One tournament hardly makes a season, but Leilehua’s girls volleyball head coach Larry Cantero nevertheless came away buoyed by the Mules’ recent public unveiling.

The team is in regroup mode after losing key players from last year, when it went 7-3 in the OIA West en route to a state tournament berth.

“I was really proud of the way they played,” Cantero said of Leilehua’s performance over three days at the McKinley Pre-Season Tournament. “I was impressed with our tenacity and just playing volleyball. Getting the girls to keep the intensity and energy high is something we always talk about so we don’t lose momentum. We try to prevent those mood swings.”

A pair of high-profile starters from last year were Kayla Kilaulani, who now plays for Hawaii Pacific University, and Alexis Fetui, whose family relocated to the Mainland. Both were outside hitters in 2013 for the Wahiawa school.

“Everybody will have to play a key role on this team,” Cantero said. “People have to step up. We lost some key people, so we needed to rebuild and get the mentality different. We also lost a lot of height. Our strength is going to have to be our ball-handling and our ability to get the ball up (to hitters) to get it over.

“Last year, it came down to our defense as well as consistency. (We hope to have) a very scrappy defense. We have a lot of athletic kids. It comes down to trying to instill that (defensive mindset) in them and getting them to go for every ball before it hits the ground. One key thing that will help us is if we can communicate on the court. At times it has been good, although I have to keep reminding them.”

The 2014 roster includes Precious Bagayas-Enos, Tiana Cantero-Kawelo, Saramasina Docktor, Kanoe Kamikawa, Kuulei

Kamikawa, Kana Kilaulani, Elisha Levasa, Ember-Punaahele Manaea, Brittany Pasoquen, Jordan Tolentino, Jayde Vellalos and manager Nora Fenton.

Leilehua hosted its own tournament last weekend, which brought Nanakuli and ILH teams Le Jardin and Sacred Hearts to campus. The Mules are set to open their regular season Sept. 2 at home versus Radford. The Rams are coming off of an 8-9 season (4-6 in OIA West). jackster.1969@yahoo.com

Email Central Oahu items to cchang@midweek.com by Sept. 3 for the Sept. 10 edition.

* BLOOD DRIVES Hawaii Blood Bank has a donor drive from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 25 at Waialua Intermediate and High library, and 7 a.m.-noon Sept. 6 at Mililani Town Center. Call 848-4770.

* FILM NIGHT Wahiawa Library screens the 1936 re-release of Wizard of Oz at 5 p.m. Aug. 26. Call 622-6345.

* NEIGHBORS North Shore Neighborhood Board meets at 7 p.m. Aug. 26 in Waialua Elementary cafeteria, and Mililani-Waipio-Melemanu at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Mililani Rec Center III. Call 768-3710.

* READERS Waialua Library’s readers group meets at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 28 to share favorite poems. Call 637-8286.

* ZUMBA Mililani Town Center has a free Zumba demonstration at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 29 at the gazebo. Call 625-0108.

* HARDWARE City Mill’s Mililani store demonstrates Never Wet concrete coating from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 30. Call 623-3100.

* WAIALUA MUSIC Summer Kealoha plays jazz, blues, funk, Hawaiian and more from 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 30 at Jerry’s Pizza in Waialua. Call 637-8866.

* POLO Hawaii Polo Club’s 2014 season finale features India vs Hawaii Aug. 31. Gates open at 11 a.m. at Mokuleia field, and action starts at 2 p.m. Admission is $10, or $25 for clubhouse seats. Call 226-0061.

* PARKINSON’S A Parkinson’s support group meets at 1 p.m. Sept. 6 in Waialua United Church of Christ, 67-174 Farrington Hwy. Call 282-9864.

* 5K SWIMAqua Sphere presents the inaugural North Shore 5K Swim & Relay at 8 a.m. Sept. 6, from Sunset Beach to Waimea Bay as part of the North Shore Swim Series. A shuttle bus runs from Waimea Bay starting at 6:45 a.m. For details and to register, visit northshore5kswim.com.

* BANDSTANDWaialua Bandstand presents Na Wahine o ka Hula Mai ka Pu’uwai at 4 p.m. Sept. 7. Call 637-9721.

* BOATING SAFETY U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has a second Boating Safety class at 6:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 9-23, for experienced recreational boaters at Wahiawa Community School in order to meet new certification requirements. The class is free but training materials cost $45. Others are welcome to sit in. Register by Sept. 8 at 778-5738.

* CAREGIVERS Central Oahu Caregivers host a support group at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 at Wahiawa General Hospital. Call 623-6707.

