Hāloa Dudoit: Living and Spreading PONO
“It’s truly a blessing to have grown up through the All PONO organization, and I can’t thank the organization enough—especially Aunty Maile and Uncle Jon—for everything they have done for me. I plan to live my life being PONO, and pass it on to all I encounter. PONO...Do What Is Right!”
All PONO Founder & President, Jon Viela, with All PONO Athlete, Haloa Dudoit
2017 marked All PONO’s 10th year since its inception in 2007. What started as two softball teams grew to over 250 players, 75 coaches and team moms, and 500 parents and volunteers, participating in club softball and baseball programs on the islands of Maui and Lānaʻi.
All PONO was created by Jon and Maile Viela, in honor of their son, Jrew Kūpono—lovingly called Pono Boy—who passed away in an ATV accident in 2004. According to Jon and Maile’s daughter, Jrae, “our family didn’t want to sit at home crying forever. We wanted to turn our tragedy into something positive.”
“To me, PONO means to put other before yourself; being respectful to everyone and anyone, no matter who they are; doing the right things when someone is watching, or even when you’re alone; and lastly, just going through life trying to spread and impact someone with positivity.”
The Next Generation of All PONO Athletes
In August 2017, at the organization’s annual Fun Run, Jon and Maile introduced Hāloa Dudoit as a proud member of the All PONO ‘ohana, to a budding group of Next Generation PONO players. Hāloa is the second eldest of four siblings—one sister (Kailee) and two younger brothers (Haku and Hāliʻi). The brothers grew up as PONO Braves—coached by their father, Shane, as well as by Jon. Hāloa, Shane, and Jon remained together throughout high school, ‘til Hāloa’s senior year in 2016.
At the same time, Jon made the “bitter-sweet“ decision to leave his alma mater—where he himself played; had become an educator, head coach, and assistant athletic director—to take on the Athletic Director position at Kamehameha Schools – Maui. With Jon’s last BHS baseball season at hand, Hāloa and his high school team sent Jon off as a Hawaiʻi High School State Champion.
VIDEO | Star Advertiser
Upon earning the championship title, a Star Advertiser reporter asked Jon to speak the first word that came to mind, and when Jon heard Hāloa’s name, Jon’s response was, “LEADER”. According to Jon:
Hāloa never feared away from working hard and using the PONO values taught on and off the field to mold him to person he is today. It is because of his strong work ethic and solid foundation, he is a successful starting collegiate baseball player. Of course, Hāloa has a special bond with Pono Boy, as well as the All Pono Organization and its vision and mission, as he was a part of Pono’s life.
Currently, Hāloa is in his first year at Concordia University Irvine; playing shortstop; planning to major in sports management. When asked of All PONO, Hāloa responded:
PHOTO | Concordia University Irvine Athletics
I am extremely grateful and blessed to be in the position that I am in today. I worked hard since I was young to get to this point. But also, I would not be here if it wasn’t for the All PONO organization. I was raised in the organization, however there is more to it than just that.
All PONO creates a lifestyle, and that is exactly what it did for me. It made me a better in school, on and off the baseball field, within my family, and also within the community. It improved the person I am in all aspects of life.
From the very beginning of All PONO, I was surrounded by a family that supported me with positivity like no other. Whether it was in school, baseball, or just anything that I was going through, I knew I had people to rely on—especially Uncle Jon and Aunty Maile. As the organization grew, more and more people were impacted by the “PONO Movement”. It was an amazing thing to witness.
So what does being PONO mean to me? Being PONO means a bunch of different things to me! Being PONO literally means to “Do What Is Right”. I myself take many things from this definition, and use it in my everyday life. To me, PONO means to put others before yourself; being respectful to everyone and anyone, no matter who they are; doing the right things when someone is watching, or even when you’re alone; and lastly, just going through life trying to spread and impact someone with positivity.
It’s truly a blessing to have grown up through the All PONO organization, and I can’t thank the organization enough—especially Aunty Maile and Uncle Jon—for everything they have done for me. I plan to live my life being PONO, and pass it on to all I encounter. ‘PONO...Do What Is Right’
All PONO is proud of you, Hāloa!