NAWILIWILI — Kauai Invitational organizers anticipate about a hundred keiki this morning at Kalapaki Beach.
“It’s like last year,” said Fonz Natartez of Kauai Beach Volleyball. “We had about a hundred keiki who got to meet the University of Hawaii team, learn some volleyball, and even get autographs. It’s a lot of fun.”
According to a UH release, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist Todd Rogers of Cal Poly, and 2000 Olympian Jenny Johnson of UCLA are anticipated to join the field of beach athletes.
“Building on last year’s successful launch has been a priority and a major target for our program in 2024,” said Beach Volleyball head coach Evan Silberstein in the UH release. “What we have found again and again in this process is that the ingenuity, hospitality and aloha from the people of Kauai is the driving force for what makes this event so special to our players and the visiting schools that get to be a part of it. We are all very grateful.”
The keiki are scheduled to meet with the BeachBows from 8 to 9:30 a.m. before Day 2 play starts at 10 a.m.
On Sunday, Queen of the Court seeding rounds start at 8 a.m. with Bracket Play and Championships taking place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“They play a lot of different formats,” said Derek Iha of Duke’s Kauai, who was setting up the outdoor accommodations for a dinner for the coaches and players. “Today (Friday) they’re playing Best of 9’s. Tomorrow (Saturday) is pool play for the finals, and Sunday is the seeding and finals for Pairs.”
Hawaii BeachBows arrived on the Kalapaki sand on Friday to launch the second Kauai Invitational that continues through Sunday fronting the Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort.
Joining Hawaii on the sand are the 2024 NCAA national runner-up UCLA as well as NCAA semifinalist and Big West rival Cal Poly.
“Bringing the best competition in the country to the community while getting to share that with the keiki of Kauai is powerfully synergistic,” Silberstein said. “For me, this Kauai Invitational event symbolizes so much of what is great about Hawaii Athletics in our state. It fuels my passion to represent, deepens my kuleana to serve and stokes my drive to succeed. I hope everyone can tune into the stream to get some of the magic we’ll be making out on the beach.”
The Kauai Invitational, coordinated by Kauai Beach Volleyball, is sponsored by the Kauai Visitors Bureau, Duke’s Kauai, Somers West, Kekaha Agriculture Association, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Grove Farm, the Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort, Roberts Hawaii and more.
