KILAUEA — North Shore and Eastside residents are rebuilding a youth soccer league, and they want parents and players to join them.
American Youth Soccer Organization Region 941, which runs from Wailua to Ha‘ena, held its last season prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, the volunteer-operated league is getting ready to return to form: Registration has already opened for its fall 2022 season, which begins Aug. 1. Registration closes July 15.
More community participation is needed, according to Regional Commissioner Nikole Pacheco, who describes AYSO as a less-competitive alternative to on-island club soccer.
“AYSO’s whole deal is, all kids can play, your skill level doesn’t matter. It’s to learn and to have fun,” she told The Garden Island. “They learn how to be a team player, they know how to win and, more importantly, they know how to lose without somehow emotionally damaging themselves.”
AYSO Region 941 is now seeking volunteer coaches, referees and a Hanalei town manager.
The town manager facilitates local coaches’ needs and ensures paperwork, like background checks, are complete.
Pacheco, who was involved in her children’s sports leagues as a then-single mother, said volunteerism is less daunting than it may seem.
“I couldn’t get both of my boys to different practices at different locations, to games at different times on the same day,” she said. “And by volunteering, I actually got to make the schedule fit for me, so that I could be present.”
Pacheco’s employer, Monat, named her one of its 2021-22 Gratitude Ambassadors for community service, and has promoted the effort to revamp the local AYSO.
Other, on-island supporters include the nonprofit Keala Foundation and the county Department of Parks & Recreation.
Because AYSO Region 941 is limited to the island’s northeast quadrant, its volunteers are directing Lihu‘e, South Shore and Westside parents to Keala, which offers free CrossFit programs to children.
The foundation, headquartered in Po‘ipu, is getting an ocean-safety program and wilderness camp off the ground as well.
“It’s just about a call to action for collaboration over competition and getting all of our different programs to work together to uplift this island in a major way,” Pacheco said.
The Keala Foundation recently donated $15,000 to AYSO, so the league could purchase soccer goals to be installed in Kilauea.
However, Pacheco and AYSO did not simply accept the check.
Instead, the Keala Foundation sponsored Pacheco’s participation in its Walk & Paddle fundraiser, held last month.
The two-day event saw participants paddle around the Na Pali Coast from Ha‘ena to Polihale before hiking around the Westside.
“She came out and earned it,” Keala Foundation Founder Aaron Hoff told The Garden Island. “She went the extra mile for her kids.”
The county parks department has allocated $103,000 to replace all soccer goals in county parks islandwide, according to department Director Patrick Porter.
Several goals are now on order, and will replace goals needing immediate attention.
“The department is in the initial phase of evaluating all existing goals islandwide and, once complete, a formal replacement plan will be developed,” Porter told The Garden Island in an email.
“Youth sports wouldn’t be possible without all of the hardworking volunteers,” he continued. “Mahalo to all the coaches, parents and supporters for putting in their time and effort for our keiki.”
• Info: AYSO player and volunteer registration: ayso941.org; Keala Foundation participant and volunteer registration: kealafoundation.com
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Scott Yunker, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or syunker@thegardenisland.com.
