I’m not much of an athlete but I’ve dabbled a bit in team sports, so I think I understand what it takes to work as a cohesive group. It’s a commitment and trust in each other – and ourselves – to work together and move in a positive direction. Belonging to an organization outside of team sports, working alongside others in a company, enjoying a Girls Night Out, and even buying groceries on an unusually busy shopping day all require a similar mindset.
Roller derby is all of this and much more. Especially with the Paradise Roller Girls (PRG), a league created and based in Hilo since 2010. According to its website, the league encourages “healthy and athletic lifestyles while giving back through community service, outreach, and charity”.
Most recently, PRG participated in the annual Heart Walk held on March 5th. This was just one of the many contributions to the Hilo and Big Island communities they are not particularly known for. The league has also adopted a section of the highway in the Puna district, and routinely bags litter in support of State’s efforts to keep our roadways clean.
For most of us roller derby was – and still is – a difficult sport to understand. We see tough-looking women with color “ring names,” circling a track in roller skates while ostensibly trying to hurt others, somehow earning points along the way. However, there is a method to this often misunderstood sport:
For the participants, they are building a sisterhood instead of just being teammates. Women from all walks of life and on different career paths come together not only to skate but to form bonds that are difficult to find in other areas of life. Some are in need of a positive way to spend their time while others may be looking to form new friendships. Whatever it is can be found within this league.
That doesn’t mean the bond is limited to just the Hilo area. Many derby girls, after joining, find it expands farther when they are able to connect and participate with leagues across the nation and the world during their travels.
PRG also promotes/offers a successful youth program called Big Island Babes. Children of all ages can participate while learning the basics of the sport as well as how to maintain a positive outlook on their futures as athletes and healthy human beings.
Like any other sports group or organization, Paradise Roller Girls need the support of the Hilo community. They are looking for sponsors, officials, and more participants! Visit them at Free Skate Fridays or at their Sunday practices held at Wainaku Gym or Wednesday scrimmages at Sangha Hall. Please visit their Facebook page for accurate dates and times. Let’s skate!
Living Hilo Style 
“Not limited to the Hilo area.”
Boyyyy is that an understatement!
So the wife and I are from the Bay Area California. Decided to spend a few months in Hilo to see if we could find work and maybe move there. Contacted the local derby league, PRG, and from the day we get on the island we’ve got a social circle with some fantastic women (people in general. derby is by and for women but there’s a couple of us dudes puttin in work too. Oftentimes we ref, or in my case announce)
Anyway, the women of PRG are known on the mainland thanks to their (I think 3) years running helping out at Rollercon setting up the tracks. They’re consistently among some of the best most positive attitudes on the track and it’s for this reason that it’s very apparent even in the pick-up games which of the ladies are from the island.
I’m just tremendously proud to know these women and men who do so much not just uplifting themselves but also their local community and the derby ohana at-large.
LikeLike
Left a part out… From the minute we got to the island…
Folks were going significantly out of their way for us on multiple occasions and made sure we knew where the post-practice after-parties (Hilo Town Tavern, shout out to muh girl BLUE) were. Genuinely felt welcomed and included. Beautiful experience.
LikeLike