Hanalani star basketball player shines on the court — and on stage
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Iolani Classic begins Thursday with the girls tournament that features eight teams vying for the prestigious title, including five from Hawaii.
The Hanalani Royals were so close to victory they could almost taste it.
The girls from Mililani had a late lead in last season’s state title game, until Maryknoll went on a tear to clinch a championship.
One year later, 11 of the girls from that Hanalani squad are back on the team — and ready to make another run.
“They’ve done so much on and off season, I want to honor that commitment that they made. I also just want to take home that state championship for my team,” said Piha’eu Akiona.
Akiona is a dominant force, the forward led the Royals in scoring last year on the way to ILH first-team honors — success rooted in a love for the sport that grew from watching her father play.
“Growing up my dad always loved basketball. He was always really passionate about it, so seeing him be so happy playing, doing something he enjoyed and having fun while doing it, I wanted to do the same. Overtime I realized it wasn’t really the sport he enjoyed it was the friendships that he made during it,” Akiona said.
As talented as she is on the court, you should see her on stage.
Akiona’s first passion was hula.
She jokes that she learned to dance before she could walk.
“My tutu taught me when I was a baby, I was always dancing at Waikiki or PCC, every family gathering,” said Akiona.
It runs in her blood, it’s even what brought her parents together.
“We met at the Magic of Polynesia, we were both dancers there, I had already met his older siblings and so I knew of him and then he came and then the rest is history,” said her mom, Valerie Akiona.
With about 15 immediate family members that dance, much of her childhood was spent backstage.
It was only right that she followed in their footsteps, but they never made her choose just one.
“I’ve gone through many different phases. I tried air riflery, band, basketball, hula, theatre,” said Piha’eu Akiona.
No matter the venue, she can look into the crowd, see and hear her ohana.
“I knew nothing of basketball I was just there supporting her being the loudest cheerleader in the stands,” said Valerie Akiona.
Although basketball season is underway, she’s still an active member of Halau Ke Kai O Kahiki, and wants to continue to do both after graduation.
Piha’eu Akiona has watched other family members compete at Merrie Monarch, and hopes that one day it’ll be her turn to step foot on the iconic stage.
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