Hawaii volleyball: Mahalo and aloha
The photo is from 1987 NCAA womens volleyball championship at Blaisdell With future UH broadcaster Tiff Wells
It was the start of wonderful times sitting courtside together
We have been the only mother-son combo in Sports media for over 10 years
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Good morning all,
Apologize for not putting up an earlier explanation of the blog going dark. I was on the mainland last week for my mother’s funeral and all the abnormalities that went along with trying to do the proper arrangements during these extraordinary times.
I’d like to thank everyone for the many years of participating on the blog. You have made it what it is and enhanced the volleyball experience for everyone.
This likely is my last post. After being with the Star-Bulletin/Star-Advertiser since 1981, I have been furloughed, which means indefinite unpaid leave. There is no guarantee that I ever will be able to return to the job I have always loved.
I am really identifying with all the athletes whose seasons have been cut short, particularly the seniors, whose careers likely are over.
Don’t have anything else to say except thank you for your years of participation on VolleyShots.
Mahalo for reading.
Aloha
A hui hou.
Cindy Luis
Tough times are hitting us all & last night, it hit my family.
I feel for all who are dealing w/ this too.Mom taught me to work hard,to pursue the job w/ passion,to help #GrowTheGame,to have fun with it.
That is my continued promise to you the fan & to you mom @CindyLuis_SA pic.twitter.com/mABhDkQBCX— Tiff (@tifferspxp) March 25, 2020
You're truly the best in the biz @CindyLuis_SA. Wishing you good luck and we hope to see you back for #WarriorBall21. pic.twitter.com/vNXK6wrNRi
— Hawaii Men’s Volleyball (@HawaiiMensVB) March 26, 2020
You deserve better than this. I have been reading you for the whole of my life. Your tenure with the Star-Bulletin coincides with my lackluster stint in Little League Baseball. Every day I would pick up the afternoon paper at my grandmother’s house across the street from Waialae Elementary, read the sports page, then walk to practice at Kilauea Park. Thank you.
First off, my condolences for your loss. Mama had done right with you and you’ve passed it on to Tiff. Gotta love our Mamas for everything. Secondly, Mahalo for everything you have done for UH. Being in Colorado, my link to the UH volleyball and to all UH sports for that matter has been through you and the rest of the blog masters. I’m sorry that it has come to this. Last but not least, I can’t say it enough…MAHALO, Take Care, and God Bless!!
Condolences on the loss of your mother. I am so sorry to hear that you are leaving the SA. Your reports and articles have meant so much and are usually one of the first sections I check whenever I access this site. Thank you for everything you have done to make UH Volleyball coverage so interesting and informative. You will be missed. Aloha and Mahalo!
Condolences for the loss of your mom. Take care and aloha. You will be missed.
The whole situation is heartbreaking, my thoughts are with you and your family.
Hopefully this isn’t the end – if I can help in anyway, I will.
Mahalo Cindy for the dedication to us volleyball fans. I remember when you first started to write for the paper. We can not thank you enough. Very hopeful that you will be brought back from furlough. It is an on-going unfortunate reality of our changing times.
Perhaps you can start a YouTube channels and continue what you are doing. They are many who will follow you and at certain levels of readership and subscribers there comes rewards. Your legacy continues especially through your son.
All the very best!
My condolences to you and your ohana on the passing of your mom. Never easy losing a loved one. Secondly, thank you for your many years of dedication. Your coverages have always been on point and will be sorely missed. Hopefully, this furlough will end soon and warrant an immediate return. Take care Cindy and malama pono.
Sorry about the passing of your mother.
These are very stressful times for all of us and hope that you come back from being furloughed. We enjoyed reading your comments and your knowledge of the sport.
Thank you for always supporting our UH volleyball teams.
Everyone stay healthy!
Thank you for your years of dedication and service to the volleyball and journalism community. You have truly made impact through your work! I remember in high school, I would always read your blog to stay updated on everything volleyball related. You have been an integral part of my volleyball journey and I can’t thank you enough! A hui hou Cindy and hope to hear from you soon!
Sorry for your loss, Cindy. Thank you so much for all your coverage and insight on UH volleyball. I hope you get to come back.
My deepest sympathy upon losing a parent and having to deal with it at this difficult time. I pray that you find strength and power at this most difficult time.
Mahalo for your tenure on Volleyshots (and I don’t think this is good-bye). I will see you in your seat on the sideline in September. You have taught me so much about the game and how to find positivity in the most dire of circumstances.
Good luck to you as you navigate your journey. A hui ho.
Sorry to hear of your loss Cindy. But a huge thank you for all you have given to everything volleyball has meant to Hawaii. In your time the game has gone beyond being a sporting event. It is revered for being and representing so much of what is good and wholesome in Hawaii. A family gathering with legacies and memories that last a lifetime. Your ability to put into words all of that and more will be missed and appreciated for a long time. I’m still hopeful to see you back at he desk when things resume this season or next.
So Sorry that so many losses have befallen you and your family…
Praying, No doubt, this too, shall pass,
And the Wonderful Beacons that You, Tiff, are …are such a large and integral part of the Magic that IS HAWAI’I Volleyball… ( I second) Your Nomination to that Circle of Honor and look forward to your happy return in brighter days… Blessings Upon Blessings Cindy… The Size of The Obstacles is a Measure of The Person and clearly you are a Bright, Positive and Patient Light in Our Lives… when I read some of the ‘lesser-enlightened’ posts and how YOU (and our great coaches and programs) help elevate their understanding, it is clear to me, you are a significant cog in the wheelhouse that allows such great programs and loving, knowledgeable fans…
Hoping HSA survives and you (and Tiff) continue to shine Your Light Upon Our Programs and Lives…
For Now, I hope & pray, that same Enlightenment helps in dealing with and passing through such a difficult time……
Mahalo, Aloha, A Hui Hou…
Mahalo to you Cindy. Condolences about your mom. Hope to have you back. Great coverage of V-Ball over the years.
