5 Creative Ways Hawaii Sports Parents Are Fundraising for Travel Teams

If you are reading this, you probably just got "The Email." You know the one—the invitation to the big tournament in Vegas, Anaheim, or Phoenix. Your heart swells with pride for your keiki, followed immediately by the sinking feeling of seeing the estimated cost per player. Living in paradise has a price, and for youth athletics, that price is airfare. While mainland parents can hop in a minivan, we are booking Southwest or Hawaiian Airlines for the whole ohana. As a coach and a parent who has sold enough chili tickets to pave the H1, I know the grind. But the old ways are changing. Here is how savvy Oahu families are funding the dream without going broke. ## 1. The "Local Food" Powerhouse (It’s Not Just Cookies) On the mainland, they sell wrapping paper. In Hawaii, we sell food. It is the cultural currency of the islands. If you try to sell a candle, good luck. If you sell a meal, you’ll sell out. * **Zippy’s Benefit Tickets:** The absolute gold standard. They are easy to sell because local aunties and uncles *actually want them*. * **Locally Made Snacks:** Forget generic candy bars. Companies like **FunDelicious Creations** (based here in Hawaii) offer snack packs that locals love. * **The "Meat" Hustle:** You’ve seen the kids on the side of the road. Selling **Portuguese Sausage** or locally made **USDA-approved beef jerky** (like Crispy Beef Jerky) yields high margins. People buy it because it’s distinct to our palate. **Coach’s Tip:** Timing is everything. Don't launch your Zippy's fundraiser the same week as the band, the hula halau, and the football team. Check the community calendar. ## 2. The "Mainland Ohana" Connection (Digital Fundraising) We all have family in California, Nevada, or Oregon. They can't buy a Zippy's ticket, and they can't get their car washed in Kapolei. This is where the digital pivot happens. Platforms like **Blast Athletics**, **Vertical Raise**, and **Snap! Raise** have taken over Oahu high school sports. * **How it works:** Your athlete creates a profile, uploads a video (shot at the beach or their home field for that "Hawaii factor"), and sends a text link to family worldwide. * **The "Aloha" Angle:** Unlike GoFundMe, which can feel like begging, these platforms allow kids to post updates, game highlights, and "thank you" videos. It feels like a subscription to the child’s journey. * **ROI:** Teams on Oahu are seeing averages of **$800–$1,200 raised per athlete** using this method because it taps into the "distance guilt" of mainland relatives who want to support but can't be there. ## 3. Passive Income: Fundraising While You Shop This is the "smarter, not harder" approach. Apps like **RaiseRight** (formerly Scrip) allow you to buy digital gift cards for things you are already buying, with a percentage going back to the team. * **The Strategy:** You are going to buy groceries at Safeway or Sam's Club anyway. You are going to buy hardware at Home Depot or Lowe's. * **The Return:** Instead of using your debit card, you buy a gift card through the app. You get full value, but the team gets **2–20% back**. * **Hawaii Context:** Make sure to check the vendor list. While some local spots aren't on there, almost all our big box stores (Walmart, Target, Old Navy) are. A team of 15 families can easily generate **$1,000+ a year** just by changing *how* they pay for groceries. ## 4. The "Give-Back" Night (Eat Out to Help Out) Cooking dinner after practice is a hassle. This strategy capitalizes on that exhaustion. Many Hawaii chains offer "fundraiser nights" where they donate a percentage of sales (usually 15-20%) from customers who bring in a flyer or mention the team. * **Top Local Partners:** * **Panda Express:** A favorite for post-game meals. * **California Pizza Kitchen (CPK):** Great for team bonding nights. * **Zippy’s:** Occasionally offers partnership nights. * **The Secret:** Don't just rely on random customers. Make it a mandatory "Team Bonding" night. If the whole team eats there after practice, you guarantee a baseline of sales. Here is the rewritten section with a fresh, local name and a more engaging, "sweat equity" angle. *** ## 5. The "Iron Keiki" Performance Pledge Let's be real: nobody actually wants another calendar or a tub of cookie dough. What donors *do* want is to see our kids working hard and earning their way to the mainland. Instead of the boring "Lap-a-Thon," savvy Oahu teams are rebranding these as **"Iron Keiki" Challenges** or **Skills Combines**. It turns fundraising into a spectacle of grit. * **How it Works:** Instead of a flat donation, Aunty and Uncle pledge a dollar amount per unit of effort. * **Baseball/Softball:** "The Home Run Derby" (Pledge per foot or per fence cleared). * **Soccer/Basketball:** "The 100-Make Challenge" (Pledge per goal/basket made in 10 minutes). * **Football/Rugby:** "The Sled Push" (Pledge per yard pushed across the red dirt). * **The "Proof" (Social Media Magic):** You don't just tell donors it happened—you **Livestream it**. Put the event on Instagram Live or TikTok. Let the donors see the sweat, the red dirt stains, and the high-fives. * **Why It Works:** It shifts the narrative from "asking for a handout" to "supporting an athlete's grind." It proves to the community that these kids are serious about their training, making the wallet open much faster. ## Bonus: The "Only in Hawaii" Hustle – Imu Service I have to add this one because it is unique to our islands and incredibly profitable. During Thanksgiving or Graduation season, sports teams (especially football and wrestling) will offer **Imu service**. * **The Concept:** The team digs a massive imu. Community members pay $20-$30 to drop off their trays of turkey or pork to be cooked underground overnight. * **The Value:** It builds massive camaraderie among the boys and girls digging the pit, and the community loves the service because digging an imu at home is hard work. ## Final Thoughts: It Takes a Village The cost of youth sports in Hawaii is no joke. But neither is our community spirit. Whether you are selling tickets, emailing Aunty in Vegas, or digging an imu, remember: you aren't just raising money for a plane ticket. You are raising money for memories, character, and the chance for our keiki to represent the 808 to the world. So, grab your clipboard, download the apps, and let's get these kids to the mainland. Chee hoo!