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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.

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.

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.

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

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