Much mahalo Cindy. for years of covering UH athletic. Aloha and take care….Ok Tiff, carry-on for your mom and UH supporters. Create your legacy…
Every morning I wake up in San Diego to my cup of coffee and turn on my laptop to see if “Cindy has something to say”. There is no replacing your love and dedication to the game. If you’re ever back home in San Diego, stop by the Ocean Beach VB Courts and we can “Talk Story”. Wishing you the best. JIm, Kimo and Pua Tuyay – aka BOOKUMDANOALOHA
Condolences on the loss of your mom & Tiff’s tutu. Mahalo for the years of wonderful stories in the HSB and then Star-Advertiser. I was concerned for the sports section staff when NBA, MLB, NCAA started cancelling. Sad to see your by-line disappear, I have confidence it will reappear in some way, somewhere, some time in the future.
Malama pono and a hui hou
Sorry about your mom.
I hope this is only a short-term thing. I’ve continued to pay the ever-increasing rates for my SA subscription in hopes that I’m helping make it possible for the SA to maintain a crew of local reporters like you.
First of all, terribly sorry for your loss of one of your family members and how this could be your final time covering the volleyball programs on here.
I was probably gonna bring up something that was mentioned last week on KHON2 Sports saying Keoni-Lei Akana granting a release from USC (The team that she was planning on playing volleyball for before the coaching change occurred) and what your reaction was upon seeing this, but seeing this article, maybe not the best time to do so…
But yeah, this could raise a bit of concern with who your replacement could be to cover the women’s volleyball, men’s volleyball and (Possibly?) beach volleyball articles. It is going to be a bit hard to find a replacement for you, Cindy. Especially because you’ve been a veteran for the Star-Advertiser for quite a long time. I think we, as a community on here, can, and will respect your decision. Best of luck on your well-being and stay safe!
Condolences to you & my bud Tifferz on the loss of your mother.
Thank you for your dedication to the state of Hawaii and bringing us award winning coverage of our beloved local sports teams. I am confident that when this is all over that you’ll be taken care of after taking care of so many!
Condolences for your loss. She must have been a great woman to raise a person like you. I’ve been following your quality, insightful, and spot-on coverage for years. I have never posted because Hawaii volleyball fans are so akamai and I am not so much about volleyball. So I relied on your insights and your readership. All the best to you. Hoping this will be a blessing in disguise for you–meaning, leading to something even better for you. I know you bleed UH green but you can still do that as a fan wherever life leads you. Please know that you were appreciated by so many like me who just enjoyed reading and following and not posting.
Thank you for playing you’re part in making Hawaii volleyball the crown Jewel of NCAA volleyball.
Thank you for all your kind words
Although they said this is temporary it IS indefinite unpaid leave. Have no idea if or when I will be back.
Someone will cover the sport if it isn’t me.
If you folks have tried to reach me at my star-advertiser email, all those furloughed have been cut off from accessing it.
Aloha for now. Cindy
21. thank you for your comments, particularly since you don’t normally do this
to address the comment of “bleeding UH green.”
I don’t. my job is to provide objective coverage of whatever event I am at. It just happens that I have been covering mostly UH doing my 39 years at the paper. Given that I also covered UH men’s and women’s basketball, it is safe to say that outside of Rich Sheriff and some of his crew I have spent more time in the arena than anyone else in the media over 25-plus years.
Don’t know if this is the end with the paper. wait and see mode.
So sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. Always not easy losing any family member, especially a parent.
Thank you Cindy for all of your excellent coverage of UH sports over the years. Always looked forward to your articles and blogs, especially the past few years with men’s volleyball being in contention of a championship. It may have been a “job” to you, but it was great for us to read about the happenings with the programs, coaches and players.
Continue to be well and stay safe and hopefully we can get back to “normal” soon.
A Hui Hou……
So sorry about your mother passing away. I join all the readers in my sending condolence to you. Since Washington State had so many elderly fall victim to Coronavirus it could have struck her as well. I will sorely miss your column and truly hope that it will be restored once sports are resurrected. Volleyball as always my favorite sport so all the more so I miss your column. Appreciated seeing photos of you and your son, Tiff, past and more current. Take care.
Hope you’ll be back in the chair after all this is pau. You brought special insight and passion to the sports you covered. Best wishes and aloha,
Cindy, so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. Also sad to think of you not reporting on UH Volleyball. I too hope that is a temporary situation, but if you decide to explore other opportunities, then I wish you the best and echo everyone else’s sentiments of thanks and appreciation for your insights and straight forward analysis of the programs! As well as your adept handling of some of the “crazies” who have visited this blog over the years!
Our prayers and condolences for your loss, both with your mom and the newspaper. Since I returned to Hawaii in 2009, my love for Wahine Volleyball had started with reading your column and blog. Your insights and writing ability made me voracious to know everything and anything about the sport, the players, staff and your insights. Much respect for your son Tiff as well; he has that talent where he is able to give you soooo much information in a short amount of time and still understand exactly what he said. I hope this not aloha oe, but just a pause in the action.
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.” -Flavia Weedn
Mahalo nui loa for all you’ve done for us! Hope to see you again soon!