* WAIALUA WRITERS Waialua Library’s writers group meets at 11 a.m. Sept. 13 to address “Connections” and “Write Something Humorous.” Call 637-8286.

* GARDENERS Mililani Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 18 at Mililani Mauka Rec Center 6 for a program, demonstration or excursion. The public is welcome. Call 637-0488.

* LEADERSHIP Express Employment Professionals presents a leadership seminar with Jack Smalley on how to motivate and retain key talent from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Hawaii Okinawa Center. For fees and details, call 525-5225.

Ongoing

* OHANA Waimea Valley sponsors La Ohana (family day) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21, with half-price admission for kamaaina and military families. The day includes a scavenger hunt, stories, hula, lei making, petroglyph rubs, cultural demonstrations and makahiki games. Call 638-7766.

* WAIALUA STORIES Waialua Library hosts a children’s storytime at 10 a.m. each Saturday. Call 637-8286.

* ELDERS CLASSES Anuenue Hale Wellness Center at Helemano Plantation offers a variety of free weekday classes and activities for seniors, injured war veterans and those with disabilities. Call Yvonne at 622-3929.

District Matters…Rep. Lauren Matsumoto

While Iselle and Julio have passed over our Islands this month, creating panic and stress, one good thing definitely came out of them: a reminder to always be prepared. Hurricane season continues until Nov. 30.

It’s important always to have the right supplies and plan for times of emergency. Here are tips to stay safe:

First, make sure to keep a collection of basic supplies in an accessible place in your home. Include enough water to allow for one gallon per person per day, nonperishable food, important documents in a waterproof container, batteries, some cash, medications and extra clothes. This is just the bare minimum, so check out scd.hawaii.gov for a more detailed list.

Pets, elderly relatives and infants require unique planning. Pack a week’s supply of medications, entertainment for young children, baby formula and any other supplies you would regularly need. As for animals: Keep extra pet food (in an airtight and waterproof container), a pet carrier, leash, collar, toys, treats and an ID tag in case of separation. Extra medication also may be critical for older relatives.

Create an emergency plan and educate your children about it. List who you would call and what you would do in case of an emergency.

Be aware of any threats of emergency — whether it be in the form of a hurricane or any natural disaster — by following weather forecasts and knowing the evacuation shelter sites. Emergency preparedness is about keeping you and your ohana safe, and setting aside a day to compile your emergency kit and plan is a small cost for security.

Feel free to contact me at 586-9490, at repmatsumoto@capitol.hawaii.gov, or at repmatsumoto.com.

It may seem strange in Hawaii, where the seasons blur into an endless summer, but adjusting one’s skin and body care for the fall and winter months is something Turtle Bay Resort’s Nalu Kinetic Spa and Wellness Center wants people to consider from 5:30 to 8 p.m. this Thursday.

Attendees at the Aug. 28 program can sample the spa’s new outdoor treatment center, participate in a yoga and Zumba session, create aromas at the Body Bliss blending bar and win raffle prizes. Free pupus and refreshments will be provided.

For more information or to RSVP, email nalu@turtlebayresort.com or call 447-6868.

Rep’n Mililani …Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang

People need to be able to trust their government and trust in the fairness of the political process. When they feel like they can’t, or when people believe their vote doesn’t really matter, they stop voting. And in Hawaii, voter turnout is dismal.

Voter confidence seems to be at an all-time low after the high-profile primaries helped to bring attention, once again, to Hawaii’s election problems. In Puna, for example, many who wanted to vote weren’t able to because they were denied the additional time they needed after being hit by Tropical Storm Iselle.

While such disenfranchisement is appalling, problems like this aren’t new. There weren’t enough ballots distributed in 2012 to many Oahu polling places. Further damaging election integrity is the lack of automatic recounts, which help instill confidence in outcomes.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz beat U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in August’s primary by a 0.7 margin, but it wasn’t the first time for such a close race. In fact, Hanabusa lost to U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono by a similar margin in 2006. Since 2004, 30 races were won by just 2 percent or less; eight were won by 0.5 percent or less. In a 2010 Mililani state House race, just 16 of 11,140 votes separated the candidates. As the law currently stands, contesting results in any of these races requires proof that fraud or other irregularities changed the outcome.

Hawaii has post-election audit procedures to check some of the votes. A study by Verified Voting Foundation, however, determined that it “needs improvement” because it “lacks sufficient transparency and clear criteria about which contests to audit.” An audit found that 800 votes on Maui this year were initially uncounted. Though politicians, the media and the public were outraged, it went unmentioned that ballot counts regularly change the day after the election because additional uncounted absentee ballots are found overnight. Given these irregularities, our state could certainly benefit from clarified audit laws.

