Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>>JIM: HELLO AGAIN EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO LEAHEY & LEAHEY.
GENERATIONALLY, A CHARGE DISCUSSION ON SPORTS AND
OTHER LIVING THINGS. UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU CAN
SEE, THE YOUNGER HALF OF THE LEAHEY & LEAHEY IS ON ANOTHER
ONE OF HIS GALLAVANTING ROAD TRIPS TO THE AMERICAN
CONTENT. I'M BY MYSELF BUT NOT BY MYSELF BECAUSE TODAY,
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I, STATUS
OF THAT UNIVERSITY, IN THE EYES AND THE HEARTS OF A
STUDENT WHO GOES THERE, MY GRANDDAUGHTER, MALIA
LEINA'ALA MEZA AND WE'LL MEET HER RIGHT AFTER THIS.
>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S GOING TO SIT AT THE KITCHEN TABLE ON
LEAHEY & LEAHEY. GENERATIONALLY CHALLENGED
DISCUSSION ON SPORTS AND OTHER LIVING THINGS. LEAHEY
& LEAHEY! >>JIM: WELCOME BACK EVERYONE.
THIS IS HER. THIS IS MALIA LEAHEY MEZA. YOU'VE BEEN A
STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I NOW FOR A FEW YEARS.
>>MALIA: YES. I'M CURRENTLY A SENIOR HERE AT THE
UNIVERSITY. SO THAT MEANS FOUR YEARS AND CREDIT WISE,
I'M ALSO A SENIOR. >>JIM: YOU SEE HOW YOU HAVE TO
EXPLAIN THAT? IT'S NOT JUST, I'M A SENIOR. WHAT IS YOUR
MAJOR, BY THE WAY? >>MALIA: I'M MAJORING IN
KINESIOLOGY AND SO IT'S THE STUDY OF THE HUMAN BODY.
IT'S MOVEMENTS, AND ALL OF THAT WONDERFUL THINGS.
>>JIM: OKAY. NOW, LET ME ASK YOU THIS. DO YOU LIKE THE
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I? DO YOU LIKE GOING THERE? DO YOU
LIKE BEING A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII MANOA?
>> I REALLY DO ENJOY BEING A STUDENT HERE AT U.H. NOT
ONLY DOES IT ALLOW ME TO STAY CLOSE TO YOU GUYS, WHOM I LOVE
SO MUCH, BUT IT'S A GOOD UNIVERSITY. THEY HAVE A VERY
BROAD RANGE OF CLASSES YOU CAN TAKE.
THERE'S SO MANY MAJORS YOU CAN TAKE THERE. IT'S GREAT. I
REALLY LOVE IT. GIVES YOU A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO
NETWORKS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. ALLOWS YOU TO STAY CLOSE TO
THE OCEAN AND I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOCATED IN ONE OF
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD, IT'S GREAT FOR
MARINE BIOMAJORS. YOUR WORKPLACE IS RIGHT OUTSIDE
YOUR WINDOW. SO ITS GREAT. >>JIM: WHAT DON'T YOU LIKE
ABOUT IT? >>MALIA: THERE'S SOME ASPECTS
I FEEL THAT THE UNIVERSITY COULD WORK ON MAYBE
ADDRESSING CERTAIN FEES WAY BEFOREHAND INSTEAD OF KIND OF
ADDING THEM IN THERE. WHEN YOU LEARN THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY
FOR YOUR TUITION, TRYING TO FIND WAYS THAT A STUDENT CAN
TRY TO GET SOME KIND OF, BESIDES WORK STUDY, MAYBE
SOME OTHER KIND OF FINANCIAL AID IF THEY QUALIFY FOR
SOMETHING ELSE, YOU KNOW. IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE. SO
FAR, THAT'S IT. >>JIM: THAT BRINGS US RIGHT TO
ADMINISTRATION. YOU'RE A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
HAWAI'I. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATUS, STUDENTS, THEY'RE
DOWN THE LADDER. HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU WHEN YOU READ ABOUT
THE PRESIDENT BEING CHANGED, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS
PAID FOR ADMINISTRATORS, THE CHANCELLOR COMING IN FROM THE
UNIVERSITY DELAWARE, TOM APP. EL AND UNCEREMONIUSLY BEING
REMOVED AND ANOTHER PERSON TAKING HIS PLACE. A NEW
PRESIDENT. AS A STUDENTS, YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU LOOK
