SHAWN AKINA MEMORIAL CLASSIC NOTEBOOK : Even Work Can Seem Like Play for Valley Teams in Hawaii

Practice has never been this perfect.

Since arriving here Sunday, Canyon High and Montclair Prep have practiced at Kapiolani Park in balmy 85-degree temperatures accompanied by a refreshing breeze.

At the base of the park’s east side, Diamond Head crater rises ominously. To the south, Waikiki Beach beckons. To the north lie rolling green hills and the Oahu countryside. To the west, the city of Honolulu and its temptations.

Crespi arrived Tuesday afternoon and worked out that evening under the lights and on the artificial turf of the University of Hawaii practice field.

Canyon conducted two-a-days Monday and Tuesday. Montclair Prep practiced twice Monday and once Tuesday. All three teams had light workouts Wednesday.

Color commentary: Canyon’s practice jerseys each are decorated with a rainbow on the sleeves, similar to the uniforms of the University of Hawaii team.

“It was my idea, I hope it wasn’t too frivolous,” said Harry Welch, Canyon’s coach.

Canyon has more activities planned than either Crespi or Montclair Prep. The Cowboys have taken tours of the USS Arizona Memorial and a naval base.

They also saw an elaborate Polynesian show Tuesday night and will take a bus ride around Oahu’s North Shore today.

“The bus tour on game day is deliberate,” Welch said. “I don’t want the kids laying on the beach all day. This way, they’ll be sitting on an air-conditioned bus.”

Crespi toured the Dole Cannery on Wednesday. The Montclair Prep players have spent most of their non-practice time at the beach.

Turf talk: The synthetic surface at Aloha Stadium was replaced a month ago. Kahuku and St. Louis, Hawaiian teams that play Crespi and Canyon tonight, opened their season Saturday with victories at the stadium.

“The turf is nice and springy, and it’s easy to make cuts,” said Doug Semones, the Kahuku coach. “It might make for some breakaway runs.”

A crowd of 10,600 attended Saturday’s games. Skip Akina, organizer of today’s Shawn Akina Memorial Classic, expects about 15,000 for the Canyon-St.Louis finale.

VALLEY FOOTBALL TOP 10 Preseason Poll

Selected by sportswriters of The Times

Rk. Team League 1989 Record 1 Granada Hills West Valley 10-1 2 Canyon Golden 8-4-1 3 Westlake Marmonte 5-6-1 4 Hart Foothill 10-2 5 Quartz Hill Golden 6-5 6 Thousand Oaks Marmonte 11-1-1 7 Taft West Valley 5-5 8 Crespi Mission 7-4 9 Kennedy North Valley 5-7 10 Montclair Prep Alpha 12-1