KAILUA-KONA — Nestled amidst the afternoon hustle and bustle along Kuakini Highway, a free youth street soccer futsal program finds its home in a seemingly unconventional setting — old tennis courts situated below the busy street.
Here, at Street Soccer Kona, youth athletes ranging in age from 6 to 18 trade the tranquility of traditional grassy soccer fields for the vibrant energy of their concrete surroundings at the Kailua Playground, more popularly known as the “Ghettos.”
The makeshift arena of the Ghettos futsal courts tells a story in its own right. Years of wear and tear now furnished with faded boundary lines, surface cracks and weathered nets has become a much-needed sanctuary where young athletes are allowed to dream big while showcasing their talents, create friendships and memories, and cultivate lifelong skills.
Street soccer, or futsal, is a scaled-down version of soccer played on a hard surface with five players on each side. At its heart are Street Soccer Kona program directors McKenna Davidson and Thomas Croke. Since 2021, their goal through their nonprofit has been to offer a free, safe and sustainable environment where all Hawaii Island youth are welcomed to come and have fun, learn new skills and build a sense of community.
“Being able to provide this program to kids in my community has been nothing short of amazing,” said Davidson, who was born and raised in Kona. “We are the only free soccer-futsal program on the west side and the only street soccer in the state. This program is something I wish was around when I was growing up. We have had so many families come to us and share how impactful this program is for them and express that without it, their kids would not be able to have access to sport.”
By offering free participation, Street Soccer Kona has opened doors to youngsters from all walks of life, bringing them together in a melting pot of diverse backgrounds, cultures and socio-economic situations. The magic of the futsal program is not just about developing footballing abilities as it goes well beyond the concrete pitch. It instills crucial life values in the hearts and minds of these budding athletes who might otherwise not have the opportunity. Discipline, sportsmanship and social-emotional learning are woven into the fabric of their afternoon play, enabling them to learn how to become self-directed problem solvers and future community leaders.
Programs offered through Street Soccer Kona include practice twice a week at the Ghettos futsal courts, onsite afterschool futsal programs geared toward student-athletes who don’t have transportation, training and technical assistance, and the Street Soccer USA Cup Series. In addition, Davidson and Croke organize a program that, like Heart and Sole, provides free futsal shoes to kids in need.
Street Soccer Kona is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates solely on the support of support of private donors and other nonprofit organizations.
“Sadly, not many people know about us,” Davidson said. “The only way our program continues is through donations and grants. Everything we do here at Street Soccer Kona is for the kids, and we want more than anything to be able to continue to grow this program.”
Davidson said Street Soccer Kona was recently awarded a matched donation where a US national nonprofit, which wishes to remain anonymous, will match dollar-for-dollar any donation up to $50,000. Anyone wishing to donate may do so on their website: https://www.streetsoccerusa.org/kona/
“This is huge for us and we need to get the word out to our community,” she said. “We actually can’t believe we’ve been awarded this and feel so grateful to this national nonprofit.”
Perhaps the greatest triumph of Street Soccer Kona lies in the stories of its participants whose lives they touched. Witnessing firsthand the transformation of timid youngsters into confident athletes is a testament to the power of sport to shape lives, bridge gaps and empower the next generation.
As the rhythmic sounds of passing cars along Kuakini Highway blend with upbeat music playing courtside from a black boombox, a unique setting emerges that serves as a powerful reminder: the passion for the game and our future generation of community leaders can flourish even in the most unlikely of spaces.
For more information about Street Soccer Kona’s free futsal program or to donate to their nonprofit, contact McKenna Davidson at McKenna@StreetSoccerUSA.org or visit https://www.streetsoccerusa.org/kona/
