The Lahaina Chiefs U-14 team is coached by Dukie Kaina, Andre Hale and Jon Jon Lacuesta.

LAHAINA — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to squeeze the life out of our comfort and traditions, youth sports programs struggle to gain footing within the protocols set down by government officials at all levels.

The 2020 youth sports calendar on Maui was wiped out and, as we enter the final quarter of 2021, high school and keiki football are just now getting started with practices and limited schedules penciled in for October.

The Lahaina Chiefs of the Maui Pop Warner Football Association has been an active introductory program within the organization for decades. And, pandemic or not, the West Side Red Tide continues to roll.

Led by a dedicated board of directors that includes Commissioner Marilyn Valencia, President Richard Valencia, Vice President Ivan Basques, Secretary Tara Jones and Treasurer Heather Lombardi, the Lahaina program has been able to navigate through the MPWFA guidelines and is ready to field a 14-Under team for the abbreviated 2021 season.

The U-14 Chiefs are guided by Directors Kamiela O’Kalani Dixon, Leilani Keli’ikipi Dixon, Tara Jones, Wilbert Pascua, and Heather Lombardi. The limited 25-player roster is coached by Aundre Hale, Jon Jon Lacuesta and Dukie Kaina and kicked off their 2021 season last Saturday, Oct. 2.

The opener was held at the Pit in Kahului as the Chiefs faced off against Kahului. This would be the first of eight to ten games on the schedule of all daytime kick-offs.

There are two home games on the schedule for the Lahaina team.

Restrictions set down by the MPWFA include vaccination or exemption documentation and testing, as well as the 25-player roster limit.

No spectators will be allowed, and only team officials will be on the sidelines.

Lahaina Commissioner Marilyn Valencia said, “The league is setting strict protocols for proceeding, including documentation and testing. Everybody wants the parents to feel safe.”

“We’re hoping that the mayor will lift the restrictions, but we’ll try to make the best of it… we’ve had so many setbacks. Right now we’re trying to get some kind of video feed for the games. We’re trying to get some kind of normalcy for the kids. It’s been tough.

“Our sincere thank you goes out to the families of all the kids, to the community and to all of our friends of the Lahaina Chiefs. Also a big mahalo to the board members and the Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation for their support of Pop Warner football here,” Valencia concluded.