AT THE MONEY THAT THEY EARN. YOU LOOK AT THE MONEY THAT IS
KIND OF BATTED AROUND, THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE
DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE
UNIVERSITY. AS A STUDENT, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
>>MALIA: WELL, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING WHEN YOU READ
ABOUT A SHORTAGE, THEY CAN'T PAY FOR THIS OR THEY MIGHT NOT
BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THAT, BUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS
LATER, YOU HEAR ABOUT, U.H. MAYBE JUST PUT ALL OF THIS
MONEY INTO REPAIRS ON SOMETHING THAT NOBODY REALLY
KNEW ABOUT, OR THE FACT THAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO BUILD, WE
WANT ANOTHER STADIUM. WE HAVE A PERFECTLY GOOD
STADIUM. IT'S A LITTLE OLD, BUT IT'S BEEN USED AND WORKED
FOR US FOR OBVIOUSLY MANY, MANY YEARS NOW. SO LOOKING
AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I SEE EVERY DAY ON CAMPUS, IT'S
LIKE, WELL, I'M PRETTY SURE THEY ALSO NEED TO BUT NOT ON
THE TOP OF THEIR IMPORTANCE LIST. SOME SMALLER THINGS
SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFOREHAND AND TAKEN CARE OF.
YES, YOU CAN MAKE ROOM FOR THE BIGGER CHANGES YOU WANT TO DO.
>>JIM: DO YOU FEEL LEFT OUT? POWERLESS, ON THE BOTTOM?
THEY'RE GOING TO DO TO YOU AND TO THE OTHER STUDENTS JUST
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO? DO YOU FEEL KIND OF LIKE THERE'S
NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS? IT'S TOP DOWN?
>>MALIA: WELL, SURE. IN A WAY, YOU COULD SAY THAT.
THERE'S A HIERARCHY WHERE THE STUDENTS AND WE HAVE THE
ADMINISTRATORS AND I THINK IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK THAT
WAY. BUT THERE'S THAT SAYING, IT'S POWER TO THE
PEOPLE TOO. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR
MONEY AND I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT THEY WOULD SHARE
SOME OF THAT INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE AND
DELEGATE BETWEEN OURSELVES WHAT WE FEEL IS MOST IMPORTANT
VERSUS WHAT THEY FEEL IS MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY GET A
DIFFERENT VIEW AND EXPERIENCE THAN WHAT A US STUDENTS WOULD
EXPERIENCE. >>JIM: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
QUALITY OF THE TEACHING ITSELF. EVERYONE HAS A
FAVORITE PROFESSOR. EVERYONE HAS A FAVORITE
LECTURER. DO YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THAT ARENA THERE?
>> I DO HAVE A HANDFUL OF TEACHERS THAT I REALLY LIKE.
THEY'RE IN MY FIELD ALSO, TEACHERS WHO ARE NOT IN MY
FIELD OF CHOICE IN KINESIOLOGY, THERE'S A LOT OF
SOCIOLOGY TEACHERS THAT I REALLY LIKE.
I'M LEARNING A LOT FROM THEIR SCIENCE PROFESSORS AND
CURRENTLY IN CHEMISTRY. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT
THAT THEY'RE TEACHING ME, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO TEACH IN A
WAY EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND. SO ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE
LARGE LECTURE CLASSES, EVERYONE IS GOING TO ZIP
THROUGH MATERIALS AND EVERYONE LEARNS AT THE SAME
PACE. THEY'RE WILLING TO SAY, HEY, COME AND ASK ME
QUESTIONS IF YOU NEED TO ASK OF THE LECTURE, MAKE
APPOINTMENTS WITH ME, PLEASE, BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO DO WELL
WE WANT YOU TO ACCEL AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY NICE TO
KNOW THAT PROFESSORS CARE ABOUT THAT.
