Posted on: Friday, August 27, 2004

Basketball league a shoe-in for kids

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

Every child who needs shoes to play in the new morning basketball league being organized in Kalihi will receive them thanks to donations that have been pouring in since organizers asked for help.

Dozens of pairs of shoes needed to fulfill insurance requirements have been brought in or promised along with cash donations to buy equipment and snacks, said Sgt. John Kauwenaole, who heads the Kalihi Weed & Seed crime-fighting unit. Many of the students only had slippers to play in.

"It's outstanding," Kauwenaole said.

Since publication of an article in Wednesday's Honolulu Advertiser, shoes have been brought in by people ranging from retired folks to a private school that wished to remain anonymous. But the largest single donation came from Vans, a company famous for its skateboarding shoes and sponsor of the Triple Crown Surfing and other sports events. The company is sending 25 pairs of its trendy shoes to Kalihi for the new league.

Jodi Young, who represents Vans in Hawai'i, read the article and called company executives.

"I rang them and they were more than happy to be involved," Young said. "I know they have quite a passion for Hawai'i and it is not limited to surfing or skateboarding. When it comes to kids needing shoes to get out there and have a healthy life, I knew that would be something they would stand behind."

Young said a mixture of boys and girls shoes in various sizes should arrive early next week. The shoes retail for about $60 each and are popular with teens.

"They are highly coveted shoes, so I'm sure anything they send along there will be some happy feet in them," she said.

Police are organizing the Dole Middle School students into a before-school league as part of their efforts to bring positive activities to the neighborhood — part of the "seeding" component of Weed & Seed.

The "weed" portion applies federal law enforcement to rid high-crime areas of gangs, drug dealers, and repeat and violent offenders.

The league is set to begin Sept. 14 using the basketball courts at the Kalihi Valley parks complex near the school.

About 30 students are expected to participate. If more shoes are donated than needed, they will be forwarded to other area programs that could use the help, Kauwenaole said.

Reach James Gonser at 535-2431 or jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com.