The Hawaii Tourism Authority, Association of Volleyball Professionals and AVPFirst, the nonprofit youth programming arm of the AVP Pro Tour, have teamed up on a statewide initiative to provide 17 beach volleyball clinics across six Hawaiian islands from Aug. 19 through Sept. 22.
Both HTA and AVPFirst are working with the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, state Department of Education and local parks, providing coaches, equipment and skills clinics.
The clinics will be led by current AVP pros, along with Kevin Wong, an Olympian, six-time AVP champion, NBC analyst and founder of Hawaii’s Spike & Serve Club, and Lia Young Hunt, former professional AVP beach volleyball player and current coach at Outrigger Canoe Club, and University of Hawaii beach volleyball staff and athletes.
Underserved communities from all over the Hawaiian islands will be able to form their passion for beach volleyball while working on team-building and individual skills with top coaches in AVPFirst’s Community Corner Clinics.
The Kauai clinic is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, on Kalapaki Beach in Lihue.
“The AVP Pro Tour and AVPFirst are honored to join forces with exceptional organizations in Hawaii to provide boys and girls on the Hawaiian islands a unique opportunity to discover and develop beach volleyball skills in the coming month, and thrilled that renowned athletes like Kevin Wong, Lia Young Hunt and a number of current AVP pros will be joining us in this important initiative,” said Donald Sun, AVP CEO.
“We at the AVP believe in planting roots that leave a lasting mark in all we do, and are proud to provide equipment to the Boys & Girls Clubs to help contribute to their success for years to come, and hope that this will become a lasting tradition in Hawaii,” he added.
HTA is supporting this initiative to enhance beach volleyball in the communities across the state. These clinics are free for the children to attend, thanks to tourism dollars from the transient accommodations tax.
Beach volleyball’s most likely origins began in 1915 on the beaches of Waikiki, making it the perfect place to continue the legacy and offer the opportunity to begin, learn and develop skills for kids in all areas of Hawaii.
“It is important to partner with organizations that have a positive impact on the community. This meaningful partnership with AVPFirst will give children across the state the opportunity to explore their interest in beach volleyball by learning from some of the best,” said HTA President and CEO Chris Tatum.
“The people of Hawaii come first, and I’m glad we’ve found a way for beach volleyball to give back to Hawaii the way Hawaii gave to beach volleyball, “ said Mufi Hannemann, Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association president and CEO and former mayor of Honolulu. “Olympians, world champions and AVP champions have all come from Hawaii, and we must continue to invest in the future of our residents.”
For anyone interested in taking part in any of the upcoming clinics, visit Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii’s website, bgch.com.
The free AVP Pro Tour will also culminate its 2019 season Sept. 20-22 at the AVP Hawaii Open presented by HTA on the Fort DeRussy beachfront in Waikiki.