>>JIM: WHAT'S THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING? GETTING
THE CLASSES THAT YOU WANT? I MEAN, YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE A
SENIOR. BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GRADUATE ANY TIME SOON
BECAUSE AVAILABILITY OF THE CLASSES.
>>MALIA: IT'S TRUE. I NOTICE THAT MOST OF THE CLASSES THAT
I NEED IN MY KINESIOLOGY MAJOR GET FULLED VERY QUICKLY.
EVEN THOUGH I'M A SENIOR, WE HAVE PRIORITY, IT'S KIND OF
LIKE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. IF YOU WAIT LIST YOURSELF,
YOU'VE GOT TO BE READY TO GO BACK ON LINE AND WAIT FOR
SOMEONE WHO FELL OUT. THEY'LL SEND YOU AND E-MAIL.
SPOT OPENED FOR THE CLASS YOU WANTED. YOU HAVE TO BE READY
FOR THAT AND GET YOURSELF INTO THAT CLASS. BUT I FEEL LIKE
A LOT OF IT IS CATERED TO SOME MAYBE MORE THE ATHLETES WHO
NEED MORE TIME TO GRADUATE, RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY'RE
MISSING CLASSES AND STUFF. SO I THINK A LOT OF THE
STUDENTS IS AROUND THAT. SO CLASSES ARE READILY AVAILABLE
ONLY TO THOSE PEOPLE THERE AND EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO KIND OF
SHIFT AND MOVE AROUND SO THAT HE THEY CAN GET THEIR CLASSES.
>>JIM: YOU SAID THE MAGIC WORD. YOU SAID ATHLETES.
YOU SAID ATHLETICS. NOW, ATHLETICS IS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I. THERE ARE MANY TEAMS THERE AND
THEY ARE INTERCOLLEGIATE IN WHAT THEY DO. HOW DOES THAT
AFFECT YOU? DOES IT AFFECT YOU AT ALL? DO ATHLETICS
HAVE AN IMPORTANCE ON THE CAMPUS OF A MAJOR UNIVERSITY
WHICH IS STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.
>> >> SO COMPARED TO I THINK I
TOLD YOU EARLIER, OHIO STATE, HUGE BEAUTIFUL GREAT SCHOOL
AND THEY'RE SO COMPETITIVE AND HAVE THESE GREAT ATHLETIC
TEAMS AND THEY HAVE ALL OF THIS MONEY ROLLING IN AND YOU
CAN TELL JUST BY THE WAY EVERYTHING IS STRUCTURED AND
WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE WATCH THEM ON TELEVISION, AND I FEEL LIKE
PERSONALLY, ATHLETICS SHOULDN'T BE THE MAIN FOCUS
EVEN THOUGH IT PROBABLY BRINGS IN THE MOST REVENUE.
