Big Island Sports Wall of Fame to be Moved in 2013
BISHF wall to be moved
The Big Island Sports Hall of Fame has decided to forego nominations and inductions for 2012.
BISHF directors meet with Price Kuhio Plaza management and together decided that the current wall of Fame in the Plaza is out of existing wall space to accommodate an additional class of inductees, according to BISHF Chairman, Jerry Chang.
“We met with Kimberly Shimabuku and Beverly Crudele of PKP and they expressed their concerns that we are running out of space on the existing wall,” Chang said.
Shimabuku and Crudele informed the BISHF that PKP will be going through a complete renovation in 2013 and they felt that would be a good time to relocate the wall to a bigger space to make the necessary improvement.
“The board decided to wait till after the renovation and location of new wall space before inducting a new class,” Chang said
The BISHF currently pays a monthly rental fee to PKP for the wall space which is located next Macy’s and IOP.
The Big Island Sports Hall of Fame was founded by the late Jack Matsui.
Honoka’a Jazz Band Director, Gary Washburn, Staying Fit
- Gary Washburn
There are many different ways to stay in shape and to keep your body physically fit. Each week this column features people who are active and healthy. Swimmers, runners, walkers, cyclist, yoga students and even an occasional basketball player have shared their stories with the Big Dog.
Recently I had the pleasure of hearing the Honokaa Jazz Band perform and was impressed with their music, and discovered that band instructor Gary Washburn was also in top shape.
Prior to Washburn’s 34 years with the Department of Education he played a variety of various sports while growing up.
“In Intermediate School I played baseball,” Washburn said. “In high school I played basketball and baseball, but was junk because I didn’t like contact sports and I was afraid of the ball.”
Washburn found his calling as a music teacher and today has one of the most recognizable high school bands on the Big Island.
“I always try to have fun and encourage the kids to have fun,” Washburn said. “Mistakes are okay if you are trying hard.”
One of the secrets to Washburn’s success in the band room is that he preaches the concept of ‘team’.
“I teach them to work as a team, to practice hard and to remember to represent themselves, their school and the community the best way they can.”
This master teacher has transformed a once very stressful job into a something less stressful.
“Teaching is as stressful as you make it,” he said. “In the first few years it was really stressful, now three decades later, it is still somewhat stressful.”
For every performance, and there are many, Washburn worries about everything from:
Did the students remember what I told them? What to wear? Where to meet? What time?
Did they bring their horn, music and brains? How will they play? How is their attitude?
But everything works itself out because Washburn is organized and he knows what he has planned and what his students are going to accomplish.
Besides teaching full time Washburn also has a 5 acre farm which he tends to 100 banana trees, 75 pineapple plants and a vegetable garden.
“I am also a full time musician and we play gigs around the island,” he said.
But what impressed me the most is Washburn works as a wrangler for the Waipio Ridge Stables and much of that work accounts for his great conditioning.
If you’re a tin horn, like me, let me give you an idea of a wrangler job description.
As a wrangler Washburn takes care of the horses that people take rides on. He feeds grooms, clean their hooves, brushes, sprays for flies, and saddles sometimes as many as 20 horses.
“After we take people on a 3 to 5 hour ride I will help get them off the horses and will return to the stable and the process reverses itself,” Washburn explains. “That means taking two 50 pound bags of alfalfa cubes out to the herd and distributing it into feeding containers.
And why does Washburn take on the responsibilities of being a wrangler?
“It is physically hard work and the reason I do it is to stay in shape,” he said. “It certainly is not for the money.”
Washburn also gets an additional work out in during the school day by climbing a steep hill to his band room six to ten times a day.
“The hill to the band room is 50 to 75 yards long and is a steep climb,” he said. “Students complain all the time, of course, but I enjoy the walk because it gets me out of my classroom which has no windows and it also allows my brain to clear and my ears to rest.”
Often those treks to his band room include moving musical equipment from keyboards, to amps and speakers, to name a few.
For diet Washburn eats lots of vegetables, fruits, tofu and drinks loads of water.
“I am primarily a vegetarian and my wife is very good about giving me healthy meals, bless her heart and mine,” Washburn said.
Of course genetics plays an important role in health and lifespan and Washburn has been fortunate in that area.
“My dad lived until he was 94 and my mom is presently 92 and still kicking hard,” he said with a grin. “Both worked hard and stayed very active.”
Washburn will invest a great deal of time getting to know his students, their likes and dislikes, and he uses that information to entertain their interest in learning more about their goals.
