Leiola Kahaku, a 15-year-old resident of Campbell, California, discovered her passion for skateboarding at the age of 7, honing her skills alongside her uncles. During the pandemic, her dedication to the sport intensified, leading her to explore slalom skating after an invitation from fellow skater Mark Johnson in September 2023. Under the guidance of Judi Oyama, Leiola found her stride running cones down hills and swiftly fell in love with the discipline. Despite being new to slalom skateboarding, Leiola’s determination shone through as she set her sights on making it onto the national team. Her journey culminated in success at the Texas Sizzler in Hockley, Texas, where she achieved her goal. While currently without sponsors, Leiola remains optimistic about her future in the sport and hopes to secure support on her journey to the World Skate Games in Rome.