Hawaii men’s volleyball: Warriors host alumni match, Kai Kahele to receive alumni award

The annual alumni match is at 7 p.m. Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Free admission.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Skills challenges start at 6:15 p.m.

At Sunday’s 10th A’o a Koa Scholarship Fundraiser, former Rainbow Warrior Kai Kahele will receive the Pae Makaukau Recognition Award.

Kahele, a current State Senator who is running for Congress, played from 1995-97 and was named the team’s most inspirational as a senior in 1997. In the state senate, he is the Majority Floor Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Water and Land. He is also active in the Hawai‘i Air National Guard and is a pilot with Hawaiian Airlines.

An 18-year combat veteran pilot with the Air National Guard, Kahele continues to serve as a Lt. Colonel at Hickam Air Force Base. During Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Lt. Colonel Kahele flew 108 combat sorties and served as mission commander for over a dozen C-17 combat missions. He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Medal.

Past winners of the Pae Mākaukau award include Josh Walker (2019), Sivan Leoni (2018), Mark Presho (2017), Allen Allen (2016), Brian Beckwith (2015), Tom Pestolesi (2014), Manny Relator (2013), Mauli‘a <strong>LaBarre (2012), and Pono Ma‘a (2011).

Tickets are still available for the A’o a Koa Warrior Volleyball Fundraiser Sunday at the Stan Sheriff Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $100 and are available online at koaanuenue.org. The event includes heavy pupu and a live and silent auction with proceeds also going to the Wahine water polo team. For information, call 956-6500.