OceanFest comes ashore

As any surfer knows, some days are epic, some days are decent and some days are just plain not worth hauling out the board.

It was the same 100 years ago when the "Father of Modern Surfing" could be seen playing on the temporary court at Waikiki Beach when the surf wasn’t up but boredom and the desire "to do something" definitely were.

Duke Kahanamoku, three years removed from his first Olympic gold medal in swimming, was among the pioneers of beach volleyball in 1915, the sport’s birth year as chronicled in Chris McGee’s "Sands of Time: The History of Beach Volleyball, Vol. 1."

It was there, not far from where matches are played today at the Queen’s Beach Sandbox, that Outrigger Canoe Club’s George "Dad" Center first strung a net parallel to the tide line between the club’s surfboard lockers and canoe hale.

Thus, the inclusion of beach volleyball in the annual Duke’s OceanFest is not as odd as many might think. Kahanamoku’s legacy might be in all things water — from swimming and surfing to water polo, paddling and ocean rescue — but count beach volleyball among his athletic successes.

Sand volleyball will be celebrated and perpetuated starting Saturday as the 12th Duke’s OceanFest begins its nine-day run in Waikiki. Three events will be offered, starting with Saturday’s play in 4-a-side for ages U-12 through U-18 at 7:45 a.m.

"It’s a special opportunity for us to continue that connection to Duke Kahanamoku, what he stands for, and his legacy in so many areas," said Kevin Wong, the sport’s coordinator. "Even if you take away the sports achievements, he was such an ambassador for Hawaii. Now that I’ve done the research, seen the pictures for the early days, you make that connection between him and the sport.

"You can just see him, on a day with no waves. What do they do? They play volleyball. That it’s included in OceanFest is a no-brainer."

Wong, a former pro and Olympic beach player, has seen the interest continue to rise, mirroring the growth at the women’s collegiate level. Wong’s Spike & Serve program held its state beach youth championships last month and he is finalizing plans for the inaugural high school state beach championships Nov. 24.

Next week’s OceanFest beach volleyball events are the adult doubles championships Saturday and the youth doubles Sunday.

"I like beach (volleyball) better than indoor because it’s more enjoyable to be outside," said Ili Kane, a sophomore at ‘Iolani who also plays indoors. "I think it makes you a better all-around player. You have to be able to play all positions and have all-around skills.

"This (OceanFest) will be a lot of fun."

Saturday’s schedule also has sand soccer at Fort DeRussy. Opening ceremonies and the lei draping of the Duke Kahanamoku statue is scheduled for 5 p.m. Next Saturday, Aug. 24, there will be sunrise lei-draping of the statue in honor of Kahamoku’s 123rd birthday at 6:10 a.m.

OceanFest, a fundraiser for the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, continues to grow in both the number of sports and competitors. New this year is the $15,000 Ultimate SUP Showdown on Tuesday for professionals and an expanded SUP schedule that includes a SUP Cross where paddleboarders complete two loops of a 1⁄2-mile course.

"We feel that we’re continually making strides in making this a true festival, finding that balance between athletic competition, education and tying it all with what Duke stood for," event coordinator Brent Imomen said. "We’d love to have more people come from out of state to experience this. For the first time we have New Zealand, Japan and California represented with Hawaii in the lifeguard event.

"We’ve had some events come and go, and we do look at numbers to gauge the interest. For example, we have a waiting list for the keiki surfing and we’ve expanded on what we’ve done with (stand-up paddle boarding). We had about 2,000 athletes overall last year and are expecting around that this year."

The highlight of the OceanFest is Thursday’s Hawaii Waterman’s Hall of Fame Dinner at the Outrigger Canoe Club. To be inducted are:

» Steve Borowski, world champion swimmer and coach.

» the late Tommy Conner, renowned outrigger canoe paddler, steersman and innovative canoe builder.

» Linda Kaiser, the first person and only woman to swim all nine of Hawaii’s ocean channels.

» the late Bill Smith, Olympic gold medal swimmer and water safety pioneer.

» China Uemura, longboard surfing champion who continues to promote surfing through his youth meets and community events.

Tickets are still available through dukefoundation.org.

» dukesoceanfest.com.

Boxers win gold

Jordan Panthen and Jazzelle Rabago-Bobadilla went undefeated in winning their respective divisions at the recent Desert Showdown Amateur Tournament in Palm Spring, Calif.

Kapolei’s Panthen, 16, earned the boys 17-18 year-old title at 165 pounds, defeating Edwin Salinas of California. Ewa Beach’s Rabago-Bobadilla, 15, defeated Californian Delilah Ortega for the girls 15-16 title at 110 pounds.

Also, Joricksen Galiza of Waianae earned a silver when losing in the 11-12 boys final at 90 pounds to Joshua Toribio of California.

The three box out of BOXFIT808 Boxing & Fitness Training Center in Aiea. The event is considered the second largest amateur boxing tournament in the country.

Na Wahine Festival coming up

Hundreds of women from across the country are expected to compete in the 15th Na Wahine fest, one of Hawaii’s premier all-female multi-sport event on Sunday, Sept. 15.

