By David Lichtenstein
Today is the 20th anniversary of the crash of flight 1712 that stole the lives of eight Molokai High School volleyball players, their coach and athletic director.
Lloyd Gilliom donated a stone plaque that was placed outside the high school and accepted and formally blessed yesterday in a moving ceremony that included the family and friends of those who were lost in the tragic crash in Halawa Valley.
Also attending the ceremony was this year’s girls volleyball team that ended the regular season as Maui Interscholastic League champions with a perfect 14 and 0 record. Head coach Matt Helm, brother of Natalie Helm who died on that fateful day in 1989, spoke at the ceremony. As the team prepares for the state tournament in Oahu this weekend, Helm told his players that, “When times get tough, it’s good to know that angels are looking down on you.” Helm said the team has dedicated this season to those on flight 1712 and the team plans to represent the school and Molokai and make them proud.
Larry Helm, Matt’s father, said that the community of Molokai is like one ohana and the whole island suffered 20 years ago. Larry Helm said that he would like his daughter and the others to be remembered in a happy way.
Seven of the players on the 1989 team were not on flight 1712 from Maui to Molokai. Later that week they went to Oahu to represent Molokai in the state tournament. One of those players, Solene Duvauchelle, said it was hard to play but getting through it was a big thing. Yesterday’s event brought back a lot of memories, said Duvauchelle. Every year the members of the team get together on the anniversary, pile into a car and visit the gravesites.
When the Farmer girls travel to Oahu today they will be the second seed in the state tournament behind two-time defending state champion Hawaii Baptist. Tomorrow Molokai plays the winner of the Honoka’a and University High match at 5 p.m. at Radford. If the Farmers make it through the semifinals on Friday they play for the division II championship at the Stan Sheriff Center at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Congratulations Farmers, whatever happens in the state tournament you make us all proud.
The surviving members of the 1989 Molokai High School volleyball team with coach Billy Dudoit
Filed under: Schools
What a beautiful article:) Today we will celebrate their lives & remember all the good memories.