** REQUESTING CONFIRMATION: Kona? **

If we travel to Kona, I need to hear from everybody who is or is not planning on going.

• July 24-25 (dates subject to change), HISOA (Hawaii Island Sports Officials Associaiton) Varsity Basketball Tournament, Kekuaokalani Gym (Kailua-Kona)

• WYBT (World Youth Basketball Tournament), 14U Division, July 26-28, Kekuaokalani Gym (Kailua-Kona). Opening ceremony is July 25 (Friday evening).

1. Each Thunder player is asked to pay for air fare (currently $170 round trip), mini-van rentals ($25).

2. The entry fee for the varsity tournament (HISOA) has been waived for us. Woohoo!

3. The WYBT entry fee is $500, so our 14U players are asked to chip in $50 each to cover this.

4. Food: Players can bring their own funds. Team meals will be economically sound. Hello, Mickey D's.

5. Varsity players may leave after the HISOA tourney rather than stay for the WYBT 14U tourney. Just let me know.

6. 14U players may arrive a day later (July 25) than the varsity players (July 24), but I recommend that everybody fly out on July 24. We don't have a tourney schedule yet and some players may end up sitting and waiting at the Kona airport for awhile unless we have enough drivers (adults).

7. The varsity (HISOA) tourney features Big Island high school teams, though the tourney is seeking more teams from Oahu.

8. The 14U tourney (WYBT) has locked in teams from the Bay Area and L.A., plus teams from Kauai and Hilo.

9. The 14U tourney actually runs until July 30, but we can play all five games by July 28 and leave that night if we prefer. That's what I've budgeted hotel, etc. for: July 24-28.

If everybody can chip in and cover these costs, it will help immensely. Most of the money we've fundraised this year has gone directly to league and tournament fees. Though I still am hoping we can travel to the mainland, a Kona trip is much more economical at this point.