Did you know that Kalihi Valley is home to the wallaby? According to legend, around the turn of the century, a pair of Australian wallabies (cousins to the kangaroo) were brought to Kalihi Valley. Occasionally hunters still spot these rare and agile creatures above Ho’oulu ‘Aina.

It is this legend on which a basketball team name was born. Donning the moniker of the wallabies, KVIBE youth take pride in representing this unique creature each time they take the court. Like their marsupial counterparts which they affectionately take their team's name from, the KVIBE Wallabies also call Kalihi their home. It's this special place that connects the community of teams in the Late Night Basketball League. 

Now in its 25th year, the Late Night Basketball League is an annual 5 on 5 basketball competition sponsored by Weed & Seed Hawaii. Comprised of teams from the Kalihi community, youth compete in weekly matches, participate in community service, and attend an educational session with HPD officers.  

***KVIBE Wallabies shake hands with an opposing team at the conclusion of a Late Night Basketball League game.***

In its origin, the league was started to give kids something fun to do during the late evening hours and keep them off the street as a prevention tool to curb crime. While the league no longer keeps late hours, it remains a popular and beloved program that connects Kalihi youth through sport. Every summer, teams practice and compete for trophies and bragging rights.

When the pandemic hit, the league had to get creative to keep youth engaged. 2020 and 2021 saw an alternative to the typical programming in the form of a basketball skills challenge. This reduced COVID-19 exposure and kept the youth engaged. Face-to-face competition returned this year.

“Super excited,” is how KVIBE Coordinator, Austin Haleyalpiy, described the atmosphere. “There was a lot of built-up nervous energy and the youth were excited to play.” The League came back in full force this year, surpassing pre-pandemic participation numbers.

The KVIBE Wallabies finished a successful league appearance this year. They are poised and ready to compete again next year, proud to carry on the legend of the wallaby and the time-honored tradition of Late Night Basketball. 