We stood in the door of our hotel room in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, mouths agape, legs numb. Our coach had just told us that our swim meet had been canceled because of the coronavirus. We were in Wisconsin in March…
A dozen professional athletes with Hawai‘i ties will earn more than $1 million in 2019, but a Titan stands head and shoulders above the rest. Marcus Mariota knows the financial rewards of being a starting NFL quarterback. Now in his…
Our list of professional athletes with Hawaii ties includes a baker’s dozen making at least $1 million in 2018 In 1926, Red Grange – football’s first superstar – signed a contract with the Chicago Bears that paid him $100,000 for…
Local sailor charts a unique course in sailing’s toughest challenge – a dangerous round-the-world race. Mark Towill gripped the helm of the 65-foot Volvo Ocean Racing boat in the inky blackness of an Antarctic Ocean night, pushing the boat to…
When Raul Torres’ brothers called him boca, which means mouth in Portuguese, they were making fun of him. “Brazilians love to pick on your flaws,” says Torres, who grew up in Brazil. His flaw was his big mouth, according to…
Vans Triple Crown of Surfing draws global attention while boosting local businesses John John Florence won his second surfing world title Dec. 18 at the Billabong Pipe Masters on Oahu’s North Shore. “I’m so happy to have been surfing here…
Young teens and preteens will have a great time at the Wahine Experience. The free event on Saturday, Oct. 21, features Rainbow Wahine players, coaches, celebrity alumni, cheerleaders and the UH Band. It will be held from 4 to 6…
In professional sports, landing top-dollar contracts is as competitive as the action on the field. In the National Football League, for example, player compensation is restricted by a salary cap – $167 million per team in 2017, according to league…
Last fall, Cliff Kapono could be found surfing waves off the coasts of Ireland, Spain, Britain and Morocco. After a brief stop home in Hilo this January, he planned to head south to Chile and then west to Indonesia. Kapono’s…
Will Mather has bike renting down to a science. He’s able to fit a customer with the right size bike, discuss safety and road rules, equip them with a helmet and lock, and take payment for the rental, all in…
RACE PREPARATIONS Once the executive planning committee was formed, the organizers had roughly three months to plan the first race, held in December 1973. Because of its extensive road-race management expertise, the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club took the lead in…
Here is Hawaii Business’ annual roundup of salaries for major league athletes who were born or grew up in Hawaii, or attended Hawaii schools. Our main source is Spotrac.com, a website that specializes in tracking pro athletes’ compensation. We have…
Long-running college basketball tournament scores bonus points for local businesses For 30 years, Maui businesses have had something extra to be grateful for at Thanksgiving: the Maui Invitational basketball tournament. It lures about 5,000 visitors during Thanksgiving week and provides…
Football season is prime time for sports bars' bottom line Baseball may be “America’s pastime,” and basketball and soccer reign as the most popular sports globally, but for sports bar owners in Hawaii there is no dispute: Football reigns supreme. “Football is crucial for us,” says Mike…
Dustin Sellers is a poster child (and adult) of the evolution of Hawaii soccer. ProService Hawaii’s president of business development and marketing was 5 when the American Youth Soccer Organization launched its first season in the Islands in 1974. “My…
Hawaii is known worldwide for its beautiful beaches, but most local golf courses import their sand from Vietnam or California. In fact, golf-course and athletic-field constructors prefer the more manageable, industrial varieties of sand based on silicon dioxide, as opposed…
Professional athletes often say they love to play the game, but the best of them get paid very well to have fun. Here’s the latest balance sheet on 21 athletes currently in the major leagues who were either born in…
Joe Perez has one of the toughest jobs in Hawaii, and finds his release in kickboxing. “There’s something about hitting that bag after a tough day,” says Perez, executive director of the Hawaii Meth Project. “I hear such emotional and…
If you miss fall’s football tailgating, drive up to Waialua on Oahu’s North Shore any Sunday until Labor Day for horses and tailgating at Polo Mokuleia Field. Spectators enjoy two polo matches plus an eclectic mix of halftime shows, from…
University of Hawaii baseball fans, take a good, long look at junior second baseman Kolten Wong this season. Study each at-bat and savor every defensive gem. Appreciate him now, because soon the Kamehameha-Hawaii alumnus will be just like his home…
You’ve seen bumper stickers with a variation on this theme: “Tokyo, Paris, London, Waimanalo.” Now, a new one might soon appear: “Bejing, London, Rio, Honolulu.” The reference is to the Summer Olympic Games, which – if a group of planners…
Only 1,800 qualifiers and lottery winners make it to the Ford Ironman World Championship starting line in Kona out of the tens of thousands who try to get there. The world- famous triathlon, which combines a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike…
National company Yoli will launch its new Fun Active Blast sports drink in the Islands this month with support from the World’s Greatest Athlete — Hawaii’s own decathlete Bryan Clay, who says the drink has enhanced his training and overall…