Iroquois and Hawaiians play lacrosse

Hawaii Lacrosse 20th Anniversary Tournament

By Jill ZangerThe Hawaii Lacrosse 20th Anniversary Invitational Tournament presented by Nike will take place at Kapiolani Park, in Waikiki, Friday, October 29 through Sunday, October 31. This is the first year Nike Lacrosse is sponsoring the event.

Highlighting the tournament this year is the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team, whose members will come together in competition for the first time since being unable to compete in the FIL Lacrosse World Championship last June in Manchester, England, due to visa complications. The Iroquois Nationals will also debut their new game day jersey, featuring the Nike N7 logo. Nike has partnered with the Iroquois Nationals since 2006.Lacrosse cultural

Iroquois and Hawaiians share views on sovereignty

By Cindy LuisA common heart. A common spirit. A common cause.

Yesterday's clinic here by the Iroquois National Lacrosse team was much more than a cultural exchange. For the students at Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'o Anuenue, the Hawaiian immersion school in Palolo Valley, it was an educational experience that linked the Hawaiian sovereignty issue to the recognition problems encountered by the visitors last summer.And:England's loss was Hawaii's gain. Since the team had unused plane tickets, the Iroquois Nationals opted to compete in this weekend's 20th Hawaii Invitational Tournament at Kapiolani Park as well as do a clinic for native Hawaiian youth.

"I am proud that they took a stand," 10th-grader Lopaka Keli'ikoa-Kapolo'i said. "That's what we should do as Hawaiians—stand for our culture, stand for our rights. It was good to see that they have gained recognition."Comment:  For more on the subject, see Iroquois Team Bows Out of Tournament and Iroquois Team Fights for Sovereignty.

Below:  "Before participating in the 20th anniversary of the Hawai'i Lacrosse Invitational Tournament, members of the Iroquois Nationals team instruct native Hawaiian students from Kula Kaiapuni o Anuenue in a lacrosse clinic. To start the clinic, the general manager of the Iroquois Nationals team, Ansley Jemison, gathers everyone together for a team cheer with their sticks raised."