HONOLULU – Former University of Hawai'i men's volleyball player Kai Kahele is this year's recipient of the Pae Makaukau Alumni Recognition Award. Kahele will receive his award at the 10^th Annual A'o a Koa Scholarship Dinner, Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
In addition to the fundraising event, the Rainbow Warriors will host their annual alumni match Friday, Jan. 24. This year's match will feature more than a dozen former players spanning five decades. The match begins at 7:00 p.m., and is free admission. 
 
Kahele (1995-97) was a three-year letterman was a member of back-to-back NCAA Championship tournament teams in 1995 and '96. During his senior year, he was recognized as the team's Most Inspirational Player and was named a scholar-athlete. He is also a lifetime member of the school's Letterwinners Club.
 
Currently Kahele is a State Senator, who is the Majority Floor Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Water and Land. He is also active in the Hawai'i Air National Guard and is a A-330 commercial pilot with Hawaiian Airlines.
 
An 18-year combat veteran pilot with the Air National Guard, Kahele continues to serve as a Lt Colonel at Hickam Air Force Base. During Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Lt. Colonel Kahele flew 108 combat sorties and served as mission commander for over a dozen C-17 combat missions. He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Medal.
 
Kai and his wife Maria live and are raising their young daughters in his hometown of Hilo, Hawai'i.

The A'o a Koa Scholarship Dinner supports the men's volleyball program and proceeds will be used to help fund summer school scholarships, recruiting, video equipment and additional/camp staff for the team. The event also features a silent auction with sports memorabilia, travel, golf, hotel and event ticket packages, dinner certificates and other great items. A portion of the cost is tax deductible under IRS Chapter 501 C (3).


Past winners of the Pae Mākaukau award include Josh Walker (2019), Sivan Leoni (2018), Mark Presho (2017), Allen Allen (2016), Brian Beckwith (2015), Tom Pestolesi (2014), Manny Relator (2013), Mauli'a LaBarre (2012), and Pono Ma'a (2011).
 
The A'o a Koa Scholarship dinner is in its 10^th year and is a fun-filled opportunity to meet head coach Charlie Wade and his staff and the current Rainbow Warrior volleyball team. The coaching staff includes seventh-year associate coach Milan Zarkovic, fifth-year assistant coach Josh Walker, and third-year volunteer coach Chad Giesseman.