Lenny Rapozo, the county’s director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, will be among the Kauai All-Stars who will take on the Harlem Ambassadors on Saturday, May 17. “I’ve gotten the mayor to play and also several of the
Lenny Rapozo, the county’s director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, will be among the Kauai All-Stars who will take on the Harlem Ambassadors on Saturday, May 17.
“I’ve gotten the mayor to play and also several of the basketball coaches,” Rapozo, who is coordinating the Kauai All-Stars, said. “It should be a lot of fun.”
Sponsored by the County of Kauai and the Aston Aloha Beach Resort, the showdown will take place in a comedy basketball show the entire family will enjoy, said Char Ravelo, the executive director for Leadership Kauai.
Games will be at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Kauai High School gym.
Proceeds from the Harlem Ambassadors tour will support the leadership development programs and scholarships at Leadership Kauai, Ravelo said.
“Leadership in sports is one of the finest role models for our youth,” Ravelo said. “Individuals gain physical strength, self-confidence, self-esteem along with team-building, communication and collaboration skills.”
Ravelo said Leadership Kauai anticipates sold-out shows because many people are looking forward to this basketball show while having the opportunity to support leadership development.
The Harlem Ambassadors offer a unique brand of Harlem-style basketball, featuring high-flying slam dunks, dazzling ball-handling tricks, hilarious comedy routines, music, dancing and games for the keiki.
“At our shows, we want the kids to know that they are part of our team, too,” said Coach Lade Majic. “We invite as many kids as we can to come sit on the bench, have a front-row seat during the shows and get involved in all of the fun stuff we do.”
The Harlem Ambassadors have performed more than 2,400 professional comedy basketball games as fundraising and community entertainment events for nonprofit organizations, the U.S. military and community service groups starting in 1998.
These events have helped raise more than $9 million for communities in all 50 states and 20 countries around the world.
Tickets are available at Kmart, Vicky’s Fabrics in Kapaa, the Leadership Kauai office, or online at BrownPaperTickets.com-Harlem Ambassadors on Kauai.
Email info@leadershipkauai.org, or call 246-8727 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
