Short Hops Dec. 18

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Jingle Bell Beach Run set for Sunday

Jingle Bell Beach Run set for Sunday

The eighth annual Jingle Bell Beach Run will take place at 7:30 am. Sunday at Kailua Pier.

The event will include 5-kilometer and one-mile runs. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., and admission is free.

Event organizers will present a special recognition award to AdvoCATS — a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the Big Island’s homeless cat population through its trap-neuter-return program — and raise funds for the organization.

Those interested in making donations may do so on race day or submit them at the Big Island Running Company or Cycle Station prior to the Jingle Bell Beach Run.

For more event information, visit bigislandrunning.com.

Adult softball
league meeting

Organizers for a Kailua-Kona adult softball league will hold an organizational meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Old Kona Airport Park’s lighted mauka field.

The season will start in mid-January, and topics of discussion include scheduling.

For more information, call Elson Mori at 640-4701.

Free aikido classes offered in Kailua-Kona

The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation, along with Aiki Kai O Kona, is offering free aikido classes for both children and adults.

Instructors Sharon Gilbert and Bill Stockton have taught aikido in West Hawaii for more than 24 years. They have more than 70 years combined experience in aikido.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art that teaches self-discipline, blending, harmonizing and defensive techniques in a noncompetitive atmosphere.

Classes will be held Mondays and Wednesdays at Hale Halawai in Kailua-Kona. Classes for 6-to 14-year-olds start at 6:30 p.m. Adult classes, for those 15 and older, follow at 7:30 p.m.

For more information or to register, call Sharon or Bill at 325-7501 or Marshall at 327-3565.

PONY Baseball registration continues

PONY Baseball continues registration for its upcoming t-ball and coach pitch seasons from 4 to 6 p.m. today, Wednesday and Dec. 24 at Old Kona Airport Park’s youth baseball/softball field and Konawaena High School’s baseball field.

Registration will also take place at Sports Authority in Kailua-Kona from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

For more information on PONY Baseball, contact Randy Morris at 936-2789 or rmhipal@hotmail.com.

Big Dog Resolution
5K Run/Walk

The Big Dog Resolution 5K Run/Walk will begin at 8 a.m. Dec. 30 at the Coconut Island parking lot. The registration fee is a canned good or $5. All proceeds go to the Hawaii Island Food Basket.

For more information, call Wayne Joseph at 969-7400.

M2 Fitness to hold clinic for kids

M2 Fitness will hold a three-day clinic for keiki from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 31, Jan. 2 and Jan. 4 at Old Kona Airport Part. The event is open to children ages 9 to 12, and the registration fee is $50.

For more information call Mary Mullahey at 443-9239.

Youth Sailing Days
Dec. 26-28, 31

Big Island Sailing Foundation and Kona Sailing Club junior sailors will hold Youth Sailing Days at Honokohau Harbor. The event will be Dec. 26-28, 31.

There will be land and water activities each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants should be at least 12 years of age or experienced sailors over 10 years. Attendees must be able to swim, and be comfortable on a boat and in the water. Boats used will be from 12 feet to 24 feet. U.S. Sailing Certified instructors lead the program.

The registration fee for the four-day camp is $100 for KSC Juniors; the new member fee is an additional $20. Scholarships are available from BISF. For more information, call Alicia at 325-5529 or email to bisf@earthlink.net.

Survive the End of the
World 10K Saturday

Kealakehe High School’s Waverider Triathlon Club will hold its Survive the End of the World 10K at 7 a.m. Saturday at Kahaluu Beach Park. Interested runners may pick up an entry form at Bike Works Kona or sign up at active.com.

The cost is $30.

For more information, contact Kristin Drost at waveridertriathlonclub@gmail.com.

Beginner golf classes
for women Jan. 12

Golf professional Rob Wohlgemuth will offer a five-week series of beginner golf lessons for women at Makalei Golf Club beginning Jan. 12.

The classes are open to all women interested in the basics of golf. Classes meet five consecutive Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m.

The cost for all five classes is $50. To enroll, call Wohlgemuth at 937-0130.

Kona Elks Hoop Shoot Jan. 12

All free throw shooters from 8 (by April 1, 2013) to 13 are invited to Kekuaokalani Gym on Jan. 12 for the Kona Elks Hoop Shoot.

Registration begins at 9 a.m., and competition starts at 10 a.m. Age groups are 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13.

The Elks will give trophies for first and second places in each group with separate competition for boys and girls. Each contestant gets 25 shots at the hoop from the free throw line (the 8-9 year age group shoot from 4 feet in front of the line and with the smaller ball) with 15 additional shots if a tie breaker is needed.

