Hawai‘i Police, Mynah Byrdz Host 4th Annual HI-PAL Tournament Jan. 24-25

Hawai‘i Police Department and the Mynah Byrdz Baseball Club will stage the fourth annual HI-PAL Tee Ball and Coach Pitch Tournament on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 at Hualani Baseball Park, 150 Baker Ave., in the Keaukaha area of Hilo. The weekend event runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, is free and open to the public, and will feature 21 teams of keiki ages 4 to 8 from across Hawai‘i Island.

HI-PAL, a Hawai‘i Police Department program, pairs officers with youth through sports and other activities to build mentorship and trust. The tournament is designed to promote teamwork, citizenship and responsibility while creating positive, informal contact between officers and families in the community. Members of the department’s Hilo Community Police Section will be on site both days providing free Keiki ID services to help families with child safety and emergency preparedness.

For local residents, the tournament offers accessible recreation and an opportunity to reduce barriers to youth sports participation. By removing registration fees and concentrating resources in a community setting, the event supports equity in access to physical activity for young children who may face financial or logistical obstacles. Active play at this developmental stage contributes to motor skills, social-emotional learning and habits that reduce long-term risk of chronic disease, making such community events a low-cost investment in preventive health.

The weekend will also serve as a practical venue for relationship-building between law enforcement and neighborhoods still working through historical mistrust. Regular, non-enforcement interactions around shared community interests like baseball can strengthen civic ties and open lines of communication, which public health experts link to better safety outcomes and coordinated responses in times of crisis.

Organizers expect families from across the island to attend, with little to no cost to participants and spectators. Beyond the games, the presence of Keiki ID services adds a layer of child-centered preparedness that benefits parents and guardians.

Residents seeking more information about the tournament or other HI-PAL activities can contact Acting Lt. Clifford Antonio at 808-961-2350. The event signals a practical, community-rooted effort to combine youth development, public safety and health promotion on the Big Island; for many families, it will be a weekend of play that also helps knit stronger ties across neighborhoods.