These are reforms the state can implement, and I think the Legislature and public recognize the need for change. Part of the change is improving how we run elections, and I believe that’s the first step.

Measures such as same-day registration and all-mail elections are well-intentioned, but they could only worsen the problem if we don’t handle our existing systemic problems first. In fact, many of my constituents pointed this out to me when I co-sponsored a same-day registration bill. Trusting the collective wisdom of my constituents, I voted against that bill, and my office is now working on possible solutions, such as trigger mechanisms for automatic recounts and improved audit procedures. I hope to champion and vote for reform proposals in the upcoming session.

Of course, not all of the change can come from government, because interest can’t be legislated.

I know people feel more frustrated than ever now, but casting a ballot is still the most direct way you bring change and influence your government.

Contact Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang, R-District 36 (Mililani, Mililani Mauka and Waipio Acres) at 586-9460 or email repfukumoto@capitol.hawaii.gov.

North Shore residents will have their own inspiration to “stay clean and fresh” with the arrival of Bubble Shack Hawaii’s retail store, set for an October opening at the newly restored Haleiwa Plantation Shops.

The store will focus on innovative soap creations and will offer a special discounted soap program for kamaaina. Based in Pearl City, the company makes bath and body products, surf-inspired home goods, organic dog washes and many other natural products.

“We are super stoked to open our first retail store in our hometown of Haleiwa,” stated co-owner Holly Harding. “As a manufacturer and wholesaler of natural and organic bath, body and home products, a retail storefront will allow us the opportunity to test all sorts of new product concepts.”

The historic complex is located at 66-250 Kamehameha Hwy. and consist of three 1920s plantation-era buildings, which are home to other shops as well as Breakers and Cholo’s restaurants.

For more information on the shop, call 455-5900 or visit bubbleshackhawaii.com.

Sgt. Jessica DuVernay 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

A soldier assigned to 209th Aviation Support Battalion was honored with an Army Commendation Medal Aug. 14 at Wheeler Army Airfield for his actions in helping to save a young girl’s life.

Sgt. Maj. Gerardo Gonzalez was visiting Pokai Bay with his family June 15, when he heard a man screaming for help in the water. After ensuring his children were out of the water and safely with his wife, Gonzalez approached the man, who was in the ocean holding a young girl and struggling to keep her above water.

“My first thought was to make sure that my kids were secure and out of the water,” explained Gonzalez. “My second thought was I need to get to the gentleman carrying the girl because he was struggling.”

Gonzalez began to perform life-saving procedures while moving toward shore with the girl. Once he got to the beach, he continued to perform the procedures until the girl expelled the water in her lungs and started to breathe weakly on her own. Gonzalez continued to monitor her and perform CPR until lifeguards arrived to take over and transport the girl to the ambulance.

“It was just training,” Gonzalez said. “There was nothing else that was coming to my mind, and I just kept going until the lifeguards were there.”

Following his experience with saving the girl, Gonzalez focuses even more on talking to his soldiers about the dangers around them and how fast an accident can happen. “We are American soldiers and we put on the uniform every day, knowing that there’s danger for everything that we do,” he said. “But then we go home and we are spending time with our families.

“Then something like this happens and it makes you more aware of the dangers every day, not just the dangers that you’re deployed or in combat for — or even doing some training. But everyday life is always more dangerous.”

The 209th ASB chose to award Gonzalez because he put the safety of others above his own. “Sgt. Maj.

Gonzalez is getting this award because he really went above and beyond performing his duty as a soldier on and off duty,” said Maj. William Hanna, 209th ASB executive officer. “He was selfless and went out of his way to save a little girl’s life.”

Gonzalez reflected on the event, stating he is thankful he was there. “I don’t know if I’m proud or honored. I just know that I’m glad God put me in the right place so I could have an effect on the little one’s life so she could continue to be with her family.”

Best Buddies Hawaii operates on a simple mantra: Everyone deserves an opportunity. Leilehua High School will join BBH and eight other Oahu schools this fall to help students with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) seize those chances.

According to program manager Elizabeth Torres, Best Buddies focuses on helping those with IDDs succeed by way of “one-to-one connections and inclusion within the school system.”

It boils down to friendship. Student-run school chapters of BBH foster friendships between special education students and their peers. There’s a big group activity every month, ranging from on-campus fun fairs to Waikiki Aquarium visits, and individual student pairs also meet every week, sometimes writing emails back and forth, or even just grabbing a bite to eat on campus.