“Stimulate the student’s creativity so they will go and find answers themselves instead of depending on someone else to supply the answers,” Washburn said. “I stress fun and pride in creating music and I try to provide a basic vocational education so that the students who want to continue with music can.”
Gary Washburn is more than a successful master music instructor for the Honokaa Jazz band. He is a contributing member of our community that not only loves music, but finds physical activity in a variety of ways.
We are all blessed to have him and the Honokaa Jazz Band on Hawai’i Island.
And on Friday should you happen to see a Vietnam Vet jogging along the coast line of Hilo Bay remember to smile, say “woof” and never shy away from “Running with the Big Dog.”
Veterans Day 5K run/walk on Friday, 11-11-11, starting at 7:30 am from the parking area of Coconut Island. Post race refreshments will be provided by State House Representatives Jerry Chang and Clift Tsuji. Finishers will also receive Vidration sports drink provided by Keith Aoki of Anheuser-Busch Hawaii, while supplies last.
Email the Big Dog at waiakeabigdog@aol.com.
Big Dog’s Veterans Day 5K run/walk on 11.11.11
Veterans Day 5K run/walk on tap
Big Dog Productions will host a 5K (3.1-mile) fun run/walk on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11, starting at the entrance to Moku Ola (Coconut Island) in Hilo.
Start time is set for 7:30 a.m. and the entry fee is a canned good item to be donated to the Hawaii Island Food Basket.
Host Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph is a U.S. Army Veteran that is organizing the event as a way of honoring our military troops.
Post race refreshments will be provided by State House Representatives Jerry Chang and Clift Tsuji. Finishers will also receive Vidration sports drink provided by Keith Aoki of Anheuser-Busch Hawaii, while supplies last.
For more information contact the Big Dog at 969-7400, email at waiakeabigdog@aol.com
How to Win the Battle Against Loose Dogs in our Community
- Take a pro active stance against dog bites
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that the best way to maintain an exercise program is to be repetitive.
I’ve been waking up at 4:40 am every morning for over a decade, brush my teeth, stretch, put my running shoes on and hit the road by 5 am. It’s the same routine from Monday through Friday, and then on the weekends I give myself an extra hour of sleep before hitting the road.
My route doesn’t vary either, making my way along Nanialii Drive in Paradise Park and then up the hills of Shower Drive all the way to the highway and back down again.
The great thing about being repetitive is that I just do it without giving it much thought and without ever making excuses.
But for repetitive runners like me one of the few perils that I encounter is irresponsible dog owners that allow their dogs to roam free.
I’ve had an ongoing problem with one dog that has been off its property at least 10 to 12 times over the past few years and I’ve had to ward off its attacks with loud yelling for their owners to chain the animal up.
I was even confronted by the owner one day who said, “My dog has as much right to be running on the road as you, and if you don’t like it find someplace else to run.” Of course this is not true as we have a leash law and dogs are not permitted to roam free.
Everything came to a breaking point a few weeks ago when the animal decided to escalate our relationship by sinking its teeth into my leg, just above the ankle bone, which left six teeth marks and three prominent punctures which drew blood.
I’m partially at fault because I did not notify the Humane Society the 10 to 12 times that the dog came running after me, barking and growling.
I have since filled a police report and have notified the Humane Society.
This was the second complaint filed against the same dog within the last two months and, according to the Humane Society, the owner of the property must now appear in court.
But my case is not unique as many walkers, bike riders, joggers, and the like have been accosted by loose animals.
I didn’t realize this but once you’ve been bitten and file a police report the officer issues a citation to the dog owner and the Humane Society is notified which often results in a court date being issued.
The case then goes to the County Prosecutors Office and they will determine whether or not to pursue liability and seek monetary damages if you required medical attention.
According to Deputy Prosecutor Cody Frenz more than 80 percent of all dangerous dog citations end up in court.
“Victims of dangerous dogs can call the prosecutor’s office and provide the number on the police report to find out when the case will appear before a judge,” Frenz said.
“Citations issued by the police ends up going to the Prosecutors Office and depending on the severity of the case there is a potential for trail,” she said.
Donna Whitaker, Executive Director of the Hawaii Island Humane Society, estimated that seventy-five percent of referred police reports on dangerous dogs make it to court.
Whitaker does advise people who are confronted by loose dogs to make an attempt to speak with the owner prior to reporting the incident to the Humane Society.
“I think the first time we should try to keep the lines of communication open by talking with the owner of the dog,” Whitaker said. “If you don’t get a reasonable response or if the dog is habitually loose, then by all means call the Humane Society.”
