{"id":53,"date":"2026-05-14T17:35:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T17:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=53"},"modified":"2026-05-14T17:35:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T17:35:40","slug":"i-made-it-kalani-senior-dedicates-state-bodyboard-title-to-late-father","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=53","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I made it\u2019: Kalani senior dedicates state bodyboard title to late father"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Ho\u2018okipa Beach on Maui\u2019s North shore will forever be a special place for Kaipo\u2018i Koa.<\/p>\n

Read more Full overnight closures of H-1 Freeway planned in Kalihi<\/a><\/p>\n

The Kalani High School senior etched her name into the record books by winning the girls bodyboard division at the first-ever HHSAA Surfing Championships.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m honored to represent my school, the school that I go to, Kalani High School, my parents, my mom, my dad,\u201d Koa said. \u201cI dedicated it to them, my number-one supporters that\u2019s been there since the day I was born.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koa dedicated this win and her entire season to her late father, Joe, who was killed in 2024 after his moped was broadsided by a car on Kapiolani Boulevard.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Koa scored her highest wave scores of the weekend in the championship heat, knowing her dad was with her in the ocean.<\/p>\n

\u201cA special moment for sure knowing that he got the best seat, the best view to watch,\u201d Koa said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a crazy feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a difficult two years for the family with Koa, who also plays flag football, completely out of sports last season.<\/p>\n

However, she decided to return to compete in surfing this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis turned our world upside down,\u201d Koa\u2019s mom, Kawena Garcia, said. \u201cThis shouldn\u2019t have happened, we\u2019re so sad and devastated with so many things working against us all this last couple of years and I\u2019m really glad Kaipo\u2018i kept strong and she\u2019s a motivation to all of us, to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more UH men\u2019s volleyball holds final practice ahead of NCAA semifinal match<\/a><\/p>\n

Now about to graduate from Kalani, Koa is set to join the IBC bodyboarding world tour.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s also speaking up about safe driving as the entire Koa ohana carries on Joe\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to use this platform to spread awareness,\u201d Koa said. \u201cJust drive safely, just keep your eyes open.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cWe want everybody to get home to their families,\u201d Garcia added. \u201cWe really don\u2019t want anybody to experience this type of loss. It\u2019s really, really heartbreaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

The oldest of five siblings, Koa hopes that her story can be one of resilience as she moves through rough waters.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at me now,\u201d Koa said. \u201cI\u2019ve been through a lot. It\u2019s been a crazy ride, but through all the hardships and all the obstacles, I made it. I made it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Kailua bound? Bridge repairs lead to significant delays for drivers<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kalani senior Kaipo\u2018i Koa won the girls bodyboard division at the first-ever HHSAA surfing championships, saying she felt her late father with her in the ocean.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":52,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018I made it\u2019: Kalani senior dedicates state bodyboard title to late father - Hawaii Moving Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=53\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018I made it\u2019: Kalani senior dedicates state bodyboard title to late father - 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