MyPearlCity.com would like to recognize the Lanakila Soccer Club as our PC I.N.K. Incredible Neighborhood Kids selection for the month of April. The Lanakila Soccer Club (LSC) includes three soccer teams, Co-ed U11, U9 Girls, and U8 Girls and is led by LSC founders Shelly Tanaka and husband Ryan Tanaka who started the club back in 2010 with one U8 Girls team. Shelly is the club President and both serve as coaches and administrators. The LSC is sanctioned by the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association (HYSA),
Photo courtesy of Lanakila Soccer Club
Together, the Tanaka’s, have guided and built a truly unique soccer club that instills Shelly’s vision of going beyond the soccer field to develop the whole child. Shelly and Ryan are the first to admit that the club’s success comes from the support of the LSC ohana which includes the coaches, players, community and especially the parents who have bought into the club’s vision and philosophies and are always there to lend a hand.
“All our parents are really great for their support,” said Shelly Tanaka. “We really appreciate our parents.”
More than just soccer…it's about developing the whole child
The Lanakila Soccer Club is committed to serve the community through community service projects that reach out to those in need from different demographics on Oahu throughout the year.
“We also coordinate social activities for our players to help them develop their social skills,” said Ryan Tanaka. “This is all part of Shelly's vision of developing the "whole child" that extends beyond just soccer.”
“We do community service projects three times a year,” Shelly Tanaka said. “Some of the ones we just did recently were Lanakila Meals on Wheels and we also made Christmas cards for the seniors. We also packed toiletries and Easter goodies that we provided to Project Hawaii for Waianae Homeless. We also did the collection and distribution of CFL light bulbs in conjunction with Blue Planet Hawaii. Our first one was for the Salvation Army Angel Tree. We manned a booth and they also picked presents for an angel.”
This past March, the LSC ohana participated in the CTAP-Community Traffic Awareness Program that is supported by HPD Officers from the Pearl City District 3 Community Policing Team and coordinated by State Representative K. Mark Takai. Each month, CTAP community volunteers join HPD to sign wave in Pearl City and Aiea to bring awareness for motorists to slow down and drive safely as they commute through our neighborhoods. LSC volunteers joined the March CTAP sign waving event which was conducted at the intersection of Komo Mai Drive and Kaahumanu Street near where the club practices at Waiau District Park on March 6, 2012. The club’s mission was to bring awareness to the problem of traffic safety in the area.
“The reason we participated was because we want the kids to be more involved in the community and one of the things that is important is the safety of the kids because they practice right here by Waiau District Park,” Shelly Tanaka said. “A lot of times there’s a lot of cars when we cross the street or come out of the parking lot. We wanted to raise awareness and for them to get involved in that as well.”
What impressed me while navigating through the LSC website (http://lanakilasoccer.org/) was the club’s philosophy and how Shelly and Ryan have designed and executed its structure to be truly positive in all aspects of developing a child through the learning process while preparing them for the future.
(from the LSC web site)
Our philosophies
The Lanakila Soccer Club and its coaches recognize that its players are young and impressionable. Each player is:
Encouraged as a person who can improve through hard work, interacting with others, and learning through mistakes and feedback;
Respected as a child with feelings who wants to have fun and fit in with friends;
Understood as an individual with personal strengths and weaknesses, who will develop at his/her pace;
Valued for his/her contributions and challenged to become a well-rounded player and individual.
The Lanakila Soccer Club’s staff includes a number of educators who utilize teaching and learning principles in their coaching — engaging players through active play and motivating them through positive coaching.
It’s pretty impressive and obviously working due to everyone involved with the Lanakila Soccer Club and who share in the club’s success. Most importantly, the kids are having fun and enjoy playing Soccer!
Congratulations to Coach Shelly (proud Pearl City High School Alumni) and her U8 Girls who recently came in first place and to the U9 Girls who captured third place.
Mahalo to the awesome LSC soccer teams and congratulations for being recognized as PC I.N.K.- Incredible Neighborhood Kids.
Please contact Ryan and Shelly Tanaka by emailing: [email protected] or [email protected] or call (808)255-4310 if you are interested in attending LSC practices or activities or would like more information.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
LSC ohana pictured participating in the CTAP-Community Traffic Awareness Program sign waving event on March, 6, 2012 at intersection of Komo Mai Drive and Kaahumanu Street in Pearl City.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Great Job!