Tsunami warning stopped games

The earthquake near British Columbia on Saturday sent residents of Hawaii scurrying for safety. As Civil Defense sirens blared, all high school sporting events were put to bed. On Maui, Baldwin led King Kekaulike 21-0 midway through when the game was called off. With War Memorial Stadium sitting at sea level, the facility emptied out quickly.

At Kealakehe, which sits on the slopes of Hualalai summit, the BIIF Division I championship game was under way. Kealakehe led Hilo 20-0 early in the second quarter when the sirens wailed.

The game continued and the visiting Vikings capitalized on Kealakehe mistakes, cutting the score to 20-14. With 58 seconds left in the half, the game was finally halted. It will resume on Saturday.

Falcons lose ‘home’ field?

After playing home baseball games at Kahala Park since 1958, the Kalani Falcons are being evicted, more or less, for the time being.

The Department of Parks and Recreation has informed Kalani that no games will be allowed to be played at the park, which is located just one block east of Kahala Mall in a residential neighborhood.

Kalani’s varsity team doesn’t begin its season until the spring, but the junior varsity team starts its season this week.

The Falcons maintain the field with help from city workers, having basically adopted the diamond as generations of players became coaches. One of them is Keith Sasaki, a 1976 Kalani graduate.

"Kalani has been using Kahala Park since the school opened," he said. "The city claims that one of the reasons they refuse issuing Kalani a permit is because of foul balls and the danger it causes to homes and cars."

Coach Shannon Hirai noted there’s been talk of building a new, higher backstop similar to what was built at Pacheco Park in Pearl City recently. That project, he said, would cost roughly $350,000. Another suggestions is to move the field closer to the backstop and add high netting — similar to what was done at Stevenson Middle School’s field for Roosevelt home games.

Kalani is still permitted to practice at the facility because a portable "bubble" around home plate prevents balls from fouling out of the field.

Hirai just hopes something can be worked out with the city.