Kalia Kekahuna-Fernandez: Struggles of a Softball Player

By TRENDEE KAHUNAHANA

A lot of people look at a softball player as a strong person baste on how they look on the field, but not on how they look off the field. There’s a lot of things players of any sport go through they just don’t let it affect them during their games or practices. For me, I think the hardest struggle of being a softball and basketball player is that when I was younger I was so used to my family coming to most of my games and supporting me, but now that my family split apart I barely get to see the other side of my family. This was hard to go through because I never thought my family would ever split apart, and I never thought that something so small could ruined everything and cause my family to split. I think this was one of the biggest struggle I went through in life. I still think about having a complete family again but I don’t really let it bother me anymore. As long as I've got my parents and my siblings, I’m fine because without them, I wouldn’t be the player I am today.

At a young age, Kalia Kekahuna-Fernandez started playing softball with her dad and basketball with her club team. Her dad would always take her to parks nearby her house in Waianae, and most of her basketball practices were in Hawaii Kai. Eventually she turned her attention more towards softball, and her dad started pushing her more. She would practice almost everyday, go to a lot of clinics, and work out a lot with her sister. As she got older she learned more about the game of softball and got better everyday. It was a struggle to become the player she is today but she push through and didn’t let things bother her that much. Softball is her life and she doesn’t know what she would do without it. The field, or what she likes to call it her second “home,” is where her story all begins.

However, Kalia didn’t grow only as a player physically but also mentally. Mentally, sports made her realize that you will win some games and also lose some games, you've just got to learn from the games you lose and come back stronger the next game. Another reason sports help her mentally was no matter what the score is, she always has a great mindset the whole game. Keep pushing and maybe you will come back. Also, no matter how many mistakes you make, learn from that and don’t make the same mistake again. Never hang your head.

“I don’t know what my hardest struggle was but I did face a lot of struggles playing softball. I think the hardest thing for me is that my dad is so hard on me. I know that's his job and he wants me to become a better player but sometimes he just needs to chill and let me do me. When he starts getting frustrated and mad at me that's when I usually start getting down on myself because I feel like I’m doing so bad and I’m letting him down. Sports made me feel more confident in myself and I learned how to be a good leader. It also made me realize that it's not only about me and I will always have my team to get my back. I also learned that there's no I in team. Sometimes I get asked If I ever feel like quitting sports? Umm honestly yeah sometimes I did feel like quitting sports not only because my dad was hard on me but also because my body is always hurting and I always feel like I just have to get more rest. But as much as I get hurt I don’t think I would ever quit sports because that's what I love and I don’t know what I would do without it. I feel like sometimes I just need a break from sports and that's it.”