By JOHN BURNETT
By JOHN BURNETT
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Ask any member of the Panaewa Alii midget football team how they won the regional title and earned their shot at a national title, you’ll hear the same thing: “Hard work and dedication.” In fact, that’s not just the team’s motto — it’s a mantra.
“We’re not the most talented team, but we work as a unit like one because we’re all brothers,” said Gehrig Octavio, quarterback of the team, who will be going to Kissimmee, Fla., to represent the Big Island and the state of Hawaii in the 12-15 age group division at the Pop Warner Super Bowl, which starts Dec. 7.
Octavio and the others were meeting and greeting the public at a fund-raising concert Saturday at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. The hard work and dedication of the team, coaches, parents and other supporters were evident at the event to help pay the way for the team’s trip to the Orlando suburb. The concert and other fundraising efforts became necessary due to the alleged embezzlement of more than $100,000 in Big Island league funds by a former league treasurer. The county prosecutor’s office is investigating those allegations but no charges have been filed.
League secretary-treasurer Brenda Kuamoo said at mid-afternoon that “$30-something-thousand” has come in since news of the alleged misappropriation has become public. The cost of round-trip airfare alone for the players, coaches and cheerleaders is about $37,000, and support has come not only from the community, but from some unexpected folks, as well, including Big Island visitors William and Elizabeth Stevenson of Oceanside, Calif.
“He came in and made a $1,000 donation,” Kuamoo said. “He said he was flying out (Saturday night).”
Team mom Nani Miyashiro said the Alii “definitely are going” to Florida, a trip that Alii lineman Ryen Victorino said “can put us on the map.”
“That’s a blessing,” Miyashiro said. “With the generosity of the community and everybody coming together, it’s been wonderful. When I talk about it it makes me cry.”
As Na Hoku Hanohano award-winner Darlene Ahuna finished up her set with “In This Life,” Scott Spencer of The History Channel’s “American Jungle” — a popular and controversial new reality television show about pig hunters on the Big Island — was perched precariously inside a dunking booth, taking one for the team.
“You guys killin’ me,” he said, just before a youngster hurled a laser-like fastball, dropping him into the drink.
Maui Ramos, an Alii assistant coach who was last year’s head coach and is the father of linebacker Ethan Ramos, said he’s “never seen Hilo like this before.”
“It’s emotional,” he said. “I would never imagine in a million years all the support we got from the community. It’s awesome. I don’t know what to say. I’m speechless.”
Ramos, a state sheriff’s deputy at the Hilo courthouse, enlisted the kokua of his comrades to provide event security.
“I’m amazed, just amazed,” said deputy Thomas Dela Cruz. “But that’s local style, everybody pulling together to get it done.”
Sandi-Lyn Kanaele, another team parent, said the community support is proof that “Hilo is such a great place to live.”
“We’re getting so many donations we’re truly, truly blessed to be here,” she said. “There’s so many people that we don’t even know going out of their way to help out the boys.”
It’s estimated that the team needs about $120,000 to cover airfare, rooms, ground transportation, meals and other incidentals. Two accounts have been set up to receive contributions from the public: one at HFS Federal Credit Union under “Panaewa Regional Travel” and another at Bank of Hawaii under “Friends of Panaewa Alii.”
Tax deductible donations can be made at any Big Island branch of both financial institutions.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.