Sunday funday: Car wash

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

Mahalo to Auntie Chit for the photos!

Small crew, big results. We had our third car wash in as many weeks on Sunday. Thank the Lord it was SUNNY. Originally, we were going to do a Saturday car wash, but Aiea League changed the schedule, so we moved to a Sunday. It rained on Saturday, so we were blessed.

The crew worked hard and long today, but it's pre-Christmas and we had some lulls too. But when we got busy, four cars in the lot at a time, the crew worked like an awesome machine. Good job, everybody!

Today's crew: Sierra, Joy and Eric Murobayashi, Joshua de Jesus, Felcris Jay Corpuz, Hsien Pascua, Kapaa Nishimura and Lehua Nishimura, Nate and Ryan Higashionna, Coach Bo and Auntie Char, Kali'a Mielke and Rob Mielke, Javan, Carl and Julie Montiho, Jared Elwin, Kyle Moraga, Roy and Chit Moraga, Walter and Mark A. Berthold.

We netted a good profit, enough to pay for another league. So far, it's been mainly the 13U/Intermediate who have turned out for the car washes, and with three leagues this winter, some of them have done their share. Some have not.

For the guys who are going to play 15U, if we don't get full turnout for car washes — the high school guys haven't shown up — there may not be a 15U team when PAA starts in late February. I hope we get more 15U and 17U turnout (17U starts later) so everybody does his/her share.

For the guys who didn't show up (or hardly showed up) to any of the three car washes so far, you're not doing your share. If you and parents think it's OK to not show up for something we really need, please talk with me and we'll find out what's going on. Otherwise, it's not fair to everybody else, is it? They're doing all the work without any breaks because the crew is smaller than before.

Working together at the car wash for one shift (3 hours) on a Saturday or Sunday shouldn't be low priority if you want to play with your Thunder brothers in leagues ($450-$500 entry fee) and tournaments ($250-$350), to travel off island, to be part of the Thunderhood. For the guys who played in 17U, 15U and 13U in 2013 and 2012 (roughly 300 games total = $15,000 in entry fees), the guys who went on last summer's trip - we're still paying off that loan. Yet some of the guys aren't showing up at all for the car washes.

Parents, your actions ALWAYS speak louder than words. For our parents who have been faithful and diligent about being there to work with their children at the car washes, I thank God for you. You make this work.

For the parents who have not shown up, haven't involved your kids in the work we need to do, please contact me 551-1054. I need to know why you and your child/children are not showing up. I know some folks are busy with Christmas stuff, family plans. That's cool, but just let us know.

When there's no communication, it hurts the other kids who work hard at practice and the car wash. They ask me all the time about the guys who aren't showing up. They give their best for their teammates. They deserve the same in return.

WE LUB THIS GAME!

Next: Monday, 5:00 pm, practice at Makiki Park.