“I see some people walking around my neighborhood carrying sticks to protect themselves against loose dogs, but I don’t think I could ever strike a dog,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker believes that the Humane Society is powerless in solving the problem against dangerous dogs saying that the courts have all the teeth in these types of matters.
“We rely on people to obey the law,” she said. “And we try our best to educate people on responsible pet ownership. If it gets to court it’s up to the judge to tell the pet owner what needs to be done.”
Officer Sandor Finkey at the Keaau police station answered a number of my questions and was extremely helpful in leading me through the process.
“Personally I would report every loose dog to the Humane Society and would advise that anyone threatened or bitten by a loose dog file a police report,” Finkey said.
Finkey also suggested that if the Humane Society isn’t open to take your call that you call the police non-emergency number at 935-3311 to report the loose dog.
“Our stance here at the police department is that we want to prevent people from being bitten by dogs and we ask the public’s help in reporting strays,” he said. “We do not permit dogs to stray and will issue a citation to the owner which could carry a $25 fine.”
I also asked a few of my exercise buddies for advice and here is what they shared:
- Seymour
Chris Seymour, owner of Hilo Bike Hub, believes that dogs instinctually want to chase and offered this advice:
“Dogs love to chase and we humans want to try to get away as fast as we can, but the faster we run the faster the dog will run,” Seymour said. “Keeping this in mind I’ll slow down and will start yelling ‘Go Home’.”
“Most dogs also understand ‘NO’ so this is another thing to keep in mind,” he said. “If you are persistently chased by the same dog, carry a water bottle with a fairly strong mixture of Chili Pepper water and if he gets close enough, squirt him in the face.”
Retired special education teacher, Sharon Lehman, follows the water bottle theory, but instead of chili pepper she uses a mixture of water and a fair amount of ammonia.
“It does sting like the devil and stinks like anything,” Lehman said, “but it does no lasting damage to the dog. After being sprayed the first time just the smell of the ammonia will usually send the critter running in the opposite direction.”
Hilo’s Jerry Chang said, “I know most people would be in a panic, but I was told to face the dog and firmly say “SIT! Then pray that it does.”
- Wedemann
Firefighter Joe Wedemann swears by the effectiveness of pepper spray which is legal and available in Hilo.
“I always take pepper spray with me,” Wedemann said. “I’ve had to spray more than one dog in my years of running or biking and it worked every time.”
The message I’m trying to send here is to contact the proper authorities whenever a loose animal threatens your right to walk, run or bike on public property and do not wait until it actually bites you or someone else.
Remember to call the Humane Society to report a loose/stray dog and if it is after business hours call the police non-emergency number, 935-3311.
To learn more about the dog bite issue readers should go to the County’s website and check section 4-31.
And someday should you see a jogger doing repetitive laps up and down Shower Drive in HPP remember to smile, say “woof” and never shy away from “Running with the Big Dog.”
Email the Big Dog at waiakeabigdog@aol.com.
Hilo Bike Hub
318 East Kawili St., Hilo (808) 9614452
-
75-5801 Ali’i Drive, #C-8 Kailua-Kona, HI
CrossFit
1717 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo
Ellsworth’s Custom Cycles
Ellsworth Fontes, 808-935-5519 at 969 Kinoole St., Hilo
Josh Green, M.D., Senator & Physician
Hawaii's Voice for Health Care
Councilman Dennis ‘Fresh’ Onishi
Supporter of Youth Sports
Mark Nakashima
Big Island Root, Country Values
Aiona Used Cars, Sales & Rentals
Runners World- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- Ask the Dietitian
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
- Ask the Doc
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
Big Island International Marathon
Limited entries to the March 18, 2012 event
Big Dog Productions
Veterans at Vet Day 5K 2010 - click photo to enlarge
[/caption
The Alaska of Your Dreams
Hawaii's favorite salmon fishing destination
-
Honomu - just 15 minutes north of Hilo
-
Big Island, Hawaii
Reelect Jerry Chang
State House, District 2, Paid for by Friends of Jerry Chang
Samelson-Chalelane
102 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor New York, NY
KTA Super Stores
You're Someone Special Every Day at KTA
Old Hawaiian B & B
A Peaceful Place to Stay, located in Hilo, call 961-2861
Big Dog”s Athlete of the Week:Jason Braswell
Was the first overall runner from the Big Island during the Honolulu Marathon" width="150" height="100" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-16014" />
Was the first overall runner from the Big Island during the Honolulu Marathon[/caption]
International Modeling
Jaclynn Joyce
-
-
State Senator Dwight Takamine
Supporter of Youth Sports in our Community
Wayne Joseph's Blog 