Cheerleaders of all ages, from toddler to teenager, showcased their skills Saturday afternoon during the third annual Big Island Cheer Cheer-Fest.
Hosted by Big Island Cheer, a Hilo gym that offers recreational and competitive cheerleading, the event featured performances by 13 squads from East Hawaii. Recreational, Pop Warner and high school teams hit the mats to demonstrate their splits, pyramids and tumbles, voices echoing through the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium.
The voices grew stronger and the moves more challenging as the program went on and older groups performed.
Cheer parent Jen Moses-Kalingo took a break from selling plate lunches and drinks to watch the Big Island Cheer Divas, who competed in Honolulu earlier this year. Her daughter, Tjahlor, 9, is the youngest on the squad.
“It’s hard work,” said Moses-Kalingo, watching the group of tweens and teens nail a pyramid formation and a basket toss before lining up for a set of practiced back handsprings. But, she said, the hard work pays off.
For the Panaewa Ali‘i cheerleaders, a Pop Warner team, the event was the first time they presented the routine they rehearsed for the past two weeks.
“We really like it,” said Ali‘i cheerleader Naia Aayo-Ledo, 15, who said she especially liked practicing jumps.
The exhibition offered a way for the team to shake its jitters out before next weekend’s Pop Warner competition, said coach Winter Nakanelua-Kuamoo.
“We’re all first-timers,” she said. The Ali‘i cheer team was revived this year after two years without a squad. “We’re very proud of them.”
Ali‘i cheerleader Ashley Fejeran, 12, said her favorite thing about cheering was how well everyone on the team got along.
The same could be said aboutthe entire cheer community at the event. After each routine, led by the Keaukaha Warriors’ squads, the waiting teams in the stands clapped and summed up the day in a few words.
“A-W-E, S-O-M-E. Awesome, awesome, totally!”
Participating squads were Big Island Cheer Tottie-Dotties, Panaewa Ali‘i Mascots, Big Island Cheer Dixies, Waiakea Nakoas, Big Island Cheer Daisies, Keaukaha Warriors, St. Joseph School (varsity and JV), Hilo High (varsity and JV), Big Island Cheer Dolls and Big Island Cheer Divas.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
