HISTORY
2019 marks the 10th year that the Rising Phoenix Jaycees (RPJ) will host its Spikes for Tykes Benefit Volleyball Tournament. This grassroots, completely volunteer-based project has raised over $10,000 for local schools and charities over the years and generated several hundred hours of project management experience and community service for chapter members and community partners.
2017
Kiana Miguel’s Monstarz won the 2017 Spikes for Tykes tournament, successfully defending its 2016 championship. RPJ donated $1000 to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Mahalo to AT&T for helping to sponsor the 2017 tournament.
2016
The theme for the 2016 Spikes for Tykes was Heroes vs. Villains, and all of the teams showed their spirit on the courts. RPJ donated $1250 to the Hawaii Heart Foundation and $250 to Ka Ulukoa Volleyball Institute. Congratulations to Monstarz45 for winning the 2016 tournament. Also congratulations to Oahu MVP (pictured above) for winning the Best Team Costume Award, Up in Flames for earning the Best Team Spirit Award, and Back that Pass Up for taking the Best Team Name Award.
2015
After a one-year hiatus, the Spikes for Tykes tournament was held October 11, 2015 at the Manoa District Park. This was the first all-coed team tournament, with 20 teams participating. The tournament benefited Hoku Alaka’i, a non-profit organization that provides educational services to keiki with serious or chronic medical conditions who are unable to regularly attend school.
Team Amene defeated Team Leviticus for the tournament championship. Mahalo nui loa to our numerous sponsors: First Insurance Company of Hawaii, Young’s Fish Market, Prayers on Wings, UHA Health Insurance, Unlimited Designs + Banyan Printing, Rising Tide, and The Clock & Trophy Shop. The members of RPJ also thank community partner Ka Ulukoa Volleyball Institute for all of its help and support throughout the years.
2013
In 2013, Spikes for Tykes was held October 19, 2013 at the Manoa District Park. Thirty-one teams participated in the tournament–7 men’s teams, 8 women’s teams, and 16 coed teams. The tournament benefited programs at two public schools adopted by RPJ for the annual statewide Adopt-A-School-Day project: an aquarium and aquaponics program at Kapolei Elementary School and a career exploration program at Pacific Palisades Elementary School. A painting project at Aiea High School was also organized through the networking established through the Spikes for Tykes tournament.
In the men’s A-bracket championship match, Team XLNC defeated Team Gabby 21-15. Team Dustin took out Team Mark 21-7 in the men’s B-bracket championship. The women’s championship match saw HI Life (Michelle) outlast HI Life (Jen) 21-19. In the coed draw, Team Inu beat Team Jarrett 21-18.
2012
The 2012 Spikes for Tykes tournament was held Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the Manoa District Park Gym. There were three divisions: Men’s, Women’s, and Coed, and 32 teams participated overall in the tournament. The proceeds benefited two public schools adopted by RPJ for the annual Adopt-A-School Day project: Kalakaua Middle School and Moanalua High School. Donations were also made to Ka Ulukoa Volleyball Institute, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Penn Hawaii Youth Foundation.
Analu Frantz’ Eighthisle won the Men’s Division; Kari Namoku’s Hi’s Finest took home the Women’s title; and Jamie Iwata’s Us was the last team standing in the Coed division.
Mahalo to title sponsors Young’s Fish Market and Sky Painting. Young’s Fish Market also provided the meals for the tournament volunteers. And special thanks to Chase Simmons who was the 2012 tournament photographer.
2011
The 2011 tournament was held Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the Manoa District Park Gym. There were three tournaments: Men’s, Women’s, and Coed. Twenty-eight teams participated that year, and the proceeds from the tournament benefited three public schools adopted by RPJ for the annual Adopt-A-School Day project: Aliamanu Middle School, Kalihi Kai Elementary School and Kalihi Waena Elementary School.
Shawn Pacquing and his HIFI teammates won the men’s draw by turning away team ATKIS led by Jared Shirai. First-time entrants Humble Roots captained by Hunny Kalilimoku won the women’s title over Team Rose captained by Rose Alejo. Eddie Tanaka’s Inaloi took home the coed title by beating out Traci Akimoto’s Benchwarmers.
Special thanks to Ligaya Hartman who was the tournament photographer for 2011.
2010
The 2010 edition was held October 16th at the Manoa District Park Gym. There were three divisions: Men’s, Women’s, and Coed, which was a new addition that year. Thirty teams and nearly 200 players and volunteers descended upon Manoa for a day of hard hits, sweet sets, killer serves and awesome digs all in the name of charity. Proceeds from the tournament were donated to the United Cerebral Palsy of Hawaii and Special Olympics during a check presentation at intermission.
A special thanks to tournament sponsors Big City Diner and Kolohe Photo. Big City Diner provided the meals for all of the volunteers, and Catering & Sales Director Janice Takada was on hand for the check presentation. City Council member Stanley Chang was also on hand for the presentation. Kaoru Kohashigawa of Kolohe Photo donated his time, shooting all of the team pics and action shots for the tourney.
Lorri Pavo’s Boom Kanani team won the women’s title over the HI Life women’s team led by Michelle Isa, ending a two-year championship run by the women of HI Life. The HI Life men’s team captained by Jared Yamamoto won the men’s division title, ekeing out a close win over Jared Shirai’s U-Down team. The new coed division featured 12 teams, but time ran out as the championship match was set to begin.
2009
The ’09 tournament was held September 5, 2009 at the Manoa District Park Gym. The tournament featured 17 teams and over 120 players, as well as food from Chun Wah Kam, Summer’s Lava Dogs, and a shave ice booth manned by Adopt-A-School-Day volunteers. I Hi defeated Cheers for the men’s championship, and HI Life-Black took out Unintentional for the women’s crown.
Teams from Lokahi, Help!!!, Pa’ahana, HiLife, Drag Ass, Ku’i, Roadkill and Ka Ulukoa also participated that year. Lokahi entered four teams into the tournament, followed by Help!!! and Ka Ulukoa, both of whom entered two teams each.
RPJ especially thanks the players, coaches and parents of Ka Ulukoa. Not only did the club enter two teams into the men’s tournament, it provided volunteer scorekeepers and line judges and helped plan and coordinate the entire tournament.
2008
The Spikes for Tykes Benefit Volleyball Tournament started as the 2008 RPJ Summer Volleyball Tournament. Fourteen teams competed in that tournament at the Manoa District Park Gym, and the chapter held the tournament to raise funds for Keiki Movie Day, a project that sponsors a day of fun and games at the movies for local special needs keiki and their families. The men of Prolifik VBC and the women of HI Life won that inaugural tournament.