PUHI — Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck added their personal excitement to the Kauai Police Activities League by bringing their own pickleball paddles to the blessing of the renovated multi-use court located adjacent to the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School covered play area and across the access road from the YMCA pool.
Kauai Police Department Chaplain Jade Waialeale Battad officiated the blessing of the court’s completion on Thursday under sunny, voggy conditions for the facility that will host basketball, pickleball and other community activities for youth.
Special guest CKMS Vice Principal Merrill Carvalho accompanied the contingent of K-PAL student participants that were active participants in the untying of the ceremonial lei garnished with strands of crown flower. Merrill, an active coordinator of the recent intramural volleyball and basketball tournaments, a growing area of interest in the Hawaii Department of Education offices, expressed his interest in using the facility to expand the capabilities of the neighboring covered play court.
The newly renovated and improved multipurpose court is located a stone’s throw from the K-PAL boxing and wrestling facilities fit into the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center that was dedicated in October where Kawakami lost little time taking his turn at the boxing punching ball.
K-PAL, crediting Deputy Chief Mark Ozaki for bringing K-PAL to Kauai, is dedicated to providing an atmosphere that motivates youth to lead drug-free lives, make right decisions, and help them reach their fullest potential by providing activities, mentorship, and above all, fun.
“I’m not as good as my mother,” one of the K-PAL participants said while rummaging through the trunk containing new pickleball paddles and balls. She was eager to try the specially lined pickleball court with her fellow K-PAL schoolmates.
K-PAL would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to the collaboration of community partners and county agencies, namely Michael Contrades, to bring the project to the blessing.
During last year, more than 1,100 youth participated in the K-PAL flag football, boxing, jiu-jitsu and wrestling programs across the island through its facilities located in Hanapepe, Kapaa and now, Lihue.
More information of the various K-PAL programs, and registration, can be found by visiting the K-PAL website at www.kauaipal.org. The website announces that K-PAL is going paperless and encourages the use of its website for the latest information on the various programs.
K-PAL is currently accepting registration for the flag football program until April 1. The program is open to school-aged youth from kindergarten to high school seniors. Practices will start on May 1, and the games will play on Saturdays at the auxiliary field, also known as the soccer fields, next to Vidinha Stadium, starting in June and running until mid-July.
For more information, visit www.kauaipal.org.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
