February’s King Auto Center/KIF Student Athletes of the Month both have at least two things in common: They love paddling and dream of returning to Kaua’i after college, to “grow old” paddling. Kaua‘i High School senior Ali Jackson and Waimea
February’s King Auto Center/KIF Student Athletes of the Month both have at least two things in common: They love paddling and dream of returning to Kaua’i after college, to “grow old” paddling.
Kaua‘i High School senior Ali Jackson and Waimea High School junior Shawn Yokote have earned student athlete of the month honors for their abilities in the canoe and in the classroom.
Born in Colorado, Jackson’s family moved to Kaua‘i when she was a youngster. She became a part of the Kaua‘i High School swimming team, but she gave up swimming and knew that her love was really in the canoe, with paddle at hand.
As a first year paddler, Jackson fit perfectly in seat #2 and as team captain, she led her team to a KIF championship.
“Ali is a great leader with a great attitude and she has good rhythm,” Kaua‘i High head coach Doneen Stokes said.
Jackson doesn’t only perform as an athlete, she is also just as good with the books, as she currently boasts a 3.5 GPA. Jackson plans to head back to the Rocky Mountain State to attend the University of Colorado. However, before going to college, she will travel to Idaho as soon as she graduates to teach river-rafting.
Winning the King Auto Center/KIF Student Athlete of the Month award came as a surprise to Jackson.
“When I found out that I won the award, I thought they chose the wrong girl,” Jackson said.
Although Jackson loves the water and the outdoors, she still found time to help contribute on the court.
The Kaua‘i High School senior is also a member of the KIF champion Red Raider girls basketball team.
For Menehune paddler Shawn Yokote, paddling is a family affair. Yokote’s mom, Lorna Dela Cruz, who is an avid paddler, introduced him to the sport.
Only a junior, Yokote mans the #3 or #4 position for the KIF champion Waimea Menehune squad.
Learning about his honor as the King Auto Center/KIF student-athlete of month, Yokote seemed just as surprised as Jackson.
“I just found out about this award yesterday afternoon, so I still haven’t really thought about it, but it’s great,” Yokote said.
Menehune head coach Kane Turalde thinks the award is well-deserved.
“Shawn is a great leader, who kept the crew together and I’m very proud of him,” Turalde said.
Yokote is so committed to his sport that during the state championships, he vowed to give up eating, at least to prepare more for the races.
“I remember during our state meet and a time when we were about to leave practice to eat dinner and Shawn wanted to skip the meal in order to get more practice in,” Turalde said.
Nevertheless, Yokote has one more year to showcase his talents in the canoe. After high school, the Menehune plans to attend UH-Manoa, but like Jackson, a paddling life on Kaua‘i is the main goal.
