Free keiki hoops clinics across islands
Free basketball clinics are coming across the 808 state as Hawai’i Hilo men’s basketball coaches Kaniela Aiona and Steve Kinder will embark on a journey to six islands this upcoming week to spend time teaching keiki fundamentals skills, drills and words of wisdom.
The clinics are set to run May 17-22 and are open to boys and girls in grades 5-8 and will be held on the west side of the Big Island in Kealakekua, central Maui in Kahului, south Moloka’i in Kaunakakai, central Lana’i in Lana’i City, Honolulu on O’ahu and east Kaua’i in Kapa’a.
“We are excited to touch down and connect with the youth basketball community across the state next week,” sixth-year Vulcans head coach Aiona said. “Basketball has been a tool for positive living here in the islands for several generations and it is our turn to pay it forward and do what we can to help grow the game. As it turns to summer, we think the timing is right to help them kick off summer with words of encouragement and habits to incorporate in their daily lives.”
Waimea native and Honoka’a alum Aiona recently wrapped up his fifth season as head coach of the Vulcans Men’s Basketball program, making a fourth-consecutive trip to the six-team Pacific West Conference Championships postseason tournament. Aiona began coaching shortly after completing a four-year playing career at Webster University — which he was later inducted as part of their 2024 athletics hall of fame class. Aiona has over 20 years as a collegiate coach and also served as head coach of Menlo College from 2014-2020.
Kinder joined the Vulcans coaching staff when Aiona returned to the Big Island in 2020. The San Diego native spent nearly 30 years at Cal Poly Humboldt as a student-athlete, assistant and head coach. As head coach, Kinder captured three conference championships and was inducted into the Lumberjacks Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020.
Limited sign-ups available for each clinic. Please contact the respective person listed to sign up and receive more information. Full schedule and contact information listed below.
Coach Jimmy Yagi Vulcans Basketball Camp: Hawai’i Hilo is set and ready to host another edition of the Coach Jimmy Yagi Vulcans Basketball Camp slated for later this summer on July 21-24 at both the Pana’ewa Park Gym and the on-campus UH Hilo Vulcan Gymnasium. More information with camp registration/waiver forms available at HiloAthletics.com/camps. The annual camp is open to keiki in grades 3-12 with max registration capped at 220 participants.
Vik Queens, Ka Makani finish at states
Two Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) girls water polo teams wrapped up their 2025 seasons last week on Oahu in the state tournament.
BIIF champion HPA fell 15-7 against Kamehameha-Kapalama on May 8, moving to the consolation bracket. Keira Brewer and Maile Imonen led Ka Makani with hat tricks, while teammate Kaili Wood scored one of her own.
The Warriors were led by Lailuakamahina Wong with seven goals, Ava Carlson with five and Kaya Pascual, Elise Jubilee Kamanu and Kalea Pascual with one apiece.
HPA then moved to the consolation bracket, where it fell 8-6 to Kaiser on Friday.
BIIF runner-up Hilo lost 19-2 to eventual champion Punahou in the quarterfinals on May 8, also moving to the consolation field. Terangi Moleni produced the Vik Queens’ only offense with two goals.
Lauren Teruya led the Buffanblu with five goals, Kailoa Kerber and Synnove Robinson with three goals each, Logan Davidson and Jayden Ching with two goals each and Zoe Pang and Lauren Weldon with one apiece.
Hilo then won the opening consolation match 10-7 over Baldwin on Friday, but then fell 6-5 to Kaiser the next day.