UNDERSTANDABLE. EVERYONE LOVES TO SEE THEIR SPORTS
TEAM. BUT RIGHT NOW, I FEEL LIKE JUST UPPING THE QUALITY
OF EDUCATION AND MAKING IT GREAT AND AVAILABLE TO ALL
STUDENTS AND GETTING STUDENTS OUT ON TIME THE WAY THEY'D
LIKE TO I THINK REALLY JUST UPS THE WAY PEOPLE WILL THINK
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY. IT'S LIKE, WELL, YES, UNVERSE TI
EDUCATION COMES FIRST. STUDENT ATHLETES, THAT'S WHY
IT'S CALLED STUDENT ATHLETES. STUDENT'S EDUCATION COMES
FIRST. ATHLETICS WILL FOLLOW BECAUSE WE'RE SECURE
IN OUR EDUCATION NOW. WE CAN SAY, HEY, YOU WANT PLAY SOME
SPORTS NOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR CLASSES, KIND OF OKAY WITH
THAT, GO AHEAD AND PLAY SOME FOOTBALL AND WE CAN PUT SOME
MONEY INTO THAT OR VOLLEYBALL. WHATEVER YOU
WANT TO DO. >>JIM: OR THE COMMUNITY CAN
SUPPORT IT. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ATHLETES ARE
NOT JUST FOR THE STUDENTS. ATHLETICS AT ANY UNIVERSITY
IS CONDUIT INTO THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHERE THE
COMMUNITY LOOKS POSSIBLY AT THE UNIVERSITY FIRST BECAUSE
IT'S OUTS THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S IN THE NEWSPAPER EVERY DAY. IT'S ON TELEVISION
EVERY DAY. IF THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT THAT. AS FAR AS STUDENTS ARE CONCERNED, YOU
HAVE TO PAY A FEE INTO ATHLETICS. TRUE, YOU GET
INTO THE GAMES FREE, BUT IS THAT FAIR?
>> WELL, YOU'RE PAYING FOR YOUR ENTRY, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE
GETTING IN FREE. RIGHT? >>JIM: I SEE. RIGHT.
>> THE FACT THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS EXACTLY.
SOMETIMES THINGS CHANGE. BUT I DO KNOW, IT'S NICE TO
WALK IN AND BE LIKE, HEY, I CAN GO AND WATCH MY VOLLEYBALL
TEAM. WATCH MY TEAM PLAY AGAINST ANOTHER TEAM, BUT YOU
KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS THAT IMPORTANT, I FEEL, IF
UNIVERSITY WANTS TO MAKE OTHER MONEY LIKE IN OTHER
WAYS, THAT'S FINE. IF THEY WANT TO OBVIOUSLY TAKE FROM
THE STUDENTS, WHICH KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE IT, BUT THAT'S
WHAT OUR TUITION IS FOR, BUT I FEEL THAT THE ATHLETICS FEE
IS NECESSARY IN THAT BECAUSE WE LOVE TO GO TO THE SPORTS,
THEREFORE, WE PAY THE ATHLETICS FEE. IF THERE BE
OTHER WAYS, I'M ALL FOR IT. >>JIM: WHEN YOU HAVE TO GIVE
A GRADE FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY, BECAUSE
YOU'VE BEEN EDUCATED IN PRETTY GOOD SCHOOLS. YOU
WENT TO HOLY TRINITY, CATHOLIC SCHOOL WHICH IS NO
LONGER IN EXISTENCE. >> NOT THERE ANY MORE.
>>JIM: YOU WENT TO IOLANI. THEN YOU WENT TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I. IF YOU HAVE TO GIVE A GRADE TO
YOUR EDUCATION, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I, WHAT
WOULD IT BE AT THIS TIME AS WE'RE SPEAKING?
>> NO PRESSURE. COMPARING IT TO LIKE EDUCATION THAT I HAVE
ALREADY RECEIVED FROM LIKE HIGH SCHOOL, IS THAT WHAT
WE'RE SAYING TO RIGHT NOW? >>JIM: YES.
>> >>MALIA: I FEEL THAT THE
UNIVERSITY COULD BE LIKE A C PLUS, SKATING ON B MINUS.
>>JIM: TOUGH GRADER. WHAT ABOUT YOU, YOURSELF, I MEAN,
YOU HAVE TO GET UP -- YOU LIVE IN MY HOUSE, BY THE WAY.
PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT. >> YES.