These little activities are important, Torres said, because there’s a long way to go before students with IDDs are on par with their peers. “There is still bullying that exists within our school system,” she noted. “Our schools are simply not inclusive. We have our special education students, or people with disabilities, still within their own classroom communities. They’re not integrated in any way, or provided a chance to do that. I think Best Buddies allows that chance,” Torres said.

The Leilehua chapter is just getting off the ground, she explained, but it will fall in line with other Best Buddies programs around the island. Kapolei High School, for example, goes on bimonthly bowling excursions. They’ve also decorated cookies and made friendship bead bracelets on campus.

For more information, visit bestbuddieshawaii.org.

Email Central Oahu events to cchang@midweek.com by Sept. 17 for the Sept. 24 edition.

* BOATING SAFETY U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary runs a second Boating Safety class from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 9-23, for experienced recreational boaters at Wahiawa Community School in order to meet new certification requirements. The class is free but training materials cost $45. Others are welcome to sit in. Register by Sept. 8 at 778-5738.

* CAREGIVERS Central Oahu Caregivers host a support group at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 at Wahiawa General Hospital. Call 623-6707.

* BELL SERVICE Wahiawa Hongwanji sponsors a “Special 9/11 Service” at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11 in front of its Bonsho (bell tower), giving all present the opportunity to ring the bell on the 13th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Special guest is state Rep. Marcus Oshiro. Call 622-4320.

* WAIALUA WRITERS Waialua Library’s writers group meets at 11 a.m. Sept. 13 to discuss “Connections” and “Write Something Humorous.” Call 637-8286.

* EAT STREET Mililani Town Association hosts its Eat the Street festival from 2 to 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at Mililani Rec Center 7 (Lehiwa Drive) and Mililani Ike Elementary School on the theme “Garlic.” More than 40 food vendors, plus craft booths, live entertainment and a keiki fun zone are planned, along with free parking shuttles. Call 440-2603.

* NEIGHBORS Wahiawa-Whitmore Village Neighborhood Board meets at 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at Wahiawa District Park, Mililani Mauka-Launani Valley at 7 p.m. Sept. 16, North Shore at 7 p.m. Sept 23 at Waialua Elementary cafeteria and Mililani-Waipio-Melemanu at 7:30 p.m. Sept 24 at Mililani Rec Center 3. Call 768-3710.

* ART RECEPTION Wahiawa Library hosts a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 17 to honor the award-winning Leilehua High artists and teachers involved in its summer art show. Call 622-6345.

* LEADERSHIP Express Employment Professionals presents a leadership seminar with Jack Smalley on how to motivate and retain key talent from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Hawaii Okinawa Center. For fees and details, call 525-5225.

* CRAFTS, MUSIC Leilehua High’s band program has a craft fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 20 at the school, and presents its free Fall Pops Concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 in the gym. Call 305-3054.

* BOOK SALE Friends of Waialua Library have a book sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 20. Call 637-8286.

* BLOOD DRIVE Hawaii Blood Bank has a donor drive from 7 a.m. to noon Sept. 20 at Mililani Town Center. Call 848-4770.

* MILILANI MUSIC Mililani Town Center has live music from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 20 (Michael Cheape) and Sept. 27 (Tim Rose). For daytime activities, visit towncenterofmililani.com.

* MOKULEIA HIKE Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club leads a 9-mile intermediate hike to Kealia in Mokuleia at 8 a.m. Sept. 21. Visit htmclub.org.

* WAIALUA READERS Friends of Waialua Library sponsor a readers group at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 25 on Jeannette Walls’ memoir/novel Half Broke Horses. Call 637-8286.

Ongoing

* GARDENERS Mililani Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. on the third Thursday at Mililani Mauka Rec Center 6 for a program, demonstration or excursion. The public is welcome. Call 637-0488.

* CRESTVIEW CLUB Crestview Seniors Club meets from 9:30 a.m. to noon Fridays at Crestview Community Park for planned fun and outings. All those age 55 and older are welcome. Call 671-4838.

* ZUMBA Debbie Rosa-rio leads ongoing Zumba classes at 6:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. Saturday at Mililani Waena Elementary. Fee is $5 per class or $45 per month. Call 780-5640.

* ZUMBA Mililani Town Center hosts a free Zumba demonstration class at 6:30 p.m. on the last Friday of the month at the gazebo. Call 625-0108.

* ALZHEIMER’s HELP An Alzheimer’s support group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month at The Plaza in Mililani. Call 591-2771.

* PARKINSON’S A Parkinson’s support group meets at 1 p.m. every first Saturday in Waialua United Church of Christ’s office, 67-174 Farrington Hwy. Call Grant at 282-9864.

