04/05/2023
This picture is my why
With Much Aloha & Respect
Reflections of a PAL coordinator:
I was born and raised in Waimanalo but I went to school outside of my community in Kailua and then in Kalihi. My daughter was born and raised here and also attended school outside of Waimanalo at Kula Kaiapuni, then Kailua, then Kalihi as well. She grew up at the gym and on various PAL teams so we have an affinity for the organizations that have played such a big part in our family’s lives. She’s went on from PAL to play club sports, at Kamehameha volleyball and basketball and then in college. Now she’s grown and graduated, impacting other communities after college. Kākoʻo is a verb AND this is a major part of what ‘ōiwi leadership looks like. With this manaʻo, Ive tried to kākoʻo any Community initiative that impact youth AND in that experience Ive learned, Its usually the adults that mess It up.
Someone once told me there is no I in Team. Yet someone else just told me that all they hear from me is “I”. Well… “I” have a bachelors in Hawaiian Studies & Hawaiian language - this is where “I” learned that our Hawaiian communities need the Most help to decolonize and fight oppression, even the Crab in the Bucket mentality amongst ourselves including mines in Waimanalo. In 2020 during the pandemic “I” jumped onto the Waimanalo Neighborhood board as well as received my Masters in Education committing to help ALL children in the communities “I” serve. “I” then began a PhD in Leadership studies a committment to developing future leaders of the children in our communities. In 2022 in partnership with my esteemed colleagues on the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board “I” helped to write Ariels Bill that came from 3 resolutions proposed and put forth By the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board. The 3rd reso was about creating AND maintaining non profit programs in the community to help Kids to be seen, safe, AND engaged so that no child would have to endure what Ariel did. This became a directive “I” tried to carry out to serve the kids in our communities through PAL. “I” then reached out to others across our island to help in this effort. In 2022 we went from 0 families in waimanalo & Kailua PAL to 275 families and a series of volleyball tournaments where kids got to play in 16 games instead of the normal 8-10. In 2023 with the coordinated help of Kailua and waimanalo coaches, waimanalo PAL grew from 2 teams in basketball to having a 6u, 8u, 10u and 12u with 10 and 12u hosting our own games at Waimanalo Gym just Last month. While “I” Was once told to “only concern myself with Waimanalo PaL” “I” insistently included Kailua because “I” believed it has always been better together.
Once the 2022 PAL vb season ended - we took a handful of pal Kids to club Summer clinic AND trained them & some coaches so that in the fall we could Work with the teachers AND a a few Kids from Waimanalo Inter AND organized with PAL coaches to reinvigorate Waimanalo Inter VB Team to compete at King Tourneys. They did well. We also helped to inspire Central Inter & other town Schools like Dole to have a vb Team. The ripple effect of the blessings are amazing!
“I” was given a bigger vision for how PAL can be used for more then just what simple people mightve seen. Its Too difficult to be constantly Challenge AND in-fighting with our own people in the Community we serve. Being in organized club & High school Sports for the Last 20+ years had shown me the potential for developing leadership in Kids through Sports. Seeing the adults trying AND often failing to Work together professionally AND socially on so many decision making boards gave me a vision to use PAL as a Venue where Kids Can learn to Work Hard, play Hard, build Team skills in a competitive & Safe non bullying atmosphere AND learn common respect for other people & places to Lift eachother up instead of tearing eachother down. Being a teacher & Coach for over 20 years taught me that “I” Can only teach AND Coach what “I” know. Here “I” realize that its an ADULT limitation NOT a kid limitation to teach our next generation how to Stop being victims & to Work together towards a common goal of bettering ALL of our communities - not just Waimanalo, kailua or kaneohe. Not just Hawaiian but all of our local communities. Its because of the adults - our local communities struggle with this still yet. Only certain pockets of people have access AND It certainly comes down to access AND money or lack thereof being the common deterrent.
There are bigger issues coming AND our local families are being priced out of living in our home. Teaching Kids & their adults how to Work together to overcome this will impact the future of whether we can control AND minimize this process of exodus for our people. Adults are often the biggest obstacles. That being said - “I” Took a year off of my PhD classes AND other committment to continue to serve my community in this capacity while dealing with my own family challenges - but as I’ve recently heard - other adults are grumbling that they want it done another way.
Its Human Nature that people want to have control over decisions but not be the one to put in the time, work or labor. So, Since “I” have no child In this - “I” will gladly defer to those adults who want things to be different according to what they think is better - for them. ive Removed any of My intellectual property & accept that Sometimes Its best to lead By getting out of the way.
So, unfortunately “I” will step away and let others lead. I have not taken any property or monetary funds meant for PAL - the only equipment “I” had (4 nets) have been distributed to Coaches for the Volleyball season.
If you have questions regarding how PAL will run for the rest of 2023, feel free to contact Aunty Lou
..and 2 years later as of Nov 2025, a once thriving PAL is now almost dead... there is no PAL volleyball in Waimanalo & 1 Coach for basketball.. where are all those who wanted to take control? 🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗
