub.com and click on Century Rides. For more info email Toni at tonifriesen@gmail.com.

YWAM Ships Golf Tournament

The inaugural YWAM Ships Golf Tournament will take place on March 18 at the Kona Country Club. There will be a four person scramble shot gun start at 8 a.m. and entry fee is $145 per person. Registration starts at 7 a.m.

Two mulligans are available for $10 and there is a Closest to the Pin challenge also available for all par 3’s at a cost of $10.

Funds raised will go to help YWAM to provide eye surgeries in isolated locations where there are no airports, doctors or hospitals.

For more information contact Christina Dixon at 352-362-6353 or golf@wyamships.net. To enter visit Go.YWAMshipts.net/golf

Kona Boxing Club event

The Kona Boxing Club will host a youth boxing event at the Thelma Parker Gym in Waimea on March 25 at 6:30 p.m. The main event will be an adult match “to see who has the fastest hands.” Entry for those age 13-and-up will be $12, 8-12 will be $8 and 7-and-under are free. Doors open at 5 p.m.

St. Michael’s Golf Tournament

St. Michael, the Archangel Church, will host its eighth annual golf tournament on March 25 at the Kona Country Club. Entry fee is $300 for 2-person teams. The tournament is limited to the first 100 golfers.

Prizes will be given, including a $1-million dollar hole-in-one par-3 challenge. Every par-3 offers a chance at winning a $10k prize for a hole-in-one. Lunch and a silent auction will be included.

For more information, or to register, contact Don at 756-6912.

Kona Hongwanji Judo Fishing Tournament

Kona Hongwanji Judo Club will be holding their fourth annual Fishing Fundraiser Tournament March 31 to April 2. Weigh-ins will take place on April 2 from 2-3 p.m. at the Kona Hongwanji Social Hall.

The tournament is open to the public for adults and kids ages 3-17. Entry deadline is March 17 and forms can be found on the club’s Facebook page.

All profits benefit the Students of Kona Hongwanji Judo Club, which is a non profit organization. For more info email konahongwanjijudoclub@yahoo.com.

Roy Fujimoto Senior Scholarship

Roy Fujimoto Scholarships are awarded to fourth graduating seniors in recognition of their BIIF athletic accomplishments, academic record and community service. Each of the recipients will be selected by an independent selection committee and will receive a $1,500 college scholarship. The funds can be used to offset tuition, books and room and board expenses.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from BIIFsports.com and are due no later than 3 p.m. on April 11. A mailing address is provided on the form. For more information and a list of requirements visit BIIFsports.com.

Big Island Sports Academy hosting “Special Forces” football camp

Big Island Sports Academy will be hosting a six clinics focusing on special teams play for kickers, holders, punters, long snappers and returners June 8-11 at Konawaena High School for boys and girls ages 12-18. Day of event registration is $150.

The camp will be led by Coach Paul Alsbury, a high school and collegiate All-American from Edinburg, Texas, who had a brief career as a punter for the Dallas Cowboys before becoming a high school and college coach and athletic director. NFL and CFL place kicker Sergio Castillo will also attend, as well as Haskell Buff, a highly successful special team coach who served most recently as the defensive coordinator and special team coach at Texas A&M.

Emily T Gail Show

Grant Miller, of Elle Sumic and John Hill at Bike Works Beach and Sport at Queens Marketplace have updates on multi-sport events and more. Grant talks about the Run For Hops on March 11 to benefit PATH, the Century Ride for Hospice on April 9 and his participation and love of off-road biking and their efforts with PATH for creating trails.

Ellie has info on the Lava Kids events, and Waikoloa Lavaman weekend including the March 31 Bike Works Sunset 5k Run/Walk at Queens Marketplace. John will offers some bike maintenance suggestions.

Jeff Waraniak, of HOUR Detroit Magazine and a recreational mountain bike enthusiast, talks about the warm welcome he got from the Big Island Mountain Bike community when visiting the Big Island and talks about the many biking opportunities and events in Detroit.

The Emily T Gail Show is available at espnhawaii.com and as Emily T Gail Talks Story on Facebook and iTunes. Contact Emily at 896-6780 or emilytgail@emilys.org for information.