Kamehameha Schools Maui placed first in the Maui Interscholastic League Division I sector of the 2011 HMSA Kaimana Awards this past summer. KSM High School sent Mr. Leo Delatori to the Hawai’i Prince Hotel on Oahu to accept the award on June 25, 2011, at the HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program ceremony.

“I didn’t understand how big of an award it is. It’s not just going to a school assembly. This is a big deal,” Mr. Delatori said.

Hawaii Medical Service Association, in partnership with the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, created the HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship program to promote athletics, academics, sportsmanship and community service in Hawai’i high schools. Other components of the program include scholarships for student athletes and support for coaches’ education.

“These are the school’s athletes who do more than just playing the sport. They represent themselves well,” Mr. Delatori said.

“It shows our students can demonstrate good values and still have fun playing sports,” Mr. Kurt Ginoza, KS Maui Athletic Director said.

Mr. Ginoza said that his goal for the students is to take the model of being a triple impact competitor “when you strive to make yourself better every day, strive to make your teammates better every day and strive to make the sport better every day,” and apply it not only on the field, but campus wide.

“I think it’s great because you’re not only excelling in sports but in academics and other areas. It represents that our whole school is doing something good,” Senior Uluwehi Young, senior varsity volleyball player, said.

Three finalists from each category attended the award ceremony, where 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places were announced. Lahainaluna High School placed 2^nd and Baldwin High School placed 3^rd in the MIL Division I category. Thirty Hawai’i high schools took home Kaimana Awards in all.