Kalena Akinaka '24 Recruiting Profile

Being the top scorer in the State of Hawai’i for high school girls Basketball during my junior year and being named Maui Women’s League MVP in 2022 were definitely life highlights for me but growing up as an Akinaka on Maui has been the honor of my life and means that you get to be a part of something so much bigger than yourself. Rooted in the gospel, grown in love, having a hard work ethic is central to our family identity and has helped me excel in my love for track, basketball, photography, and taking care of others. I love people, gathering them in, caring for babies, and am known by my family and friends as “Mama Lena”. Being in AP and honors classes throughout middle school and high school while playing sports year round has taught me to work hard and constantly strive for balance and excellence. All of us Akinaka cousins have been told on the daily, “Be excellent and Akinaka represent” which ultimately means that as an Akinaka we represent Jesus Christ. There is nothing I am more proud of than being a part of this family. I hope to continue to represent them wherever I go in my efforts to play basketball in college, become a nurse, and come back to Maui, my island home, to serve my community. Though basketball is my top athletic priority and love, as a senior this year I have the privilege of being team captain for the girls varsity volleyball team, the girls varsity basketball team, and our co-ed track team as well.  From my family and through my faith, I have learned to be a leader, a good sport, confident, athletic, adventurous, brave, and to be strong yet kind. I look forward to the opportunity to bring all of who I am to my new college and athletic community as we continue to learn and evolve together to become the best we can be.