Media Release

The Hawaii Isle Police Activities League (HI-PAL) will hold its 28th Annual Winter Basketball Classic in Hilo from Friday, December 26, through Monday, December 29.

Team registration is open to the following age divisions: boys 9 and 10, boys 11 and 12, boys 13 and 14, girls 10 and under, girls 12 and under, and girls 14 and under.

Teams interested in entering should call East Hawaii HI-PAL Officer Joseph Botelho Jr. as soon as possible. There is no entry fee to participate.

Botelho said that for many years the HI-PAL Winter Basketball Classic was a “stand-alone event” but that participation this year might be reduced because other organizations across the state are holding similar events. He added, however, that he welcomes the added activities and finds it encouraging that Hawaii’s youths are participating in community sports.

The deadline to register a team in the HI-PAL tournament is December 12. No exceptions will be made for registrations submitted after that date. Teams must pick up their registration packets, complete them and send a Team Eligibility Affidavit Form (roster) to the HI-PAL office either by mail or by calling Officer Botelho to make arrangements to drop them off in person. Teams that fail to turn their roster forms in by December 12 will not be placed on the tournament schedule.

“The HI-PAL program wants to present a well-run Winter Basketball Classic event for the participants and their supporters while at the same time utilizing the limited resources available,” Botelho said.

The mailing address for submitting forms is:

If you have any questions or if you wish to make arrangements to drop off forms, please call Officer Botelho at at 961-2220 or 896-9710 or Officer Randy Morris at 326-4646, extension 258.