[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 23, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S2993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII WAHINE SOCCER PLAYER NATASHA KAI

 Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, It is with great pride that I rise 
to recognize Natasha Kai of Kahuku, HI, for her extraordinary athletic 
achievements. As a forward for the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine 
soccer team, Natasha was recently named to the 2004 Women's Under 21 
National Soccer team. This achievement marks the first time any female 
athlete from the State of Hawaii has acquired a position on this 
prestigious, nationally recognized team. After attending two training 
camps within the last month, Natasha competed amongst 40 of the 
country's top female athletes to earn a coveted spot on the national 
team.
  The national team is currently in China and competing in a tournament 
with the hopes of making it to the 2004 Nordic Cup, the premier 
tournament to be held in Iceland later this summer. A few days ago, the 
national team secured its first exhibition match win triumphing over 
the Shanghai SVA team. Natasha made her international debut during that 
match and scored the first goal within the first three minutes of play. 
The national team is off to a successful start and has two more 
exhibition matches before they return home.
  I am doubly proud that Natasha hails from Kahuku High School, which 
is one of the schools where I first entered the classroom as a teacher. 
As a multi-talented athlete at Kahuku, Natasha received four varsity 
letters each in soccer and track, as well as two in volleyball, and one 
each in basketball and cross country. Natasha was a two-time Oahu 
Interscholastic Association (OIA) All-Star soccer player, as well as a 
2001 All-State player of the year. During her senior season, she led 
the Red Raider soccer team to a OIA division title win, a first for the 
school. Natasha earned State track and field honors in the 110 meter 
hurdles, high jump, and long jump, and was the two-time record holder 
and State champion in the 300 meter hurdles. In 2001, as a volleyball 
player she was voted to the OIA-East first team. Basketball 
accomplishments include being named to the OIA First-team and State 
Second-team that same year. In addition to her success on the field, 
Natasha also excelled in the classroom and was an honor student. As one 
of the most highly recruited female athletes in the State, Natasha 
decided to stay and pursue her athletic endeavors at the University of 
Hawaii at Manoa.
  As a forward on the soccer field, Natasha is known for her explosive 
speed and skill when evading defenders and scoring goals. During her 
freshman year with the UH Wahine Rainbow soccer team, she started 16 of 
the 17 games she appeared in and broke eight school records. Natasha 
was named the 2002 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) freshman of the 
year and WAC player of the year, and captured all-WAC first team 
honors. As a 2002 UH Scholar athlete, she was also selected for the 
Soccer Buzz freshman All-West region first team and All-American third 
team. The freshman scored two hat tricks against Tulsa and Boise State 
during conference play and was named WAC Offensive Player of the Week 
three times. Last season as a sophomore, Natasha led the Nation in 
scoring with 29 goals and again received her second WAC player of the 
year and All-American honors. With the help of this skilled athlete, UH 
won a record 13 matches and secured its first conference title in 2003.
  The athletic accolades of Natasha speak volumes of her character, 
love of the sport of soccer, and dedication to the game. I am confident 
that all the people of Hawaii, particularly her family and friends, 
take great pride in her great accomplishments. I wish Natasha and her 
teammates the best of luck while competing in the tournament and a safe 
journey home. Win or lose, I extend the support of the country and 
especially the support of all Hawaii. I thank Natasha for serving as a 
role model and for reminding us all that through hard work and 
determination, even what seems like a distant dream can be 
realized.

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