Canoe Alley
Making Waves: OCC Student-Athletes Selected as Duke Award Finalists
Junior Outrigger members William Ancheta and Kahealani Moriwaki have been selected as finalists for the 2025 Duke Award, created to recognize an outstanding Hawai‘i high school senior who exemplifies the character and personality traits of Duke Kahanamoku.
➳ For Ancheta, the ocean is more than just a passion—it’s his second home. As a senior at Punahou School, he thrives in water sports like surfing, paddling, and spearfishing. He’s paddled across the Ka'iwi Channel multiple times in a six-man outrigger canoe and raced internationally in Tahiti, where his crew earned second place in a challenging 40- mile race. Ancheta says that being an OCC member has greatly influenced his athletic journey, as he has spent much of his life paddling and surfing at the Club. “Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me and my family because it will open up more opportunities in the future,” he adds.
➳ Moriwaki is committed to joining the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa's Rainbow Wahine volleyball team as a libero in 2025. She is passionate about expanding recruitment opportunities in Hawai‘i, with the goal of showcasing the state's volleyball talent on a larger stage. Looking ahead, she plans to major in business at UH Mānoa. For Moriwaki, being selected as a finalist is a meaningful way to cap off her high school experience. She says she has been fortunate to have outstanding role models in her Outrigger coaches, Lia Young Hunt and Evan Silberstein, whose guidance and mentorship have left a lasting impact on her volleyball career. “Being on the OCC beach volleyball team has given me the opportunity to witness older girls graduate and move on to play in college, which inspired me to work hard and follow in their footsteps,” Moriwaki explains. “The sense of community and the values I've learned at OCC have truly shaped not just my athletic abilities, but my character as well.” As finalists, both Ancheta and Moriwaki will also receive scholarships from the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation.
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