SKYLER CHUN
COPY EDITOR
Hawaii’s Special Olympics Basketball tournament is a rather new addition to the various activities held throughout the school year. Just four years ago, this basketball tournament was started in Hawai’i to help special education students get the same experience of playing on a team and learning a new sport just like any other student.
Over the past few years, the number of participating schools has grown quickly with Roosevelt, Kalani, Kaiser, Kaimuki, Pearl City, Waipahu, Aiea, and now Moanalua. This year is Moanalua High School’s second year participating.
Coach Pete, Moanalua High School’s Special Olympics Basketball coach, takes great pride in allowing these group of students to participate in the competitive, but fun sport and he treats the students quite similarly to how he would with any other team. “I think people would be surprised by how structured you can actually get a practice with some of our student athletes. We take drills from [Moanalua’s athletic basketball team] so instead of doing 5 drills, we might do 3 and modify it down to a pace that they can do it at and be successful with," Coach Pete said.
This past year, the Special Olympics Basketball teams were mentioned in the Star Advertiser front page. Having this exposure through the local news allowed their games to be increasingly popular. “It was super uplifting as far as that’s the whole reason behind what we’re trying to do with these kids as far as give them limelight that they normally wouldn’t have in life,” Coach Pete said. However, he hopes that it can become even more acknowledged and respected in the future.
“I think there’s a lack of people that are invested athletically with these kids... but as far as keeping it school oriented or having a larger organization, they have a little bit of MoHS pride while competing,” Coach Pete said.
Hopefully these students can receive more support in the future, but for now, it is a new and growing program that has lots of potential to gain lots of recognition in the years to come. Don’t be afraid to show your school pride at any of the Special Olympics games, or show your support for any athletic team on campus!