Volcano notwithstanding, Hilo’s Paradise Roller Girls pulled off the 2nd Annual Big Island Brawl last month, with roller derby teams from across the state competing. O‘ahu’s spunky team, Pacific Roller Derby, was there, and once a month they invite their Honolulu fans to a game. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa offers this report from the Coast Guard’s Hideaway Club at Kalaeloa.
Normally you’d need a Department of Defense ID to access the aptly named Hideaway Club here at Kalaeloa airport. The old style, kind of nautical bar area opens up to a basketball court, breezy and baking in the sun. A tented area is filling up alongside the court, where the women of Pacific Roller Derby are just starting to warm up.
“The girls are playing offense and defense at the same time. It’s full contact. “
Teresa Shimizu, aka Windward Widow, is a roller derby referee. She played one season with Pacific Roller Derby, and now appreciates being in the game, without getting knocked down. How it works: A team makes points by having its lone jammer circuit the ring—blockers both hinder and make way.
Shimizu: They take some mean hits. But they do break the rules so that’s why we’re out there.
“I was terrible as a kid in the skating rink. I always fell and I always cried and I always went running to my mom.”
Dusty Berard, aka Dirty Dixie, says it took a year to learn to skate safely, then, her eyes were opened at RollerCon in Las Vegas.
Dixie: It’s international. It’sempowering women and children around the world now.
Dixie says her husband originally told her about Pacific Roller Derby—she had done contact sports before, and was a cross-fit enthusiast.
Dixie: That, and I think it’s just because I’m a larger person. I’m 5’10”, 250 pounds, nobody wants to get hit by that right?
Now Dixie calls her husband the “Derby Widow.” Nicknames proliferate here, just as participation expands into the family. Maniac Monkey’s husband, for example, who is a referee, is nicknamed Darth Zebra.
On this particular Saturday, there’s a crowd of maybe 50 supporters enjoying the camaraderie. July is dark, but games are planned here at the Hideaway August 25, September 29, and November 3, 2018. Games start at 4, pay $10 at the door, and non-military need to sign up to be put on the guest list to enter. Email for your tickets here.
It’s pretty sunny, but tradewinds are up, and the gals have wisely secured a beer sponsor, making the refreshments quite affordable. Fans just bring a chair and chill. If you get inspired, the gals will set you up.
“Anybody can join, and we have skates you can borrow until you can afford to get your own. We wear kneepads, elbow pads, wrist guards, helmets, and mouth guards.”
Ailsa Horkey, aka Heidi Doom, is in charge of new recruits. She says you can borrow everything—except the mouth guards. They practice weekly in Papakolea and Mililani.
Doom: We’re all about women supporting other women, exercise, health, and way cheaper than therapy…
Some remember the heyday of roller derby in Honolulu, gals all elbows tearing around the banked track at Civic Auditorium in the 1960’s. This is quite different, actually. Pacific Roller Derby, a couple dozen members strong, formed in 2008, and is a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association that promotes the sport around the world.
Shimizu: You come, and you think, this looks fun! And you try it and you just get hooked.
It was Jedi 199, Siths 187
Darth Maul and some storm troopers were there, by the way. There’s no disputing, a good time was had by all.
