Spreading Pono: The Sebastian 'Ohana
The Sebastian ‘Ohana
“Playing for Pono teaches me to always be humble, to work hard and never give up, and to always be a good teammate and a good person on and off the field.”
This month, we are proud to feature the Sebastian ‘Ohana: Derick, Raymi, Santana, Marley, and Jackson. Read on to learn how the values of Pono have impacted their family.
Derick: Why did you want to move your boys to All Pono?
“All Pono teaches our family to love, work hard, be humble, respectful, and never take life for granted. For our family, being Pono is now a lifestyle. It’s not about “what” we do, it’s “how” we do it.”
I initially moved my boys to the All Pono Baseball program not because of the sport, but rather for the intention and vision behind the organization. Raising our children takes more than my wife and I. As the saying goes, it takes a village. It has always been important to me to surround my children with good families and start them off with a positive foundation.
All Pono teaches my boys not only the game of baseball, but the game of life. The foundation and values of this movement has been a blessing to our family. All Pono holds us accountable to “Do What is Right” not just for ourselves, but unto others as well. All Pono teaches our family to love, work hard, be humble, respectful, and never take life for granted. For our family, being Pono is now a lifestyle. It’s not about “what” we do, it’s “how” we do it.
We will be forever grateful for Pono Boy!
Raymi: What makes All Pono so special to your family?
“Being a part of the All Pono baseball organization is more than just the game of baseball. It is teaching our children life skills and life lessons, which they will carry with them into adulthood.”
As parents, we all hope that our children will find a positive interest that brings them joy, helps them make new friends, keeps them active and out of trouble, and teaches important life lessons along the way. For our family, our three boys love the game of baseball... and growing up playing baseball in the All Pono baseball program, whose mission is to build youth character through instilling positive values using sports, has been a huge blessing to our entire family.
The Pono baseball program has had such a huge impact on the lives of our boys, and our family. We are far from perfect, but sincerely try our best to live these Pono values in our daily lives. Being a part of the All Pono baseball organization is more than just the game of baseball. It is teaching our children life skills and life lessons, which they will carry with them into adulthood. Our boys will continue to spread this Pono spirit and values with others wherever they go throughout their lives...continuing the legacy of Pono Viela.
Santana: What have you learned from playing baseball on All Pono?
Many of us have had at least one life experience that has shaped who we are and what we value. Playing baseball for the All Pono baseball organization over the past four years has helped shape who I am up to this point in my thirteen-year-old life.
Baseball has taught me many important traits – dedication, commitment, time management, and responsibility through attending countless hours of weekly practices and games. I have also learned discipline, fair play, leadership, respect, and team spirit by having to be a team player among my teammates – “less me and more we.” Also, the importance of being a coachable player who can be corrected and take feedback/criticism, and turn them into corrections/improvements.
“The All Pono organization uses baseball to teach the “Pono…Do What Is Right” values – to always do the right thing in your actions and choices, to always be humble, and to treat others with respect. ”
It’s been instilled in me to always keep a positive and “never give up” attitude by working hard, being persistent, and understanding that “you win some, you lose some.” Even though winning is our team’s goal, I have learned many important lessons from losing, such as how to get back up when you’re down.
In addition to these lessons that I have learned from playing baseball on a team, the All Pono organization uses baseball to teach the “Pono…Do What Is Right” values – to always do the right thing in your actions and choices, to always be humble, and to treat others with respect.
My on-field experiences and all of the off-field talks at practices, games, and car rides home with my parents, have helped to shape my character and have a huge effect on how I deal with my real-life situations.
These traits that I have gained through playing baseball for the All Pono baseball organization have shaped my values and lifestyle, and will continue to enhance my education, future career, and outlook on life.
Marley: What do you enjoy about playing for Pono?
“Pono reminds me to make strong choices in everything that I do. ”
I like what Pono stands for. Pono reminds me to make strong choices in everything that I do. I also like my coaches. My coaches always push me and my teammates really hard because they believe in us. While pushing us to work hard, they speak life into us and encourage us to believe in ourselves. When we go through tough times together, like when we're dying at practice, and then all support, encourage, and pick each other up, it brings us closer together and teaches us how to have each other's backs. I think that's something really special and important to have coaches who believe in us, and teach us how to believe in ourselves and in our teammates.
Jackson: What is your favorite part of Pono Baseball?
I met a lot of new friends from playing baseball. Playing for Pono teaches me to always be humble, to work hard and never give up, and to always be a good teammate and a good person on and off the field. I like that I'm learning how to be a good person while having fun playing baseball.
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