WAIMEA — Last Thursday, nine Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA) cheerleaders joined 14 other cheer teams from around the nation to perform in the 40th annual Holiday Bowl halftime show in front of 65,000 fans in San Diego.
“I got chills halfway through our performance because it was such an unbelievable, life-changing experience,” said cheer member Camille Helmuth. “It gave me great pride to represent my state, my school and myself at such a big event.”
To kick off the Bowl, the HPA cheer team also participated in “America’s Largest Balloon Parade” — the Port of San Diego Parade.
Michigan State beat Washington State in the post-season NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game, officially known as the San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) Holiday Bowl.
Since 1978, the Bowl has been played annually at SDCCU Stadium. Well-known choreographer, Dee Caspary, returned to create the eight-minute halftime dance montage that honors this history. He previously choreographed the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Liberty Bowl halftime shows.
Cheerleading made a recent come back at HPA after being on a hiatus since the mid-80s.
“The girls have been working tirelessly with the cheer coaches at this routine,” MJ Allison, HPA’s head cheer coach, noted. “They were very excited and honored to have been chosen to take part in this special, once in a lifetime event.”
HPA had the only cheer team represent Hawaii at the Holiday Bowl. Marching bands from Lahainaluna High School on Maui and the Kauai All-Island Band also took take part in the event.
“To perform in front of 65,00 fans was out of this world. It wasn’t just the people in the stadium; it was also all our friends and family watching and I believe that’s what made this a special experience,” cheer member Zine Hassfurther said.