Hawaii All-Star Cheerleaders Add Level 5 National Championship In Dallas

The Hawaii All-Stars Restricted Level 5 team included: Ashlee Sawai, Chaston Abut, Breeann Joaquin, Laurell Malaqui-Sanchez, Chloe Lawrence, Krysta Freitas, Jonathon You, Tayler Pelligrino- Hayase, Samantha Saribay, Ally Yonohara, Mishalei Coloma Mariano, Alijah Barrino, Maikela Takamiya, Courtney Ruidas, Elysse Phillips, Daniel Kapua, Kayla Sniffen, Ceilia Sanchez, Hunter Logan, Caitlin Villarosa and Bryson Barron. Photo courtesy of Hawaii All-Stars.

By Rodney S. Yap

Practice makes perfect, and perfect practice makes champions.

Cheer coach Keali’i Molina is religious about fundamentals, insisting the backbone of his club’s success is built on the sport’s basics. The glamor and charm associated with the Hawaii All-Stars are the result of hard work and personal commitment.

The 4-year-old club celebrated its first Restricted Level 5 championship on Sunday, March 1, and its second straight title at the National Cheerleaders Association All Star Nationals in Dallas.

On Monday, Molina and the 21-member team flew 3,720 miles from Texas to Kahului where family and friends awaited their arrival. Molina rewarded the team with a day off on Tuesday before scheduling its return to practice on Wednesday at the club’s East Wakea Avenue gym.

The HASC Restricted Level 5 team prepare to take the floor on day two of the NCA All Star Nationals in Dallas. Photo courtesy of Hawaii All-Stars.

“They had a day off,” said Molina, the owner of Hawaii All-Stars and head coach. “It’s hard right now. This is a crazy time of the season for us and there is just no letup.”

Molina boasted about his Restricted Level 5 team’s ability to rally from a first-day error with a flawless second-day performance that secured a division championship and a 96.35 final score. The Hawaii All-Stars defeated eight other teams, including Raider Extreme Platinum (94.91) from Lubbock, Texas, and World Class Athletics Black Diamond (94.03) from Panama City Beach, Fla.

“They killed it on the second day. It was fun to watch. We are always a little shaky and a little timid on day one. But they kicked butt on day two.

“I basically told them that if they hit it, they would win. And they did, you could tell from the response from the audience that they hit it.”

Prior to taking the mat, Molina challenged his co-ed team to seize the moment.

The National Cheerleaders Association All Star Nationals in Dallas, Feb. 28 and March 1, drew more than 13,000 teams from across the country. Photo courtesy of Hawaii All-Star Cheer.

“I told them that nobody is going to hand them anything. In life, in general, no matter where you go, nobody is going to give it to you. If you want something, you have to get out there and take it. . . . When we get on that mat you’re nobody’s friend, but as soon as we get off you have to be friends with everybody.”

For the second time in as many years the Hawaii All-Stars competed and won at the largest cheerleading championships in the country. Last year the club won the Senior Level 4 title. This year’s national competition had more than 13,000 teams competing.

The first Restricted Level 5 team to ever come out of Maui, included cheerleaders between 8th and 12th grade from five different Maui County schools. The winning team included Ashlee Sawai, Chaston Abut, Breeann Joaquin, Laurell Malaqui-Sanchez, Chloe Lawrence, Krysta Freitas, Jonathon You, Tayler Pelligrino- Hayase, Samantha Saribay, Ally Yonohara, Mishalei Coloma Mariano, Alijah Barrino, Maikela Takamiya, Courtney Ruidas, Elysse Phillips, Daniel Kapua, Kayla Sniffen, Ceilia Sanchez, Hunter Logan, Caitlin Villarosa and Bryson Barron.

The Hawaii All-Stars Restricted Level 5 team pose outside the train station en route to its competition on Sunday, March 2. Photo courtesy of Hawaii All-Stars.

“Level 5 is the highest level the high school kids can compete at,” Molina explained. “Restricted means there are some tumbling restrictions that we cannot do, it’s really a safety issue, and as we get better we will eventually be a real Level 5 team — by next year. But we needed to start to learn what Level 5 is all about.

“For instance, in Level 4 they can only do straight flips, while in Level 5 they can do twists. And when they tumble, instead of doing a flip they have to twist now.”

The Hawaii All-Star Cheerleaders depart the Hawaii Convention Center after winning the Athletic Championships, Jan. 10-11. Photo courtesy of Hawaii All-Stars.

The Hawaii All-Stars’ competitive season started in January on Oahu, where all four of its club teams — Junior 2, Senior 3, Senior 4 and Restricted 5 — won their respective divisions at the Athletic Championships. The two-day contest, Jan. 10-11, was held at the Hawaii Convention Center and organized by Varsity All-Star.

Molina will take all four teams (74 cheerleaders) to Anaheim, Calif., March 28-29, for the USA All-Star Championships. The teams will also be competing in The Summit All Level Championship in Orlando, Fla., May 3-4.  The Summit is an invite-only competition, with the top 10% of all cheer teams in the country invited to compete. The Hawaii All-Stars Senior Level 4 and Level 5 teams will be attending The Summit.

“The teams always go back to basics,” Molina concluded. “They have to go back to basics at every single practice and they have to be strong with their basics if they are going to have strong performances.”

Hawaii All-Stars tryouts will be held May 7-8 at its Kahului gym. For more information, call Coach Keali’i at (808)269-1066 or go to hiallstarcheer.com.

Hawaii All-Stars Senior Restricted Level 5

2015 – Athletic Championships

2015 – NCA National Champions

Hawaii All-Stars Senior Level 4

2012 – USA National Champions

2012 – USA Choreograhpy Award

2012 – Aloha International Champions

2013 – Jamfest National Champions

2013 – USA National Champions

2013 – Summit Paid Bid Winner

2013 – Aloha Spirit International Champions

2013 – Runner – Up at the Summit All Levels Championship

2014 – NCA National Champions

2014 – USA National Champions

2014 – USA Small Gym Champions

2014 – USA Grand Champions

2014 – Summit Paid Bid Winner

2015 – Athletic Championships

Hawaii All-Stars Senior Co-Ed Level 3

2012 – Runner Up USA All-Star Nationals

2012 – Aloha International Champions

2012 – Aloha International Grand Champions

2013 – Jamfest National Champions

2013 – Jamfest Choreography Award

2013 – USA National Champions

2013 – Aloha International Champions

2013 – Aloha International Grand Champions

2014 – USA National Champions

2014 – USA Grand Champions

2014 – Summit Paid Bid Winner

2015 – Athletic Championships

Hawaii All-Stars Small Junior Level 2

2012 – Aloha International Runner Up

2013 – USA National Champion

2013 – USA Grand Champions

2013 – Summit Paid Bid Winner

2013 – Champion Aloha International Championships

2013 – Third Place at the Summit

2014 – Third Place at USA All-Star Nationals

2015 – Athletic Championships