Summer may not officially start until later this month, but for the Big Island, this week has a summer feel to it as the annual high school sports camps get under way. ADVERTISING Summer may not officially start until later
Summer may not officially start until later this month, but for the Big Island, this week has a summer feel to it as the annual high school sports camps get under way.
The Stingrays, led by Konawaena boys coach Donny Awa, are holding their annual camp at Onizuka Gymnasium in Kealakekua From Monday to Thursday
The camp usually hosts an average turnout of 80-plus kids and this year was no different with a packed gym in the morning session with kids between the ages of 5-11, and a smaller crowd in the afternoon filled with 12-16 year olds.
The camp started many years ago under a different name and with former University of Hawaii-Hilo coach Jimmy Yagi at the helm. Yagi moved his camp to the Hilo side of the Island and since then the Stingrays, along with Awa, have taken the reins.
“We started doing it because we wanted the kids to have a camp on this side so they wouldn’t have to travel to Hilo,” Awa said. “I can’t tell you how many years we have been doing it. It was probably about 12 or 13 years ago.”
The camp focuses on teaching the basic fundamentals of the game with drills and games that focus on dribbling, passing, and passing. Awa doesn’t limit his kids to just the basics though, also teaching a few advance moves and schemes.
“We get a lot of new kids and this is a good introductory for those who want to give basketball a try,” Awa said. “Every camp has at least five to 10 kids who decide they want to continue playing basketball and join the Stingrays.”
For those returning players, Awa said that this type of camp really allows the coaches to work with them more regularly, for four days straight and for three hours a day.
“It is good to get the kids in here for a whole week and you can really see the results,” Awa said.
Awa is not short on people to help run the well-attended camp. Luckily, he can fall back on family for help, including his wife and Konawaena girls coach Bobby Awa, his nephew and boys assistant coach Tory Guillermo, and his niece and girls assistant coach Jessica Hanato. The four family members have a ton of experience and a lot of respect for their coaching accomplishments in Hawaii.
Many former and current players also helped with the camp, including the Molina sisters, who helped lead the girls team to a state title this past season. Both Guillermo and Hanato are former Konawaena players as well.
“We try to make the camp fun and teach the kids a little bit of everything,” Donny Awa said. “I really enjoy working with kids. At some point I am going to stop coaching high school and Tory will take over, but I am never going to stop coaching kids. It is a lot of fun and even when they make a layup it is a big accomplishment to them.”
The Stingrays are a south Kona team that feeds into Konawaena High School. They practice in the Konawaena gym and often travel to Hilo for games.
