Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Middle School students were treated to a panel discussion with KSK graduates who are currently student-athletes at the University of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Pacific University at Kalama Dining Hall Wednesday night.
Football players Makoa Camanse-Stevens and Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea and soccer player Kiani Halushka represented UH, while volleyball player Pomai Recca and soccer players Jesse Kunitomo and Nahoa Salera were the HPU student-athletes. The discussion was moderated by former UH basketball player David Kawika Hallums.
Topics for the discussion included college student life, time management, the importance of a college degree, the types of sacrifices needed to be a collegiate athlete, memories from their middle school and high school years, and the importance of representing their families, Kamehameha and the state of Hawai‘i.
Kema-Kaleiwahea captivated the audience with his story about being a former foster child and his decision to return to Hawai‘i, from the University of Arizona, to adopt his former foster brothers. He and his wife are the youngest foster parents in country.
Another highlight of the evening came during the question and answer session, where the student-athletes were asked about their individual celebrations. Camanse-Stevens showed his “dab,” while Salera reenacted his soccer “catching a fish” celebration, playing the part of the wiggling fish while middle schooler Kade Ofisa reeled him in.
The student-athletes and the middle schoolers also ate dinner together and interacted at the end of the event to answer additional questions and pose for some selfies.
The student-athletes covered many topics in their panel discussion, sharing life lessons with the middle schoolers.
The middle school students were able to ask questions of the student-athletes after the discussion.
TAGS
kapalama,campus,athletics,imua kamehameha
CATEGORIES
Kaipuolono Article, I Mua Kamehameha, Newsroom, Campus Programs, Kapalama
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