The festival consists of four races, a sprint triathlon (75K swim, 20K bike and 5K run), a sprint duathlon (1-mile run, 20K bike and 5K run), a swim and spin (25k swim and 20K bike) and a super sprint triathlon (5K swim, 10K bike and 1.6-mile run). All races are in and around Kapiolani Park.

The festival is open to amateur females age 14 and older. Competition is in age-group and relay divisions.

For information, call Try Fitness at 946-0346 or email TryFitness@hawaii.rr.com.

» nawahinefestival.com.

Honolulu listed among top active cities in the U.S.

Outside magazine ranked Honolulu No. 3 among the top active cities in America in this September’s issue.

Honolulu was lauded for its outdoor activities, which ranged from surfing and other water sports, to hiking and biking.

Playing a role in the selection were healthy eating choices, farmers markets and access to outdoor adventures.

Topping the 17-city list was Park City, Utah, followed by Greenville, S.C.

» outsideonline.com.

Marathon readiness series under way

The Bioastin Marathon Readiness Series, designed to prepare runners for the Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 8, continues with its second race, the Runner’s HI 20K on Sept. 1.

The 20K race begins at 6 a.m. at Barbers Point Elementary School. Entry fee is $35 by Aug. 20, $45 by Aug. 31, and $60 on race day.

Other races in the series are the Oct. 6 25K starting at Kailua Beach Park; and the Oct. 27 HMSA 30K and Nov. 17 Mizuno Val Nolasco Half Marathon, both which start at Kapiolani Park.

» 808racehawaii.com.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

SATURDAY

GOLF
50th OCC Men’s & Senior Men’s Invitational: Final round, 7 a.m., Oahu Country Club. 808golf.com.

KAYAKING
Hui Wa’a Kaukahi: Pokai Bay Beach Park to Makua, 6.5 miles. Meet: 8:30 a.m., Pokai Bay Beach Park. huiwaa.org.

RODEO
Hawaii Team Ranch Sorting: Final event, 8 a.m., New Town & Country Stables, Waimanalo. thecowboycalendar.com.

RUNNING
Family Promise of Hawaii 5K: 7 a.m., Kailua Recreation Center. familypromisehawaii.org.
Volcano Rain Forest Runs: Half marathon, 5K & keiki, 7 a.m.; 10K, 7:30 a.m., Volcano, Hawaii Island. rainforestruns.com.
Spartan Race-Hawaii: 5K obstacle, 8 a.m.; children’s 1-mile obstacle, 11 a.m., Kualoa Ranch. spartanrace.com.

SAND SOCCER
Duke’s OceanFest: U6-U17 & adult coed championships, 8 a.m., Fort DeRussy beach, Waikiki. dukesoceanfest.com.

SAND VOLLEYBALL
Duke’s OceanFest: Keiki 4s, 7:45 a.m., Queen’s Beach. dukesoceanfest.com.

SUNDAY

CANOE PADDLING
Duke’s OceanFest: Wounded Warrior Regatta, 10 a.m., Waikiki Beach. dukesoceanfest.com.

Duke Kahanamoku Long Distances Races: Short course, Kailua Beach-Mokolea Rock-return, 7:30 a.m. Long course, Kailua Beach-Duke Kahanamoku Beach, 9 a.m. lanikaicanoeclub.com.

HIKING
Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club: Waimalu Ditch, 6 miles. Meet: 8 a.m., Iolani Palace. htmclub.org.

SAND SOCCER
Duke’s OceanFest: Pro-am championships, 7:30 a.m., Fort DeRussy Beach. dukesoceanfest.com.

SURFING
Duke’s OceanFest: Keiki Fest, 9 a.m., Waikiki Beach. dukesoceanfest.com.

SIGN ME UP

BIKING
32nd Honolulu Century Ride: Sept. 29. 6:15 a.m., Kapiolani Park. Distances: 20, 25, 50, 75 and 100 miles. Registration deadline: Aug. 31. Late registration deadline: Sept. 27. Race-day registration available. hbl.org.

KAYAKING
Hui Wa’a Kaukahi Meeting: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Paki Hale. huiwaa.org.

RUNNING
Glow Hawaii Glow 5K: Aug. 23, 7 p.m., Aloha Stadium. glowhawaiiglow.com.
Hui Nalu Ka Iwi Coast Run/Walk: Oct. 6, 6:30 a.m., Sandy Beach to Maunalua Bay. kaiwicoastrun.org.

TRIATHLON
Jamba Juice Xterra Mountainman: Aug. 25, 8 a.m., Kualoa Ranch. bocahawaii.com.

VOLLEYBALL
Ka Ulukoa Clinics: Grades 6-8 & 9-12: Attacking & setting, M-W-F, Sept. 9-20, boys general skills, Aug. 26-30; girls general skills, Sept. 10-26. 628 Auahi St. facility. shopkaulukoa.org.
Ka Ulukoa Tryouts: Boys travel teams, ages 12-14, Sept 3; ages 15-16, Sept. 5; ages 17-18, Sept. 8. 7-8:30 p.m., 628 Auahi St. facility. shopkaulukoa.org.