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In December 2005 and 2007, our senior basketball team made their way to the Oahu Island, in the mist of the Hawaii Island, to participate in the Palama settlement classic.
In addition, our young athletes had to leave Toronto on the morning of December 9th for a long flight to Chicago, to then take a plane to Honolulu. The team stayed in Waikiki!
The team’s schedule was charged with many adventures. They made their way to the humid tropical forest, then spent some well deserved relaxing time along the beach strip. In addition, the boys visited Pearl Harbour, the Diamond Head volcano, the Waikiki aquarium, the Dole plantation, a few stops to some small Polynesian shops, and to top it all off, they did some diving in the magnificent reserve of Anauma Bay.
Furthermore, the tournament was a big success; our JAGUARS won the consolation final of the competition in 2005. In doing so, the boys had to face the powerful team of Kamehameha, a local private school of over 6000 students. The jags held their part and in the end fell apart and lost 67-61. They then went on to beat St-Francis High school of Edmonton as well as Hozen, a team of Tokyo, Japan, in the final. In the 2007 tourney, the Jags got the best of Kamehameha on their way to a 3-1 exhibition tour.
The team is already signed up for the next classic, which will take place in 2009. Hopefully our boys will be able to bring back the Championship.
The trip ended with a Luau, a traditional Polynesian meal where pork is cooked for an entire day in an oven found under ground in what the locals call an IMU ceremony. The ceremony that took place during the meal was a cultural shock for our young students, it allowed them to open their eyes to a world greatly different from their own. |
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The Jaguars at Manoa waterfall |
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Coach V styling with his hawaiian shirt |
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The team at Pearl Harbour |
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Kenan Etale, allstar team of Palamma Settlement |
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Champions of the 05 consolation |
