This year’s annual Keiki Fest was a successful mix of entertaining activities and critical information for Molokai families. Organized by the Molokai Community Action Team, the event focused on ‘ohana well-being, explained Titi Hernandez, lead organizer of Keiki Fest.

“It’s for the keiki and their families,” said Hernandez. “We wanted to celebrate the keiki a little bit more as well as have a place for families to hang out.”

With over 1,200 Molokai community members in attendance at the Molokai Community Health Center on April 26, Hernandez and the Molokai Community Action Team were busy ushering kids and families between information booths, games, prizes, music performances and more. The Molokai Community Action Team partners with Molokai Child Abuse Prevention Pathways to deliver critical messages and education to families at Keiki Fest.

The informational booths with different Molokai services and resources serve as checkpoints for kids to earn prizes, explained Hernandez.

“Nobody can get a prize until they get education,” she said.

Senator Lynn DeCoite, fresh out of the senate’s final budget discussions, came out with her family to enjoy the day and present special recognitions on behalf of the senate.

“This event says a lot about our community,” said DeCoite. “I think this gives us an opportunity to come out and share some of our mana’o on how we can do better for Molokai.”

DeCoite presented the Molokai Community Action Team with an award from the senate for their community contributions. Additionally, Jodi Puaoi, branch manager at American Savings Bank, was recognized for her years of contributions to Keiki Fest.

“This Keiki Fest wouldn’t be here without you,” said DeCoite to Puaoi as she presented her with the award.

The day ended with the highlight to end all highlights – the fire trucks came and sprayed the kids with water hoses.

As DeCoite put it, “the kids are happy, the parents are happy, everyone is happy.”

Hawai'i Governor Josh Green, State Senator Lynn DeCoite, State Representative Adrian Tam, and Rams President Kevin Demoff announced the Rams' Mauicamp in Maui, from June 16-19. Following devastating wildfires in Maui, the Rams raised significant funds for disaster relief, enhancing their partnership with the state. The event will feature player activities, youth clinics, and community service, with hopes to strengthen ties and grow the Rams' fan base in Hawai'i. Demoff hinted at future collaborations, potentially leading to more Rams events and a stadium in Hawai'i.

By the Numbers

• The Rams raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through fundraising efforts for Maui relief.

• The Mauicamp will accommodate unique on-field activities over four days, including clinics for 400 local student-athletes.

State of Play

• The Rams will host training activities at War Memorial Stadium alongside local youth clinics.

• Local government officials are optimistic about fostering an ongoing relationship with the Rams beyond this year's camp.

What's Next

The Rams and Hawai'i officials aim to explore a longer partnership, potentially leading to more events and a future stadium on the islands by 2028, coinciding with the Los Angeles Olympics.

Bottom Line

This partnership reflects a growing relationship between the Rams and Hawai'i, emphasizing community support and economic growth while fostering a budding football fan base in the state.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Hawai'i Governor Josh Green M.D., State Senator Lynn DeCoite, State Representative Adrian Tam and Rams President Kevin Demoff spoke with local media on Wednesday about the Rams' Mauicamp Powered by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), which will take place from Monday, June 16 to Thursday, June 19.

After wildfires devastated parts of Maui in August of 2023, the Rams raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through the sale and auction of custom-made "Mālama Maui" shirts and the in-game 50/50 Raffle supporting American Red Cross relief efforts, among other fundraising endeavors. Those efforts, along with their previous relationship from hosting a preseason game in 2019, made both sides realize that "a partnership is in order," Green said.

"We wanted to find a way to thank L.A. for one huge reason, which if I say nothing else today, it should be this: Mahalo," Green said. "Mahalo means thanks, and it's thanks from our heart."

"Our state went through a very, very tragic and tough circumstance in 2023... And we're healing, we're growing, we're returning to a place where we can live again. But the Rams stepped up, and they ran their Mālama, which was a care campaign for us, and brought incredible resources to help us heal, reestablish the need to travel to Hawai'i, to Maui."

Green said they reached out to the Rams to discuss having minicamp in Maui while staying at Fairmont Kea Lani, which will serve as "an official home of the Rams" – they accepted. On Tuesday, June 17 and Wednesday, June 18, the Rams will host on-field team activities, featuring players in workout gear at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku.

After team activities on Tuesday, the Rams will host a girls flag football and boys football clinic for 400 local student-athletes, and then players and staff will join Habitat for Humanity to assist the rebuilding of four homes in Lahaina. On Wednesday, the Rams will host a PLAY 60 Field Day for local children ages 5-12 who participate in the County of Maui's Play and Learn Sessions (PALS) Summer program on Wednesday.

"It is going to be a special four days for the organization and hopefully something that the rest of the NFL really looks at celebrating as we get to the end of the offseason," said Demoff.

The Tuesday on-field football session will be invite-only through HTA, while Wednesday's session will be open and free to the public through ticket sales.

This agreement is currently only in place for one year, but both the Rams and the state of Hawai'i are leaving the door open for a longer relationship that will encourage more Rams events in Hawai'i. Demoff mentioned 2028, when Los Angeles will host the Olympics, as a potential opportunity for that.

"We're hopeful to be able to continue it and see how it goes and where we can go from there," Demoff said. "... Governor Green and I have been talking over the past few years, we would love to see a stadium get get built there and as soon as one did, I think we would love to get back there for preseason."

The damage that both Los Angeles and Hawai'i have endured from wildfires over the past few years has only fortified the connection between the Rams and The Aloha State.

"At that time, we didn't know how tied together we would be by devastating wildfires when we made this announcement, but I think that strengthened the bond between our islands and Los Angeles," Green said. "It's made this an even more important event."

The last time they held a preseason game in Hawai'i, it sold out within 12 hours of the announcement and became the most attended event at Aloha Stadium, beating out a Bruno Mars performance, "which was a good one to pass," Demoff said with a smile. He added that this is "a truly symbiotic relationship that we hope grows over time."

DeCoite and Tam also expressed their thanks for the Rams' generosity and excitement about the partnership.

"I'm excited to welcome the Los Angeles Rams to Hawai'i so we can not only foster more economic stimulus and grow our economies, but to grow a fan base for the Los Angeles Rams in Hawai'i as well so that we can continue to have them come visit us when we build our new stadium," Tam said.

Added DeCoite: "There's been no team that I know of today like the LA Rams that have stepped up, have truly pushed out Aloha."

Although he grew up a Steelers fan in Pittsburgh, Green said he always liked the Rams' "electric" franchise, and has come to appreciate it even more in working with the team's leadership. Bringing the team to Hawai'i recognizes both their appreciation for the Rams' generosity and the youth of Hawai'i's growing fandom and athletic aspirations.

"This is our opportunity to bond with the L.A. Rams," Green said. "This is our opportunity to say, you are fantastic, you're the people we trust, and we want to have a positive impact and a generational relationship."