The boy and girl in each age group with the highest scores may advance through four tiers of competition to qualify for the national finals at Springfield, Mass., set for April 18-21.

Kona Elks Lodge 2616 provides for transportation of winners along with one parent for out-of-state competition.

All children who reside in West Hawaii are invited to participate.

There is no registration fee or early registration. For more information, call Joe Reynolds at 334-0077.

Hilo to Volcano 50K held Jan. 19

The Big island Road Runners will hold the Hilo to Volcano 50K Ultra and the 31 mile relay Jan. 19. Runners can choose between running the 50 kilometer (31 mile) course from Coconut Island to Cooper Center in Volcano Village as an ultra-marathoner or as part of a three-person relay team.

In the relay event team members take turns running two mile legs up the mountain. The ultra runners start at 6 a.m., and the relay teams start at 6:30 am. The registration fee for either event is $35 until Jan. 6. After that date, the fee is $40. Big Island Road Runner Club members get a $5 discount.

The registration form is online at bigislandroadrunners.org/html/htv_50k.html. For more information, call Steve Pavao at 430-0267.

Softball tournament Jan. 25-27

There will be a slow-pitch softball tournament Jan. 25-27 at Old Kona Airport Park. There will be separate tournaments for men and women, with a co-ed home run derby on Jan. 26. Prizes will be awarded for the top three finishers in the tournament.

The registration fee is $300, and there is a minimum deposit of $100 due by Jan. 19. For more information or to register, contact Jamieson Taketa at 938-8664 or Shane Alani at 640-0824.

Chapman on Emily T. Gail Show

Mary Chapman, a writer for the New York Times and contributor to Newsweek, cnn.com and many other publications, is a guest on this week’s Emily T. Gail Show, which is available under “lineup” at espnhawaii.com and as an iTunes podcast.

Chapman will discuss her book about boxing great Joe Louis and his manager, John Roxborough. Chapman grew up in Roxborough’s former house and learned to love good writing by reading books Roxborough left behind in the house.

Chapman will also discuss her experiences growing up in Detroit, and how the 1968 World Series helped harness civil unrest after the Detroit riots.

Author Scott Lasser will also be on the show. He is the author of the baseball novel “Battle Creek” as well as “All I Could Get,” “The Year that Follows” and “Say Nice Things about Detroit.”

For information on the Emily T. Gail Show, contact Gail at emilytgail@emilys.org. Past shows are available at facebook.com/emilytgailtalkstory, iTunes and espnhawaii.com.

Weekly golf tourney results

Na Wahine O Waikoloa

Thursday’s results

c Scores: 1. Carole Abarcar/Kay Bryant/Rita Eder/Trish Kimball 121; 2. Chris Cutler/Mona Peck/Sandy Price/Margaret Tigue 125; 3. Shirley Clarke/Dee Dee Kosa/Audrey Hamilton/Kasie Wessels 134; 4. Mo Brown/Mary Desisto/Darlene Peters/Nancy Powel 142

c Closest to the pin: Trish Kimball (3); Mary Desisto (6, 16); Margaret Tigue (12)

c Birdie: Margaret Tigue (12)

c Most accurate drive: Mary Desisto (11)

c Note: Members played “best 2-ball foursome.”

Lea Lea Women’s Golf Club

Thursday’s results

c Winners: Ailota Nesheim/Yuko Suzuki/Penny Knowles/Judy Burger

c Low putts: Penny Knowles 28

c Closest to pin: Penny Knowles (12); Judy Burger (17)

c Chip-ins: Noel Watkins; Penny Knowles

c Note: Members played “3-2-1.”

Keauhou Kona

Men’s Golf Club

Saturday’s results

c A flight low net scores: 1. Al Sullivan 69; 2. (tie) Marlin Ahl 70; 2. Larry Stevens 70

c B flight low net scores: 1. Mike Nichols 72; 2.Bob Currier 73; 3. Tom Lullo 74

c Closest to the pin: Walter Welton (3); Pete Callahan (5, 17A); Marlin Ahl (12); Arvid Bjornton (17B)

Makalei Kolepa Hui

Saturday’s results

c A flight low net scores: 1. John Kiaha 68; 2. (tie) Jerry Conners 72; 2. Dave Peters 72

c B flight low net scores: 1. Bobby MacComber 69; 2. Larry Leedom 72

c Closest to the pin: Roger Higgins (5); Jerry Conners (12); Dave Puckett (15)