>>JIM: AND YOU GET UP EVERY MORNING, I MEAN, BEFORE THE
SUN IS UP AND YOU'RE OUT THE DOOR GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY
OF HAWAI'I. YOUR WELL-BEING NOW THAT YOU'RE JUST TURNED
21, YOUR WELL-BEING NOW, DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU'RE ON THE
RIGHT TRACK IN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND THE UNIVERSITY IS
THERE AND DESPITE ALL OF THAT STUFF THAT GOES ON, IT'S
AIDING YOU TO REACH THAT? >> WELL, ONE, IT'S GREAT THAT
I GET TO LIVE AT HOME. YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT MY
COLLEGIATE CAREER, SO FAR, I'VE CHANGED MY MAJOR ABOUT
FOUR TIMES. SO NOTHING IS EVER STRAIGHT. HOWEVER,
LOOKING AT THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE AND THE THINGS THAT
I AM VERY ACTIVE IN, WHICH IS SPORTS, I'M VERY ACTIVE IN MY
HIGH SCHOOL THAT I WENT TO, IOLANI SCHOOL, AND I'M GOING
TO BE A COACH THERE FOR GIRLS PADDLING, SO MY LIFE GROWING
UP WITH YOU, AROUND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I
ATHLETICS, IT'S VERY GEARED TOWARDS THAT, IT'S WHAT I LOVE
TO DO. IT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO. AND RIGHT NOW,
UNIVERSITY HAS KINESIOLOGY MAJOR WHICH AM CURRENTLY IN,
AND I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE THAT DEGREE AND GO TO GRADUATE
SCHOOL. SO YES, IT'S HELPING ME GET TO WHERE I WANT TO.
AND IF ANYONE ELSE SAYS NO, MAYBE I CAN HELP EXPLAIN TO
THEM HOW IT REALLY IS. YOU CAN BE FOCUSED LIKE ANY OTHER
STUDENT AND TAKE WHAT YOU NEED TO TAKE AND TAKE AS LONG AS YOU
NEED TO TAKE SO THAT YOU CAN GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
>>JIM: SPEAKING OF SPORTS, LET'S CHANGE THE SUBJECT HERE
TO AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAD THE NA WAHINE O KEKAI. YOU
PADDLED FROM MOLOKAI TO OAHU. FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH LONG
DISTANCE. BEEN WITH THAT CLUB FOR A LONG TIME IN
PADDLING, THE OAHU HAWAIIAN CANOE RACING ASSOCIATION.
GOLD MEDAL IN OPEN FOURS. SOME OF THE REGATTAS. YOU
ARE A VETERAN PADDLER NOW, GONE FROM MOLOKAI TO OAHU.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, VERY FEW
PEOPLE NOW, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT HAD MANY CANOES.
>> ALMOST 62 CREWS ENTERED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>>JIM: ACCORDING TO THE POPULATION, IT'S VERY FEW
THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE MOLOKAI CHANNEL. YOU HAVE.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT. NOW THAT YOU'VE COME OFF OF THAT
EXPERIENCE THAT YOU REMEMBER THE MOST, IS IT FATIGUE?
>>MALIA: OKAY, WHEN I FIRST THOUGHT ABOUT ENTERING THIS
RACE, I WAS LIKE, THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT. I'VE BEEN
TRAINING FOR IT ALL SUMMER. I HAVE SOME VERY EXPERIENCED
WOMEN WITH ME WHO ARE GOING TO HELP ME THROUGH THIS. THIS
IS GOING TO BE GREAT. WENT TO MOLOKAI FRIDAY BEFORE THE
SUNDAY. WE TRIED TO TAKE IT ALL IN.
IT'S A VERY HUMBLING PLACE. IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
YOU REALLY FEEL THE MANA THAT'S THERE. SO THE DAY WE
WAKE UP AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING. GO TOWN TO HALE
OLONO, GET ALL OF OUR STUFF TOGETHER, HAVING THE
CEREMONY. THEY SEND US OFF. BLESS US. EVERYONE IS REALLY
PUMPED. PUT OUR CANOE IN THE WATER AND PADDLING OUT TO THE
START POINT. FIRST PIECE IS REALLY LOCK. GET TO THE LAO
POINT. ESCORT BOAT CAN GO OFF AND FOLLOWING YOU AND YOU
CAN CHANGE MAKING YOUR CHANGES PAST THAT POINT.
