As the summer months wind down with kids preparing to head back to school, a fun-filled event for a local cause is coming to Kailua-Kona to help kick off the fall sports season.
Non-profit group “Keiki of da Aina” is hosting the Kona Town Throwdown Basketball Tournament from August 11-13 at the Old Airport Gym and Outdoor Courts. All games will begin each day at 9 a.m. and run through 9 p.m.
The purpose of the three-day outing is to raise funds for repairs to the roof of the Kekuaokalani gym, which has had recent leakage problems — making one of Kailua-Kona’s only indoor basketball courts nearly unplayable.
“We are hoping not only to raise money to fix the gym, but get more families out and have kids getting back into sports,” Keiki of da Aina director Nakoa Pabre told West Hawaii Today. “You know, get off those video games.”
Keiki de Aina hopes to raise $30,000 from the event. Pabre noted that they are approaching the goal, but have not quite hit it yet.
“I thought that was a fair number,” Pabre said of the fundraiser’s target number. “I’ve raised about $20,000 or so myself for this tournament alone.
“The more money we raise, the better.”
The double-elimination tournament invites kids of all ages to form three or five-man teams to participate, but Pabre recently opened admission for adults to play the night games.
“We have about 25-30 teams so far — all different divisions,” he said.
Aside from hoops, DJs and concessions will be present for the tournament’s audience. While Pabre hopes to get a few more vendors before the gathering begins, he noted that he has secured gold sponsors to donate $2,000 per basket, in which they have 10 of thus far.
With registration to compete still being open, Pabre is still inviting interested parties to sign up.
“Come out and have fun…and play hard.”
Full details of the tournament’s registration can be found here:
6 and under (3-on-3)
— Free
8 and under (3-on-3)
— Free
Fourth grade — $150
Sixth grade — $250
Eighth grade — $250
Junior varsity — $250
Varsity (5-on-5) — $250
Call Nakoa Pabre at (808) 333-7380 to register.
