Maui surfing community wins ESPY award
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Archie Kalepa greets a friend at the boat ramp in Kahana on Sept. 21.
The Maui surfing community won the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at today’s ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
The Maui surfing community, including Kai Lenny, were recognized for their efforts following the August 2023 Lahaina wildfires. Maui surfers and water safety teams were some of the first to respond to the disaster, helping drop off food and supplies to survivors with jet skis, because of road blockages.
The award was presented by actor Rob Lowe. Lenny and Archie Kalepa accepted the award on behalf of the Maui surfing community.
“What was lost can never be replaced, but together we can rebuild our home to honor the fallen and celebrate the history of this special place,” Lenny said to the audience. “To the first responders who risked their lives to save so many, mahalo, thank you.”
A video on the efforts of the Maui surfing community is posted on ESPN.com along with a listing of the other award winners.
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The other finalists were New Orleans Pelicans’ shooting guard CJ McCollum, New York Yankees’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo and professional women’s tennis player Sloane Stephens.
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ESPYS
Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
Best NFL Player: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best Driver: Max Verstappen, Formula One
Best NBA Player: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Best Athlete with a Disability: Brenna Huckaby, Snowboarding
Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports: Caitlin Clark, Iowa Basketball
Best WNBA Player: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Best Breakthrough Athlete: JuJu Watkins, USC Basketball
Best Championship Performance: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Pat Tillman Award for Service: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Best Athlete, Women’s Sports: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s
basketball coach
Best Play: Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson catches his own pass
Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Steve Gleason
Best Athlete, Men’s Sports: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best Record-Breaking Performance: Iowa’s Caitlin Clark crowned as the
NCAA’s all-time scoring leader
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Maui Surfing Community
Best Comeback Athlete: Simone Biles, Gymnastics
Best Team: South Carolina Women’s Basketball