>>JIM: TELL ME ABOUT CHANGES. >> CHANGES, I THINK I DID
ABOUT 10 CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE RACE. EVERY PERSON,
WELL, WILL PROBABLY PADDLE 20 TO 40 MINUTES DEPENDING ON HOW
MANY TIMES YOU MISS A CHANGE. SO IF I WAS ALREADY IN THE
BOAT, MAYBE MY COACH DECIDES, HEY, CAN YOU STAY IN FOR
ANOTHER CHANGE? OKAY, YEAH. ABOUT 20 OR 40 MINUTES WORTH.
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE WATER AND YOU'RE GETTING READY TO GET
INTO THE CANOE, ALL YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IS I NEED TO
GET MY BUTT INTO THE CANOE AS FAST AS I CAN. AND SOMETIMES
YOU TEND TO OVERTHINK IT AND IT WILL GO RIGHT OVER YOU.
AND THEN YOU FEEL REALLY JUNK ABOUT YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU'RE
LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, I JUST MISSED THE CANOE. IT'S OKAY,
IT WILL PICK YOU UP AND DROP YOU IN THE FRONT AGAIN AND YOU
CAN TRY AGAIN. BUT YOU'RE JUST USING ALL OF YOUR
STRENGTH HERE TO PULL YOURSELF UP OUT OF THAT WATER.
AND INTO THAT BOAT. YOU CAN JUST KEEP ON GOING FOR LIKE
FIVE MORE HOURS. AND I REMEMBER THE FIRST TWO HOURS
THAT PASSED, THIS IS IT GREAT, WE'RE IN THE FRONT MIDDLE,
FOLLOWING OUR TOP CREWS RIGHT NOW, THIS IS GREAT. BEHIND
ME, MOLOKAI IS STILL THIS HUGE BIG ISLAND. IT'S BEEN 2
HOURS. YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW SLOW YOU'RE MOVING. EVEN
THOUGH IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE JUST GOING THROUGH THE WATER.
THE CONDITIONS WERE GREAT. AFTER WE REACHED THAT POINT.
ACTUALLY, IT WAS PRETTY HUMID AND HOT. THERE WAS NO WIND.
THE WATER WAS PRETTY FLAT. IT WAS ALMOST DOING A FLAT
WATER RACE FOR THE FIRST HOUR. >>JIM: WHEN YOU MAKE THE
CHANGE, YOU HAVE TO GO OFF SIDE, WHEN THEY PICK YOU UP,
THE OUTRIGGER HAS TO GO OVER YOU AND YOU HAVE TO BE LINED
UP AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID. I GOT TO GET IN THE BOAT REALLY
QUICK BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW CHANCES.
>> YOU'RE GOING FOR JUMP OUT ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE. SO ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF THE BOAT. AND YOU COME IN ON THE OUTRIGGER
SIDE, LEFT SIDE OF THE BOAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
COMING IN ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AMA AND WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION.
YOU GUYS LIKE THIS, NOT THAT GOING TO GO RIGHT OVER.
BETTER TO GET IN ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND GET IN ON THE RIGHT
SIDE. >>JIM: AT WHAT POINT DID OAHU
LOOK BIGGER THAN MOLOKAI? >> MY GOODNESS. PROBABLY
3-AND-A-HALF HOURS INTO THE RACE. YOU CAN START TO SEE
THE EAST PART. YOU CAN START TO SEE KAILUA AND LIKE
MAKAPU'U AND THEN CLOSER AND CLOSER, START TO SEE KOKO
HEAD, AND THEN ONCE YOU HIT PORTLOCK, YOU'RE GAME.
YOU'RE IN YOUR OWN WATER. SO IT'S TIME TO REALLY LIKE FIGHT
IT OUT TO THE LAST 2 HOURS AND MAKE SOME KIND OF LEAD AGAINST
WHOEVER IS BY YOU RIGHT THERE. >>JIM: YOUR TEAM CAME IN WHAT?
