Kauai County Opens Free Hoopster Plus Registration November 26

The Kauai County Department of Parks and Recreation announced on November 20 that online registration will open at 8 a.m. on November 26 for the free 2026 Hoopster Plus Developmental Basketball Program. The initiative is designed for boys and girls in fourth grade and seeks to bridge the gap between existing Mini and Junior Hoopsters offerings and more competitive league play.

Hoopster Plus will take place in January 2026 at the Kalāheo Neighborhood Center Gym. The program will include four weeks of instruction with two sessions per week on Mondays and Wednesdays, for a total of eight sessions, beginning January 5. Registration instructions and information about accessibility accommodations were included in the county release, and families seeking further details may contact Clyde Vito at 808 335 3731 or cvito@kauai.gov.

For local families the program reduces common barriers to youth sports participation by offering no cost enrollment. Placing the sessions at the Kalāheo Neighborhood Center Gym concentrates resources on the south side of the island, which will be convenient for nearby communities and may require travel for residents on other parts of Kauai. The county indicated accommodations will be made for participants with access needs, a detail that matters for equity in local program access.

The Department of Parks and Recreation runs a portfolio of youth activities that serve both recreational and developmental goals. Hoopster Plus is positioned as a transitional program to help young players gain skills and experience before entering more competitive environments. That positioning has implications for how the county allocates staffing time, facility access, and budget resources in coming years, and it may shape expectations among parents and youth about the county role in sports development.

Public investment in youth programming can also intersect with civic priorities. Voters and community stakeholders often consider the availability of safe, organized recreation when evaluating local leadership and budgeting decisions. Offering a free developmental basketball program signals a county commitment to youth services, but sustaining and expanding such offerings will require continued oversight and clear metrics on participation, outcomes, and equitable geographic distribution.

Kauaʻi Now published a short item on November 20 summarizing the county release and registration details. Residents interested in enrolling a child in Hoopster Plus should prepare to register online starting at 8 a.m. on November 26 and can contact the Department of Parks and Recreation through the information provided by the county for further assistance.