* MILILANI SENIORS The Mililani Golden Years seniors club meets from 9:30 a.m. to noon Fridays at Mililani District Park for planned activities. Residents age 55 and older are welcome. Call 623-5258.

* PUPUKEA SENIORS Pohai Na Makua o Pupukea seniors club meets monthly at 9:30 a.m. on the first Tuesday, August through May, at Sunset Beach Recreation Center. Call 638-7213.

* HALEIWA SENIORS The Haleiwa Seniors club meets from 8 to 11:30 a.m. every Thursday at Waialua Community Association, across from Haleiwa post office. Arts and crafts teachers also are welcome to assist. Call 637-4606.

* WAHIAWA SENIORS The city sponsors weekly programs and activities for the Wahiawa Rainbows at 8:30 a.m. Mondays at Wahiawa District Park. Call 621-5663.

* WHITMORE CLUB The city sponsors weekly programs and activities for Whitmore Seniors Club at 9 a.m. Fridays at Whitmore Community Park. Call 622-2420.

* MASTERS SWIM Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center has a U.S. Masters swimming program, meeting at 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday at Central Oahu Regional Park. Call 677-8849.

* TOASTMASTERS Mililani Toastmasters Club meets at 7:30 p.m. Mondays at Mililani Ike Elementary School to help members improve their public speaking and leadership skills. Call 220-5093.

* STORIES, FILMS Wahiawa Library sponsors a free storytime from 6 to 7:15 p.m. each Thursday and a free Movie Night at 5 p.m. each Tuesday. Call 622-6345.

* LANGUAGES Language Wonderland conducts Saturday morning classes for keiki age 12 and younger in Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. Coming soon are French, Spanish and Russian. Fee is $165 for 10 classes. Call 1-760-477-3310.

* PADDLE FITNESS Rainbow Watersports offers Stand Up Paddle Fitness classes 9.30 a.m. Saturdays at Haleiwa Bay. Call 372-9304.

* HULA Kumu hula Ali’i Manu conducts non-competitive hula classes (auana, kahiko and the aloha spirit) for the community at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Mililani Uka Elementary School. Men and women ages 15 and up are welcome. Call 478-2400.

* JAZZERCISE Kate Moore leads low-impact, one-hour Jazzercise classes at 6 and 7 p.m. Mondays at Mililani District Park, and beginners are welcome. She also leads Jazzercise at 6:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Mililani Rec Center 5. Call 621-2482.

* TECH PARK MART Hiraoka Farm sponsors a farmers market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays at 100 Kahelu Ave. in Mililani Tech Park, featuring breads, plate lunches, desserts, flowers, local meat and produce and more. Call 228-3714.

* WAIPIO MARKET Kaiser Waipio Clinic hosts a “fresh day” market of healthy food and produce from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at 94-1480 Moaniani St. Call 432-2270.

* QUEEN’S MARKET Lili’uokalani Church offers a Queen’s Open Market from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays in Haleiwa with fresh produce, ono food and hand-crafted local items. Booth fee is $30. Vendors and entertainers are invited to call 637-9364.

* NORTH MARKET North Shore Country Market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at Sunset Beach Elementary School, selling Hawaii-made items exclusively. Vendors are welcome. Call 673-3296.

* WAIALUA CO-OP Waialua Farmers Co-op Market sells local produce, plants and more from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at Waialua Sugar Mill grounds. Call Edith at 637-8589.

* WAHIAWA MARKET A farmers market is open from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Wahiawa Hongwanji Mission parking lot, 1067 California Ave. Visit wahiawacdbo.org.

* HALEIWA MARKET Haleiwa Farmers Market runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays in the Pikake Pavilion and main lawn at Waimea Valley. Call 388-9696.

* MILILANI MARKET Mililani High School hosts a Farmers Market from 8 to 11 a.m. Sundays in the gym parking lot. Call 848-2074.

* CITY MARKETS The People’s Open Market sells produce on Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. at Wahiawa District Park and from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Mililani District Park. Call 522-7088.

* AIKIDO Mililani Aikido Club practices Tuesday and Thursday nights at Mililani District Park gym. For more information, call 623-8937.

Twenty-two students from across the state have been named to the 2014-2015 Hawaii Meth Project Teen Advisory Council, including two from Mililani High School. Photo from Hawaii Meth Project.

Methamphetamine has been Hawaii’s No. 1 drug problem for decades, and Hawaii Meth Project and its Teen Advisory Council have spent the last five years trying to change that through public-awareness campaigns and community outreach.

