Kamaliʻi Thrive On and Off the Courts in LT’s ʻŌlino Summer Program

In June, a hui of teenagers displayed their athletic prowess as they shot, blocked, and pivoted their way through the ʻŌlino Summer Program, a day camp hosted by Liliʻuokalani Trust. Held over three weeks at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in West Oʻahu, the camp gave youth ages 11-17 the opportunity to explore pathways in creative media, sports, and the arts.

The sports pathway honed their athleticism — particularly basketball skills — and opened avenues for friendships and sportsmanship. Focusing on ola kino (holistic wellness), the youth learned to apply skills on the court to their personal lives.

“My favorite part was meeting new people, and being active in the summer, not just lying around,” says a participant, Trez.

The young athletes quickly learned the importance of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance, says Keiki Akau, ‘Ōlino Pathways Coordinator for the Trust.

She organized and led the sports camp, and collaborated with Coach Haku Durant, a guest coach of the Trust and an assistant varsity men’s basketball coach at Kamehameha Schools. The improvement in basketball skills was quite evident after three weeks, she says. 

Beyond the courts, the group joined other ‘Ōlino campers for a day at Nā Mea Kūpono, a learning center in Waialua, where they immersed themselves in the loʻi kalo patches, played makahiki games, and created hū (spinning top) with kukui nut.

They also studied Hawaiian culture and Queen Liliʻuokalani’s legacy, drawing parallels between her resilience and adversities, and their trials and triumphs as teenagers. The Queen established the Trust in 1909 to benefit orphaned and destitute children in Hawaiʻi.

Taking the Queen’s example of service and leadership, “the youth learned how they could be better servant leaders in their own lives,” Akau says.

At the end of the program, a participant, Josh, expressed his gratitude to the Queen, saying, “Thank you for persevering through the hard times — and letting me be here [at the sports camp]!”

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