Reports of the death of the Haili Men's Club Invitational Volleyball Tournament were highly exaggerated. The number of teams who played in last week's 50th annual celebration of the game — a mind-boggling 250 — was no exaggeration.

Haili is a labor of love that began in 1958 and has touched pretty much every legendary Hawai'i volleyball character. That first year, members of the Haili Boys Club had naturally morphed into the Haili Men's Club. Albert Nahale-a, Tommy Lindsey, Arnold Leilehua Nathaniel and Kihei Brown founded the tournament as a way of extending Christian fellowship through sports and expanding the club's outreach.

It is now one of the longest-running athletic events in Hawai'i and organizers characterize it as the second largest sports event on the Big Island, after the Ironman Triathlon. Teams come from O'ahu — in bunches — along with the Mainland, Guam, Samoa, Japan and Canada.

There were 14 teams in the Haili Gym that first year, and 250 at six sites last week. The previous high was 186 teams. Lyndell Lindsey and her sister Sweetie Osorio, tournament co-directors and Tommy Lindsey's daughters, were stunned at the overwhelming response. Players "came out of the woodwork" of volleyball's storied Hawai'i past.

"The rumor started — I don't know where — that this would be the last year," Lindsey said. "Every year that rumor goes around, but not as bad. People said they wanted to be there for the last one."

As rumors go, it had believable legs. "Uncle Arnold" Nathaniel — or the "last Haili man" as Lindsey calls him — passed away in September, lending fuel to the rampant rumor fire. And, 50 seemed like a nice, round final number.

But the Lindseys, and the extended family that has passed the huge torch through the years, are not ready to retire from Haili — though they have made sure to pass on their valuable knowledge to the next generation.

"This will be the last Haili men's tournament, Lindsey says. "But we're just changing the name. From now on, it will just be the Haili Invitational. Our family does it because of my dad."

The new moniker will be more representative. This year there were 78 junior teams (the first kids' divisions started in 2003) and 78 women's teams.

Beth, Chris and Spencer McLachlin, Cindy Kalama, Charlie Jenkins, Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson, Kalei Kabalis, Sarah Mason, Aven Lee, Alika Williams, Diana McKibbin and Lyman Lacro added their names to a playing roster that has previously featured Hawai'i volleyball royalty such as Robyn Ah Mow, Pete Velasco and Eddie Kalima. Coaches included Hoku Haliniak, Guy Enriques, Pat Gomes, Pedro Velasco III, Nahaku Brown, Allen Allen and Marc Haine.

Rusty Wahine, a diverse group of former Rainbow Wahine, outlasted Sawaiian, 15-12 in the third, to capture the premier Women's AA title. UH All-American Kanoe Kamana'o was the Most Valuable Player and UH-Hilo All-American Fuamatu-Anderson was the Most Outstanding.

Kailua Black, with Eyal Zimet (MVP) and Mikey Thornton (MOP), won the Men's AA title, sweeping Bay Club.

William Kauweaina Kaaa Jr., winning coach in the original tournament, received the 2007 honor for his contributions, joining other legends such as Richard "Longy" Okamoto, Tom Haine, Fred and Carolyn Hiapo, Elroy Osorio, Raymond Rowe, Luella Aina and Sally Kaleohano.

Fittingly, the founders' family monopolized women's masters. Haili won the 30-older division, with Lindsey as player/coach, and 46-older (Golden Masters) division, with Osorio as coach. Those two were the Golden Masters' MOP and MVP.

Lindsey, 57, has seen every Haili and played all but two since she was 12. A broken toe and torn meniscus kept her out.

"People just come for the camaraderie, the fellowship and sportsmanship," she said. "And to compete. I don't know what brings them back again and again, but they say 'It's Haili, I'm going to be there."

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.