Runnin’ with Rani returns to Waverider Stadium, draws island kids and families

Waverider Stadium at Kealakehe High School filled early as the county-hosted youth meet Runnin’ with Rani returned, drawing dozens of elementary and middle-school athletes from West and East Hawaii to compete in running events, jumps and throws. The Hawaii County Department of Parks & Recreation staged the meet on Saturday, Feb. 13 on the stadium’s blue track.

The program featured a slate of running and field competitions: running long jump, standing long jump, high jump and discus among the events photographed at the meet. Kahakai Elementary 5th grader Niamh McCarron was captured taking to the air in the running long jump, and Hiro Lovett was shown flying high in the boys running long jump. Kealakehe Elementary and Intermediate students warmed up on the infield, and Kahakai Elementary School students were described as “all smiles and shakas” during field events. The Westside Jets were identified as one of four clubs that participated.

The return of the meet was framed as a chance to reconnect kids with outdoor activity after periods of isolation. “It’s everything,” he said. “We had a couple of years when the kids had to be at home and that’s all they did was be on their technology, iPad and other devices. Being a recreational professional, we need to engage youth to come out and do outdoor activities.” The remark reflected the County’s role in using free programming to lower barriers to participation and encourage physical activity among elementary and intermediate-aged youth.

Organizers promoted the series as County-hosted and free - open to all schools, sports clubs and individual participants - and described the Feb. 13 meet as one of three youth track and field events in the series. The County schedules another Kona meet at Waverider Stadium on February 21 and a Hilo meet at Kamehameha High School on February 28, offering additional opportunities for students across the island to compete without registration fees.

Photographs credited to Rani Henderson/Hawaii Sport Events documented the crowd and competition on the blue track and highlighted the geographic reach of participants from both West and East Hawaii. The combination of school teams, a community club like the Westside Jets and individual entrants underscored the County program’s local footprint and its emphasis on equitable access to youth recreation.

With the next meets on Feb. 21 in Kona and Feb. 28 in Hilo, the county-run series aims to sustain momentum for youth athletics across the island while keeping costs low and sites local to Kealakehe High School and Kamehameha High School.