Historic Conclusion to the Inaugural King's Hawaiian Football Festival: A Celebration of Unity and Sport in Hilo
WAILUKU, MAUI — The Hawaiian Football Federation proudly concludes the inaugural King’s Hawaiian Football Festival in Hilo, celebrating a landmark event in Hawaiian sports history. Held from July 7-19, in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, this festival marked the official debut of our 20 Nā Kāne (U20 Men’s) and 20 Nā Wāhine
(U20 Women’s) National Teams, comprised of elite players from across Hawai‘i and the diaspora.
The festival featured competitive matches between our Hawaiian National Teams and the indigenous teams of Māori Football Aotearoa, fostering not only athletic excellence but also deep cultural connections between the Aotearoa Māori and Kānaka people.
The event was graciously supported by King’s Hawaiian and ‘ohana – held in honor of Robert R. Taira, King’s Hawaiian’s founder – with strong support from Minit Stop, ‘Ohana Fuels, KTA Super Stores, O.K. Farms, Waiakea Water, and Shaka Tea, whose collective commitment to the festival significantly enhanced the quality and overall impact of the event.
The partnership highlighted shared values and reinforced the importance of identity and pride in advancing the well-being of Hawaiians and Aotearoa Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.
On July 14, the delegations signed a historic treaty at Hale‘ōlelo, Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, at the University of Hawai‘i – Hilo. The treaty emphasizes the common ancestry, language, culture, and history of the Māori and Hawaiian people, underscoring the importance of self-determination, international solidarity, and cultural preservation in overcoming the systematic barriers faced by both communities. It affirms the organizations’ commitment to collaborate in advancing global football and sports justice, while promoting educational and professional advancement, international championships, and intercultural exchange. Instead of advocating for female representation, the treaty acknowledges the inherent mana (power) of women, and their crucial role in
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defining Hawaiian and Māori societies. Through this treaty, both delegations pledge to organize international tournaments and events that reflect our collective values and aspirations, while reinforcing our bonds as members of the Polynesian Football Family.
View/Listen to Hawai‘i Public Radio on Hawaiian-Māori Football Treaty
TRISHA KAPUAʻALA, HAWAIIAN FOOTBALL CHAIR OF THE BOARD AND GENERAL SECRETARY
“Like every north-east district, Hilo shows us what it looks like when a community is waiwai nui (rich) – abundant in water, cultural, and communal resources, naturally rich, steeped in aloha. The people of Hilo, UH Hilo, and the
Hawai‘i Island soccer community showed up, abundant in aloha, and hosted our Aotearoa Māori well.”
KEKOA L. HARMAN, PH.D., ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF KA HAKA ʻULA I KEʻELIKOLANI COLLEGE OF HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE, UH HILI AND KAHU PAPAHANA OF HUI KANAKA PŌWĀWAE
“The competitive play between our ʻĀlapa and the Aoteroa Māori in Hawaiʻi and the signing of
the treaty helped to solidify this deep commitment we have to being represented in this space of football, and sustaining and growing our national pride – in our language and culture. It really meant a lot to have this event on our kulāiwi, in our homeland. ”
We extend our deepest Aloha to all participants, partners, and supporters, and especially to King’s Hawaiian for their belief in Hawaiian Football’s vision. Together, we are creating a lasting impact on the lives of Native Hawaiians and our communities.
ABOUT THE HAWAIIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION
Established on the island of Maui in 1975, the Hawaiian Football Federation is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to representing the Hawaiian Kingdom on the global football stage. We form National Teams not only to showcase some of the brightest Hawaiian Football talent, but we also take on the crucial task of educating our players, families, and supporters on the national history and culture of the Hawaiian nation-state. We are steadfast in our commitment to sharing our core values of aloha, aloha ‘āina (love of country), and aloha kānaka (love of humankind) with the international community, which is yearning for its embrace, through the universal language of football. At the core of our vision and mission lie the unifying and humanitarian values inherent to global football. Through these principles, we are rebuilding Hawaiian national character and identity by representing 21st-century symbols of Hawaiian national pride.
KU‘I KA LONO
HAWAIIAN NATIONAL TEAM NEWS
