UH-Hilo Vulcans to host free basketball clinic in Kapaʻa next week for keiki

Boys and girls in grades 5 to 8 throughout the 808 state — including on Kaua’i — beginning are invited to hit the hardwood with the coaches of the Big Island’s University of Hawai‘i at Hilo basketball team to shoot some hoops and kick off summer.

Vulcan coaches Kaniela Aiona and Steve Kinder will embark on a journey to six islands beginning this weekend to host free basketball clinics, teaching keiki fundamental skills of the game, running drills and offering words of wisdom.

Clinics are set to run May 17-22 in locations on the Big Island, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lānaʻi, O‘ahu and Kaua‘i.

“We are excited to touch down and connect with the youth basketball community across the state next week,” sixth-year Vulcans head coach Aiona said in an announcement about the upcoming free clinics. “Basketball has been a tool for positive living here in the islands for several generations and it is our turn to pay it forward and do what we can to help grow the game.”

He added the timing is right to help the kids kick off their summer break from school with words of encouragement and habits to incorporate in their daily lives.

Space is limited for each clinic. Here are the dates, times and contact person for each event:

SATURDAY, MAY 17

• When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Where: Kealakekua, Big Island
• Contact: Dawnyelle Awa; dawnyelle.awa@k12.hi.us

SUNDAY, MAY 18

• When: 1 to 3 p.m.
• Where: Kahului, Maui
• Contact: Maiki Tihada; hoopheads@hoopheadsacademy.org

MONDAY, MAY 19

• When: 4 to 6 p.m.
• Where: Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi
• Contact: Melveena Starkey; melveena.starkey@mauicounty.gov

TUESDAY, MAY 20

• When: 4 to 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Lānaʻi City, Lānaʻi
• Contact: MaryLou Kaukeano; mkaukeano@pulamalanai.com

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21

• When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Honolulu
• Contact: Ryan Hogue; rhogue@sacredhearts.org
• ONLINE SIGN-UPS

THURSDAY, MAY 22

• When: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Where: Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi
• Contact: James Kealalio; jkealalio@kauai.gov

Additional information about the free clinics — as well as future events — also can be found at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Vulcans Athletics website.

Aiona was born and raised in Waimea on the Big Island. He just wrapped up his fifth season as Vulcans head coach, making a fourth-consecutive trip to the 6-team Pacific West Conference Championships postseason tournament.

The Honokaʻa High School graduate began coaching shortly after completing a 4-year playing career at Webster University in Missouri, where he was later inducted as part of its 2024 athletics hall of fame class.

Aiona has more than 20 years experience coaching at the college level and previously served from 2014-20 as head coach at Menlo College in California.

Kinder joined the Vulcans coaching staff in 2020 when Aiona returned to the Big Island.

The native of San Diego, Calif., spent nearly 30 years at Cal Poly Humboldt as a student-athlete, then assistant coach and eventually head coach.

Kinder led the Cal Poly Humboldt basketball team to three conference championships as head coach, and was inducted in 2020 into the Lumberjacks Athletics Hall of Fame.

COACH JIMMY YAGI VULCANS BASKETBALL CAMP

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is set and ready to also host another edition of the Coach Jimmy Yagi Vulcans Basketball Camp.

This year’s camp is slated for July 21-24 at the following locations:

• Panaʻewa Park Gymnasium, located at 100 ʻOhuʻohu St. in Panaʻewa.
• University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Vulcan Gymnasium, located at 200 W. Kāwili St., in Hilo.

The annual camp is open to keiki in grades 3-12, with a maximum registration of 220.

More information, including registration and waiver forms, is available at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Vulcans Athletics website.