Posted on: Friday, July 30, 2004
AROUND TOWN
Hawai'i Polo Club faces Italian National team
| • | Disabled paddlers eager to show their mettle |
| • | U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame inducts Calpito |
By Stanley Lee
Advertiser Staff Writer
Continuing its 30-plus year tradition of playing international teams, the Hawai'i Polo Club will play the Italian National team.
The games will be Aug. 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. at Mokule'ia.
"There's a lot of prestige in having a national team from any country playing with us," said Mike Daley, president of Hawai'i Polo Club in Mokule'ia. "It's exciting, brings in new players and a new type of playing style.
"The Italians are so colorful and fun. It's fun to have them."
This is the first time the Italian national team is playing here. An Italian club team played in Hawai'i in the 1990s. Teams from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Kenya, Japan, Malaysia and Mexico are some of polo squads that have played here.
A team from Argentina will be playing here in September.
"Hawai'i is to surfing as Argentina is to polo," Daley pointed out.
The Italian team is ranked in the top 10 internationally and Daley said its playing style is more individualistic whereas the Hawai'i style is physical.
"We have a reputation of having a physical polo style," Daley said. "We go to the man early and hard. There's a lot of bumping and man to man."
Daley said the response for the Italians have been great from the local polo community. One of the reasons Maui Polo came over to play a series was to see the Italians.
"This should be one of the most exciting things in the summer for sports in Hawai'i," Daley added. "The field is right on the beach ... it makes for a great afternoon."
Club will honor Lopaka on Sunday
The Hawai'i Polo Club will honor the late local polo player and musician Al Lopaka Sunday.
Lopaka died in a polo accident 19 years ago at Mokule'ia.
There will be two matches beginning at 2 p.m. with gates opening at 11 a.m. Admission is $7, with children 14 and under free.
For information, call 637-8401.
Event celebrates Wilderness Act
The Kilauea Wilderness Runs will be held tomorrow in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.
Three races — a Wilderness Marathon, 10-mile Rim Run and 5-mile Kilauea Caldera Run & Walk — will be held at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
For more information, contact (808) 985-8725, race@volcanoartcenter.org or www.volcanoartcenter.org.
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