Ke Aupuni Hawaii Athletics, an 18U boys basketball team representing Hawaii, recently won the Pacific Unity U18 Summer Series in Haida Gwaii, a tournament in Canada.
In Haida Gwaii, Ke Aupuni Hawaii Athletics played against teams representing communities such as Haida Gwaii, Maori communities and Nuxalk Nation.
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Ke Aupuni Hawaii Athletics started off win a men's team and remain the only FIBA certified Hawaiian National Team.
“Going to Haida Gwaii is an exciting experience for me and the team because it’s the first 18U team to come from Hawaii and represent something bigger than us," said Keawe Malama, one of the players on the team. "We just hope we can make people here proud.”
Players on the men's team in the past included names such as Derrick Low, Rashaun Broadus and Ako Kaluna. The program's foray into Canada was the first for the U18 team, and the organization's U18 girls team will travel in October.
“I think anytime you travel, it just opens up your eyes, so I think the experience of traveling and having that pilina between your teammates, and the common variable is you get to get your eyes opened up, like someone across the world plays basketball just like I do, they put in the work just like I do," boys head coach Justin Santos said. "Just the learning experience."
Hawaiian heritage is not required to join the team. Players need to either be born in Hawaii or have a parent or grandparent who was.
Following a riveting display by the United States basketball team at the Paris Olympics, players on the team understand how much pride one should take in representing their home.
“It’s just very different when they’re able to represent their nation and represent their lahui," Ke Aupuni Hawaii Athletics president Kawika Villa said. "It is a great honor for the Olympians and as the Hawaiian Kingdom, we are not allowed to participate in the Olympics. As we saw in surfing, we just want everyone to be proud and strive to serve the Hawaiian Kingdom as much as they would if they were playing for another national team, as is they were in the Olympics.
“For us, the representation is what’s important. For the Hawaiian Kingdom to be represented internationally is the goal and the main purpose of our trips. For them to go up and share the Hawaiian culture, for them to absorb cultures from other parts of the world is the most important thing. Wins are great, but this is the national team. We know these guys can play. Exposing them to international travel, international cultures, languages, and also the pride of them sharing where they come from, that is the most important part of our trips.”