Meet the Pacific’s Cheeriest Cheerleaders

HONOLULU (KHON2) — If you haven’t attended an event with the help of Cheer Honolulu, then you’re really missing out on a treat.

You’re probably wondering who they are.

Well, Cheer Honolulu is a local non-profit organization made up of adult volunteer cheerleaders. They come together to pursue their passion and use it to help our community.

These cheerleaders work in professions ranging from teachers to firefighters and everything in between, and they use their passions, skills, and talents to take aloha with them wherever they go.

Cheer Honolulu supports the local 2SLGBTQ+ community by helping to raise funds and morale. They have been part of Honolulu Pride for several years and work with other organizations like Spill the Tea Cafe to help raise funds and awareness.

Inspired by the Pride Cheerleading Association (PCA), Cheer Honolulu was founded in 2019 for several reasons: to help other nonprofits raise money and to give locals the opportunity to do something fun.

“Every major city has (a PCA team) and has raised over a million dollars since its inception for the LGBTQIA+ community,” said Kimberly Loomis, Cheer Honolulu’s social media and website guru.

She explained that Cheer Honolulu is following in PCA’s footsteps and becoming a staple of nonprofit fundraising. It has also become essential as an emotional support structure for volunteers.

“Cheer Honolulu is a great place to make friends and family and support the community.” Loomis said.

And this spirited team makes a big difference, both to the organizations they support and to each other.

It is a safe space where those with training and those who have never had the opportunity can create and learn from each other.

“Oftentimes we find that several members were not able to participate in cheerleading at their previous school,” said Anika Martin, secretary of Cheer Honolulu. “And this is usually due to gender discrimination, either at school or within their family. So we really serve as a space for people who haven’t been able to participate in cheerleading.

Martin said Cheer Honolulu is truly about serving as a welcoming, judgment-free space for those who want to experience this wonderful sport.

“But beyond that, we uplift and empower our community through the sport of cheerleading,” Martin said. “So that’s really our biggest mission here.”

The amazing thing about Cheer Honolulu is that you don’t need to have any cheerleading or gymnastics experience to join the team.

“You don’t need any experience when it comes to cheer,” Loomis said. “You don’t even have to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Just be an ally. As long as you are ready to learn, we are ready to teach you. It’s a very safe place. Most of us have some experience of joy. Some are just out of high school, some are stars, some are in college. But we have some of us who have never clapped before; so it’s a really safe place to go if you want to learn something or try your hand, whatever your age. You can try it here at Cheer Honolulu.

Cheer Honolulu already has a great schedule for the rest of the year; and each year, the team votes to choose a non-profit organization that will benefit from the funds raised.

“This year we voted for Spill the Tea, a mental health clinic for children in the community to get support locally,” explained Stephanie Kleinberg, executive director of fundraising. “You can find us at events, fundraisers and performances this year at the Pride Parade and Festival, Pride Run, Orange Theory Kakaʻako, Orange Theory Waikīkī, Hana Koa Brewing and Honolulu Museum of Art.”

You can Click here for more information about Cheer Honolulu, how to join the team, and how to invite them to your next fundraising event. Keep in mind that you do not need to be a 2SLGBTQ+ organization to engage with Cheer Honolulu.

You can also find them on their Instagram page.

So while you’re looking for a fun way to engage with the community or a great way to support the community, look no further than Cheer Honolulu. It’s a place where everyone has a chance and where everyone is accepted for the extraordinary person they are. The team is ALWAYS looking for new members.