Team Look Alive, from left to right: Captain Reed Mahuna, School Resource Officer Blake Ragocos, Twister Mateo, Kekona Thomas, Elijah Kaupu, Community Police Officer Aaron Kaeo. PC: HPD
Zion Umayam, Alika Branco, Halai Duldulao. PC: HPD
Honokaʻa Middle School knows how to hoop.
The HI-PAL 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament wrapped up earlier this month after roughly three months of competition. Team Look Alive grabbed first place with a 33-25 win over the Hammahs in the first-place game on Feb. 7.
The tourney was organized by School Resource Officer Blake Ragocos as part of the Hawai‘i Isle Police Activities League, or HI-PAL, an HPD program that brings officers and local youth together by building mentor-mentee relationships.
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“I wanted to give the students an opportunity to do something constructive during their lunch recesses,” he said. “They looked forward to each other’s competition, and the championship game was a close one.”
The activity attracted 10 Honokaʻa School teams and involved student players as well as student scorers and timers.
The department said in a release that the positive connection built through HI-PAL encourages teamwork, citizenship and responsibility among youth.
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