>>MALIA: WE HAD FOUR CREWS ENTERED. THOSE THREE MADE
TOP 10, WHICH IS GREAT. WONDERFUL. THEY'RE
COMPETING AGAINST WORLD CLASS PEOPLE. I WAS MORE PART OF
LIKE NOVICE CREW, WHICH IS FINE. WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND
IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. I THINK WE CAME IN 27TH OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OUT OF 61 CREWS. I COULD BE WRONG
BUT. >>JIM: THAT'S NOT GOOD. NOW
THAT YOU LOOK BACK ON IT AS A PADDLER, I KNOW THERE'S SOME
SINGLE RACES COMING UP, THAT'S REALLY THE SPORT THAT
YOU LIKE. I MEAN, YOU DO SURF. YOU DO ALL OF THAT.
BUT PADDLING HAS CAPTURED YOU, HASN'T IT?
>>MALIA: IT REALLY HAS. IT ALLOWED ME TO KIND OF FIND
MY I WANT TO SAY FIND MYSELF, I WOULD SAY FIND MORE OF
CONFIDENCE. IT ALLOWED ME TO BE AMONG PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE
SAME INTERESTS AS I DO. EVERYONE COMES FROM DIFFERENT
BACKGROUNDS. THERE'S NURSES, DOCTORS, LAWYERS,
MECHANICS, WHOEVER. EVERYONE'S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO
GO TO THE WATER AND ENJOY IT. YEAH, OKAY, YOU'RE PADDLING.
AND IT'S HARD WORK, BUT EVERYONE LOVES TO DO HARD WORK
AND EVERYTHING. EVERYONE LOVES TO DO THINGS THAT THEY
LOVE. THAT'S WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT WITH ANYTHING.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WATER SPORTS, ESPECIALLY HERE IN
HAWAI'I, SURFING, SWIMMING, WATER POLO, IS VERY POPULAR
HERE NOW, BUT PADDLING IS THE THING THAT CONNECTS US TO OUR
CULTURE, TO MY CULTURE ALLOWS US US TO EXPRESS OURSELVES AND
SOMETHING THAT WE LOVE TO DO VERY MUCH. IT'S A LOT OF HARD
WORK AND IT'S NOT EASY, BUT WITH THAT, PEOPLE BECOME VERY
TRANSFORMED AND YOU START TO EDUCATE OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT
IT. THAT'S WHAT'S GREAT. >>JIM: YOU HAVE GROWN UP IN A
HOUSE WITH SPORTS ANNOUNCERS. THE OLD GUY, ME, WHO YOU USED
TO HELP ON UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I FOOTBALL GAMES.
WHEN YOU MADE A MISTAKE, WHAT HAPPENED?
>>MALIA: SLAPPED ME ON MY HEAD.
>>JIM: NOT HARD. >>MALIA: NO.
>>JIM: COME ON, GET IT RIGHT. NOW, THE SON HAS TAKEN OVER.
HAVE YOU, BECAUSE OF THAT ENVIRONMENT, I MEAN, IT'S
EVERY DAY. WHERE YOU COME HOME, WE WOULD CRITICIZE HOW
WE DID. AND YOU WOULD PICK ALL OF THIS UP AND YOU WOULD
GO, COME ON, PAPA, YOU WEREN'T THAT BAD, THAT KIND OF STUFF.
DO YOU THINK OF MAYBE GOING INTO SPORTS BROADCASTING OR
TELEVISION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>>MALIA: IS THIS A TRICK QUESTION?
>>JIM: NO. NOT A TRICK QUESTION BUT JUST A QUESTION
THAT ENVIRONMENTALLY, MAYBE I HAD A RIGHT TO ASK IT.
