KALAHEO — People are anxious to get out and do something, said Melanie Okamoto of the county Department of Parks &Recreation.
“We teach a beginner’s pickleball class Thursday mornings at the Kalena Park with Chad Koga,” Okamoto said. “The gyms are full with classes, and Lihu‘e is convenient for kupuna who don’t want to drive too far.”
Okamoto was one of several DPR staff, along with Bronson Carvalho, who facilitated the ongoing basketball games Saturday on two courts at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center featuring Mini Hoopsters, or kindergarten and first grade players, and the Jr. Hoopster, or grades two and three.
“We’ve just got this weekend remaining,” said Ku‘ulei Takashima, the Kekaha Neighborhood Center site leader. “Mini Hoopster games start at 8 a.m. and run until 10:45 a.m., followed by the Jr. Hoopsters starting at noon and wrapping up following the 2:45 p.m. games.”
Combined, the two divisions include about 170 youngsters getting familiar with the game of basketball. These keiki form the Westside A, Westside C, Westside D, Steady Drip, Kaulupono A, Sharpshooters, Mini Bandits, Westside B, Mini Warriors, Thunder and Kaulupono B in the Mini Hoopsters group.
“This is good,” said Kaulupono coach Bobby Kamakele while waiting on his double-header. “They listen to us coaches, and it’s good that they want to work together with us so the kids can play.”
The Jr. Hoopster program includes teams Westside A, Steady Drip, Storm, Lynx, Kaulupono, Sharpshooters, Isle Hoops, Warriors B, Warriors A and Westside B.
“This is the next generation,” said Lynx coach Clarence Sales, whose daughter recently graduated from Kaua‘i High School and is currently playing collegiate basketball.
“This is the future of Lihu‘e girls basketball,” said Storm coach Max Manera, who also coaches several teams participating in the Eastside Basketball program.
Players and spectators, including parents and coaches, participate in accordance with rules governing the spread of the novel coronavirus and its variants that closed down these types of gatherings for the past two years. These include the wearing of face masks, directional entrance and exits, and more.
“We’re adapting,” Okamoto said. “Everyone wants things like before COVID. But it doesn’t appear that the bug will go away soon. We want to have physical activity, and this is adjusting so we can have the physical activity and still be safe.”
Okamoto said there will be Hoopster programs for the older children starting in the near future.
