The men in Lahaina have, during the last 3 years, put their priorty on bringing young people to the sport
and bringing the standard of sportsmanship in Hawaii Rugby to the highest possible level.
Great success has been achieved on both of these fronts. Notice throughout this website how many
youngsters are wearing the red jersey of the Maui Rugby Club. That jersey, patterned after the
Tongan national team jersey, has been a familiar rugby icon in Hawaii for many years. Because of the
focus on the futrure in Lahaina it is sure to be a rugby icon here for many more years to come.
Maui Rugby Club players, like Finau Hafoka, Moli Pousima (kneelig at ends) and Tani Savou (standing on right)
Have created a deep club with members from age 5 to 60+ with some help from some former players like
Elone Toa (kneeling middle) and coaches Hilmy Dole (standing left) and Jack Breen (standing middle)
In 2009 Maui Rugby Club will have Open, U23 and U21 teams for men, an
Open team for women, U19 U16 and U13 teams for young women and young men,
as well as being a pillar of support for Maui's rugby programs for younger children.
The large numbers of new young adult players meant the leadership of Maui Rugby Club
was faced with a big decision when the most important matches of the season
drew near. Play only the older seasoned players against their cross island rivals,
the Maui Warriors, or give the young players the chance to play in the biggest
match of their first ever season playing rugby?
The leadership in Lahaina followed time honored rugby traditiion, they decided everyone who practiced
deserved to play. The young men from Lahaina had won their first match against an experienced open
men's side from Kona and had earned the right to play in the big matches with the defending State
Champions.
Even after suffering a loss in the first cross island match of 2007 the leadership of
Maui Rugby Club held fast to the good decision they made to keep the focus on
building a strong future for Rugby in Lahaina. Every rookie rugger who came to
practices played in the biggest match of the year, the Maui Open Men's Rugby
Championship against the defending State Champion Warriors.
Although the men of Lahaina were again outscored by the Maui Warriors in the big
match of 2007, it was clear from how much the score differential was closed as well
as the details in the quality of the competitiveness during the entire match that the
young players from Lahaina improved significantly during the course of 2007.
A plan for sustainable success has been conceived and is being carried out in Lahaina.