Among the teenagers inducted into the 2014-2015 council are two Mililani High School students. Seniors Mari Domingo and Dakota Mengel will represent the Trojans on the 22-member council, and they’re both eager to help spread the message and keep youths on the right path.

“I have three little sisters and do not want them growing up in a society where they think the usage of substances like meth is an option,” Mengel stated on HMP’s official online site.

Domingo, who is entering her second year with the group, agreed.

“Serving on the council will allow me to continue having a positive influence on teens and young adults in my community,” she stated.

HMP was founded in 2009, and is one of six state affiliates of The Meth Project, a nationwide program dedicated to reducing methamphetamine use. For more info, visit hawaiimethproject.org.

Lanakila Soccer Team, with City Councilmembers in back, was honored by the council for its excellent performance at the AYSO National Games June 29-July 7 in Irvine, Calif. The Mililani-based girls team took first place and went undefeated with a final-combined score of 27-0. Photo from Honolulu City Council.

The Honolulu City Council has recognized a former Mililani High School athlete and a Mililani-based girls AYSO team for outstanding achievement.

Dayton Furuta and Lanakila Soccer Team accepted honorary certificates Aug. 13 from City Councilman Ron Menor and Council Chairman Ernie Martin.

Furuta participated in football, wrestling and judo with the Trojans, and as an All-State linebacker for Mililani, he helped lead his team to the 2013 OIA Red Division championship.

Furuta also was a two-time OIA wrestling champion and a runner-up in the 2013 and 2014 Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) wrestling championships. In judo, he won the 2014 HHSAA judo title for the 220-pound weight division.

Furuta graduated in May with a 3.2 GPA and was inducted into the 2014 HHSAA Hall of Honor.

He accepted a “grayshirt” offer from UH, which means he will delay his enrollment until January 2015.

“I checked the roster and found that Dayton is the only ex-Mililani Trojan on the list,” said Menor. “But I know that he will represent his school and the community well.”

Lanakila Soccer Team was recognized by the council for taking first place in the 16-and-under division at the AYSO National Games, held June 29-July 7 in Irvine, Calif.

Lanakila played two games a day for four straight days, winning all eight of its games with a combined 27-0 score.

Team members include Breanne-Leigh Bactista, Jasmine Davis, Jenna Ducosin, Kaci-Ann Endo, Tiare Kahalewai, Tarah Kuhn, Kylie Louis, Kyllie Murray, Brooke Nakamura, Shelynne Rapoza, Kaitlyn Strobel, Marisa Tanaka, Jena Uyeda and Kathryn Yuu.

They were led by head coach Rose Agas-Yuu and assistant coaches Dunstan Canne and Alan Nakamura.

Parent volunteers were Wes Yuu, Cathy Tanaka, Val Endo and Sherry Rapoza.

“It was a privilege to meet these talented athletes, as well as their family and friends who were there to congratulate them,” said Menor.

“We applaud Dayton and the Lanakila AYSO team for their relentless drive, mental toughness and dedication to athletic excellence, and wish them continued success in all of their personal endeavors.”

Thomas Pule can feel his eligibility clock ticking away. The Waialua multi-sport talent is determined to leave his mark on campus.

In athletic director Bryce Kaneshiro’s view, Pule has done as much already. “He’s one of those kids you want on your team,” Kaneshiro said of Pule, who competes in cross country and football in the fall, soccer in the winter and track and field in the spring. “He’s an athletic kid who is hard working, a good student and dedicated to everything he does.”

Said Pule: “This is my last year so, before I leave this school, I’m trying to get as much done as I can.”

He’s currently playing two sports — cross country and football — for Waialua, with the latter taking up most of his time.

In the team’s recent 10-7 win over Kalaheo, Pule was part of every play as a linebacker or end on defense, or as a wide receiver on offense.

“I never get off the field — I love it,” he said.

His 27-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining proved to be the margin of victory after the Bulldogs had driven from their own end of the field into range in the game’s final minute.

“I felt the adrenaline coming on, and I could hear the crowd getting loud,” he recalled. “I had to focus and take that win from Kalaheo. It was exciting, and everyone was ecstatic, and to get that first win of the season was such a good feeling.”

As Waialua’s roster numbers just 30 this season, Pule and his senior team-mates’ leadership will have to figure big.

“They are like my second family,” he said. “I grew up with those guys, and we’ve become closer and closer.”

Pule credits his family with helping to fuel his love of sports. He also has done well in the classroom, receiving “A’s and B’s,” he said.

“My mom (Lisa DeVin-cent) pushes me to keep playing sports so I stay out of trouble. Every season, I play at least one sport.

