America's bloodiest day
Leagues postpone sports events

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

High school sports in Hawai'i are feeling the effects of yesterday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

The O'ahu private schools' Interscholastic League of Honolulu postponed bowling and volleyball events until further notice, ILH executive secretary Clay Benham said. He added decisions have yet to be made regarding other sports, such as football and water polo.

Benham, league president Anthony Ramos and sport coordinators will make those decisions.

Iolani School's girls' volleyball trip to California this weekend was "in limbo" yesterday, athletic director Judy Hiramoto said. The Raiders are scheduled to leave tomorrow night to compete in a tournament Friday and Saturday in Huntington Beach, Calif.

"We're kind of in a holding pattern right now," she said.

Hiramoto said there were no reports from players' parents who might have second thoughts of having their daughters flying in the wake of attacks, which involved four plane crashes.

"We would accommodate their wishes," she added. "But we still have a couple of days to see what happens."

Meanwhile, the Department of Education will announce this morning a decision on O'ahu Interscholastic Association sports, executive secretary Dwight Toyama said.

No OIA events were held yesterday and none was scheduled for today.

The Maui Interscholastic League also postponed bowling and volleyball matches scheduled for today. Athletic directors and principals of the league, which includes Lana'i and Moloka'i high schools, are scheduled to meet today, MIL executive secretary Stephen Kim said. He added that while Lana'i's officials are able to get to Maui by ferry, Moloka'i officials might not be able to attend the meeting if the airports remain closed.

"It's also possible we could postpone games this weekend," Kim added.

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation postponed yesterday's volleyball match between Pahoa and Kea'au, executive secretary Roy Fujimoto said. The Big Island canceled classes yesterday. Fujimoto said no other postponements were imminent as of yesterday.

The Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation is continuing with its scheduled events, KIF executive secretary Brent Mizutani said. The next sporting event is air riflery tomorrow.