>>MALIA: I DON'T SEE WHY NOT. I THINK I REALLY NEED TO BE
COMFORTABLE STANDING IN FRONT OF CAMERAS AND TRYING TO BE
PERFECT EVERY TIME. THAT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU PICK
UP, OH, YEAH, I LIVE WITH MY GRANDPARENTS AND UNCLE DOES
THIS AND I'M GOOD AT IT. IF IT EVER COMES MY WAY, I'M NOT
GOING TO SAY TO. I'M GOING TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, HEY, IF
THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE SHARE SOMETHING THAT I
KNOW, MIGHT AS WELL GO FOR IT. I DON'T SEE WHY THERE SHOULD
BE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. >>JIM: IF TELEVISION NEWS
EVERY OPENS UP A KINESIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, YOU COULD BE
RIGHT IN THERE. YOU COULD BE RIGHT IN THERE AND SAY, IN THE
KINESIOLOGY DEPARTMENT TODAY, THE GOVERNOR HAD
TROUBLE MOVING HIS KNEES. COULDN'T WALK IN FRONT OF THE
LAWN IN FRONT OF THE STATE CAPITOL. NO, ALL OF THAT IS,
I THINK, A WONDERFUL, I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED YOU. YOU HAVE
SUCH GREAT GRACE. YOU HAVE TALENT. AND NOW, YOU'RE
GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AND WHEN I ASK YOU
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY, YOU ALWAYS TELL ME, NO, THIS IS A
GOOD UNIVERSITY. NOBODY SHOULD LOOK AT IT AND SAY,
THIS IS NOT A GOOD UNIVERSITY. EVERYONE SHOULD GO TO THE
MAINLAND. IF YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO GO TO THE
MAINLAND, YOU'RE GOING TO DRIVE YOUR PARENTS,
GRANDPARENTS AND UNCLES AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO YOUR EDUCATION, YOU'RE GOING TO
DRIVE THEM CRAZY BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH MONEY IT COSTS TO GO
TO A CONTINENTAL SCHOOL. UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I, I
STILL THINK IS A GREAT VALUE. AND FROM WHAT YOU SAID TODAY,
I THINK THAT IT IS A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO BE EDUCATED
HERE LOCALLY BECAUSE IT OPENS THE DOORS LOCALLY. DO YOU
AGREE WITH THAT? >>MALIA: YES.
>>JIM: THANK YOU. I MEAN, THAT'S HOW I FEEL. I THINK
YOU FEEL SAME WAY. >>MALIA: I DO FEEL THE SAME
WAY. I HEAR A LOT FROM PEOPLE WHO I KNOW THAT ARE SAY,
YOU'RE GOING TO U.H., THIS AND THAT. WELL, YOU'RE LUCKY YOU
DON'T HAVE TO SPEND $50,000 A SEMESTER TO BE EDUCATED WITH
THE SAME CLASSES THAT YOU YOU'RE ALREADY TAKING HERE,
SO YOU'RE WELCOME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
HAWAI'I. YOU GET TO LEARN. YOU GET TO APPRECIATE WHERE
YOU ARE BECAUSE PRETTY SURE IF YOU WERE ANYWHERE ELSE, YOU
COULD SAY, HEY, I REALLY LOVE THIS PLACE. I'M GLAD I WENT
HOME. IT'S GREAT. GOOD FOR YOU. BUT THERE'S NO PLACE
LIKE HOME. THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HERE.
>>JIM: IF YOU'RE AWAY, PROBABLY BE HOME SICK.
>>MALIA: OH, YEAH. >>JIM: I THANK YOU FOR COMING
IN TODAY. I KNOW THE THAT WE DISCUSSED THIS FOR A LONG
TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WENT INTO PADDLING, PADDLING
EXPERIENCE AND ALSO UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
EXPERIENCE. YOU'RE A VERY INTELLIGENT YOUNG LADY AND I
THINK THAT SOMEDAY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A LEADER IN THIS
COMMUNITY. SO I WISH YOU WELL AND THANKS FOR COMING IN.
>>MALIA: THANK YOU. CAN I STAY HOME.
>>JIM: YES, YOU CAN. AND NEXT WEEK, I THINK THE KID
WILL BE BACK AND WE CAN HAVE LEAHEY & LEAHEY AGAIN. BUT
THIS WASN'T BAD AT ALL. LEAHEY AND LEAHEY MEZA.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.