Football and soccer are my passion. I’m thankful to my family for all of their support, including my dad (Thomas), who lives on Maui and can’t be here.”

While Pule competes with the Waialua cross country team in races, his practice time is all spent with the football team during the week.

As a wide receiver, he’s averaging 24.3 yards per catch and has one touchdown to his credit so far. Waialua’s playoff hopes likely will hinge on the outcome of their last four games, beginning with this Friday’s battle against Roosevelt.

The Bulldogs’ final home game is Sept. 26. The team will finish up with games against Anuenue and Radford on neutral sites in the last two weeks of the season.

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Expect vegan food, films and conversation at Mililani Hongwanji Mission’s two-part “A Vegan Experience: Cooking Demo, Tasting & Film Screenings” from 7 to 10 p.m. Sept. 24 (snacks) and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 27 (lunch).

Hosted by award-winning vegan chef and Mililani High School alumna Susan Asato, assisted by Ryan Takakawa, the two sessions will feature recipe demonstrations and tastings.

Also on the agenda are discussions about vegan nutrition and screenings of two vegan documentaries (Forks Over Knives and Vegucated).

While the event is open to the public, there is a $5 fee and advance registration is required. Call 625-0925 or email dharma.connection@gmail.com.

The hongwanji is located near Mililani Rec Center III at 95-257 Kalopau St.

Now living in Southern California, Asato has won numerous awards for her vegan cooking and baking, and some of her original recipes appear in published cookbooks.

To view her blog, go to bigtentvegan.com.

As prep football reaches the midway point this weekend, every game from here on out is critical in shaping the playoff picture. Here’s a look at this week’s games.

Roosevelt at Waialua, 7:30 p.m. Friday

The Bulldogs are currently in the midst of a three-game home stand that began last weekend with Nanakuli. A bye week follows the Roosevelt contest before Waialua hosts Kaimuki Sept. 26. If the Bulldogs want to stay in the hunt for one of the OIA White Division’s playoff berths next month, winning home games will be paramount. Waialua’s road win over Kalaheo Aug. 29 was a huge confidence builder after opening with losses to Kalani and Pearl City — teams that were playoff qualifiers a year ago. Despite giving up big yardage on the ground, the Bulldogs proved stingy in the red zone, keeping Kalaheo out of the end zone for three quarters. Special teams were also big for Waialua, most notably Thomas Pule’s 37-yard field goal, which provided the winning margin in the closing seconds. Roosevelt, which moved down to DII this season, was 0-3 entering last weekend’s game with Kalani. The Rough Riders have struggled offensively, averaging just 92 yards of total offense to date.

Leilehua at Waipahu, 7:30 p.m. Friday

A month into the 2014 season, Leilehua is playing as well as anyone in the state, with three impressive victories highlighted by a resounding road win at Waianae Aug. 29. Defense looked in mid-season form there, holding the Seariders to 1.5 yards rushing. The Mules’ offense to date also is rolling behind quarterback Kalanimoku Pauole and all-around standout Randy Neverson, having compiled 361 yards of total offense versus Waianae. In his first three games, Pauole had thrown for 11 touchdowns versus four interceptions.

In addition to the Marauders, Leilehua has another enemy this week: complacency. Waipahu was routed in its first three games and might not look up to the task on paper, but this contest has the look of the perfect “trap” game from the Mules’ vantage point, as it comes between high-profile games with Waianae and Kahuku. Leilehua will want to head into its bye week with momentum. Following their off-week, Leilehua will travel to Kahuku Sept. 26 for a much-anticipated matchup that could decide the OIA Red champion.

Mililani at Aiea, 7:30 p.m. Friday

This is the second of three straight road games for the Trojans, who defeated Kapolei 41-14 on their first appearance away from home back on Aug. 30. An open date on the schedule followed, giving the Trojans an extra week to prepare for this Aiea contest.

Three games into 2014, the Mililani offense has been unstoppable, averaging a state-best 578.3 total yards per game. Junior quarterback McKenzie Milton has been the catalyst of a balanced attack with nearly 1,400 yards of total offense himself, including a touchdown-versus-interception rate of 9-2 through three games.

Aiea took a 1-1 record into its game with Farrington over the weekend. Its lone win to that point was 25-14 over Kailua.

Mililani will want to be careful not to look past Aiea, as the Trojans have huge games with both Campbell and Farrington in the next two weeks.

