Sports

Alaska Flight 255 left at just before 3 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 5) from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and was back in Alaska within just about 5.5 hours after pilots declared emergency and decided to turn around because of a reported maintenance issue.

A GoFundMe was started three days ago called: “Mike’s Seahawks Haircut Challenge,” with some of the proceeds to benefit the Hāmākua Youth Center.

The first clinic will be on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Waiākea High School in Hilo; the second will be on Sunday, Feb. 1, at Kealakehe High School in Kona.

“I wanted to come out here this year and start hot and not work my way into the season,” said reigning Charles Schwab Cup winner, PGA TOUR Champions Player of the Year and now 2026 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai winner Stewart Cink.

Saturday’s event kicked off the 2026 PGA Tour Champions season. Results from the tournament will be posted when they are available.

Defending champion Ernie Els and Charles Schwab Cup winners Stewart Cink and Steven Alkers are in the final threesome on Thursday, teeing off at 12:23 p.m.

Six golf Hall of Famers will play in the upcoming PGA Tour Champions season opener on the Big Island: Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Retief Goosen, David Love III and Vijay Singh.

Those who plan to enter a team into the T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League and potential coaches must attend the mandatory meeting at 5 p.m. Jan. 14.

Applications are being accepted now from anyone interested in temporary positions during the 2026 Summer Fun Program, which provides healthy, safe and fun recreational activities for keiki.

The 2026 event marks the 30th anniversary of it being held at Hualālai.

The season is scheduled to run from Feb. 23 through May 14 and includes divisions for players ages 8–10, 11–12 and 13–14.

Duo from Big Island shot a 6-under-par total score of 66 on Dec. 22 at Wailuā Golf Course in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, to top the field and clinch their return to the spring championship, which will be hosted in May 2026 at Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.; will be one of 128 teams competing in championship.

Secure your tickets now and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at the renowned Hualālai Golf Course in 2026.

Leo Saito and Jake Otani of Hilo win Boys 13-14 and 15-18 age divisions, respectively, after 36 holes at The Club at Kukui‘ula on Kaua‘i.

Yukumoto, a 1993 graduate of Hawai‘i Pacific University, has been associate head coach since 2019 after serving 13 seasons from 2006-18 as head coach at his alma mater, finishing with a 362-272-4 record and as all-time wins leader for the Sharks.

The meets are open to youth ages 6 to 14 years old and will be conducted Feb. 7 and 21, 2026, at Kealakehe High School in West Hawai‘i and Feb. 28 at Kamehameha High School in East Hawai‘i.

Both University of Hawai‘i at Hilo sophomores were voted to the All-PacWest First Team and Garcia was named the conference’s Newcomer of the Year; Garcia also receives honors from American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The Big Island Holiday Classic tips off today at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Individual and team registration options available from Nov. 24 through Dec. 22 for Elementary (grades 3-5) and Intermediate (grades 6-8) groups. Season runs Jan. 26 through March 11, 2026.

The invite — hosted by University of Hawai’i at Hilo and featuring the host along with three other NCAA Division II teams — kicked off the afternoon of Nov. 22 and continued that evening and has another two games Nov. 23 at Vulcan Gym on the campus of the university’s campus in Hilo.