On a whim, Makoa Ho (Kahuku High 2014) snapped a photo of his friend Brooklyn Dombroski at Puaena Point in Haleiwa, hair whipping around, called it “Compulsion,” and saw it win a gold medal at the 2014 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Then they flew him to New York’s Carnegie Hall for the ceremony, and now his photo will tour the country for a year with the 55 other national winners. “I’m proud of myself,” admits the freshman at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego …

Makana Middleton

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2014 grads Augustine Campbell of Hanalani and Jonathan Teraoka of Mililani each have won a UH Regents scholarship, awarded to outstanding first-year students. It comes with a full-tuition ride for four years, a $4,000 stipend per year, and a onetime travel grant of $2,000 … Mililani’s Justin Villegas has graduated from Air National Guard basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, as did Makana Middleton (Hanalani 2013) and Kodey Gratz (Mililani 2013) …

Renowned North Shore marine artist Robert Wyland did it again. He painted a mural at Ocean Center in Pago Pago in half a day, while serving on the Hokule’a crew. “I am just proud to be in American Samoa to be part of this great adventure of our day,” he says. “(The voyage) is one of the most creative ways I’ve ever seen for people to see the connection of the one ocean that we have” …

There’s plenty of music coming out of Turtle Bay Resort — every night but Wednesday and Friday (293-6000): Nobu, Billy Sage V, Kapena Delima, Phil Strauss, Gordon Frietas and Tim Rose, to name a few … Wahiawa Lions Club president Frank Pavao reports that the eye-glass cleaning crew cleaned and boxed more than 1,000 pairs of them in around two hours Aug. 24. Next step: shipment to needy folks around the world & & & cchang@midweek.com

By Sgt. Jessica DuVernay 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

Medics assigned to the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade at Schofield Barracks partnered with Kapiolani Community College last month for the first phase of the brigade’s Paramedic Home Station Training Program.

The program allows medics to train, earn and maintain paramedic certification that is required to qualify as an Army flight medic.

“We are doing this to create a standards-based home station paramedic training program that supports the requirements set forth by Army EMS and our civilian counterparts,” said Master Sgt. Gene Belis, brigade senior medical non-commissioned officer.

Currently, medics need to recertify several licenses within three years to maintain their credentials.

According to CAB flight surgeon Maj. Alan Wu, the program is working to recertify all medics every two years in order to keep them ahead of the curve.

“We created a marriage between Kapiolani Community College and the 25th CAB that opened the door for two things: The first being it provided the courses for us to maintain and recertify paramedic and critical care licensure,” Belis said. “It also provides an opportunity for additional medics within the brigade, and possibly the division, to go through the course.”

The August training was comprised of four classes: Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support, Advanced Medical Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

Medics were trained for a total of 16 hours in each class.

“This training is important because we can get the soldiers familiar with standards,” explained Edward Caballero, an EMS Instructor at KCC. “There is complete continuity of patient care as everyone is trained on the same level.”

Once completed, the program will include 72 hours of mandated training through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, plus up-to-date classes on current trends and standards throughout the field.

This initial phase came with 48 hours of training and produced 44 credentials.

“This was very in-depth training. They taught more than just what is needed to pass a test,” said flight medic Sgt. Stephen Van Eps. “I was able to really learn and grasp concepts through KCC. I learned a lot more than I thought I would.”

Soldiers who attended the training also benefitted from the experience of their civilian counterparts.

“The instructors actually do the equivalent of our job in the civilian sector; they are doing the same work, just not wearing the uniform,” said flight medic Staff Sgt. Rene Dizon. “Civilians are going to see it more often because we are a wartime element, whereas they are a peacetime element and they are going to see their work more often.

“For them to give us that hands-on knowledge, that’s really beneficial.”

Bon dance season ended in August, but one could call the Autumn Okinawa Dance Matsuri the season’s last hurrah.

The free fall festival, also known as “the largest indoor bon dance,” will be open from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at Hawaii Okinawa Center in Waipio.

Because it’s held indoors, the event is a little different from most.

Nevertheless, attendees of all ages can expect to dance the night away to both traditional Okinawan songs and contemporary Japanese tunes.

Plenty of food — including staples like andagi, shave ice and yakisoba — will be available, as well as other vendor booths (which open at 5 p.m.).

The matsuri is coordinated by volunteers from Hawaii United Okinawa Association at its center, located at 94-587 Ukee St.

For more information, call 676-5400.

The second annual North Shore Food Summit, set for 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Waimea Valley and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Turtle Bay Resort, offers a wide range of workshops, activities and excursions designed to “focus our collective thoughts on the goal of restoring ancestral abundance” to the area.

North Shore Community Land Trust and partners have assembled more than 40 guest speakers, facilitators and panelists to address the Islands’ critical need for food security. For fees, program details and the latest registration information, call Doug Cole at 497-0036 or visit northshoreland.org.