It all kicks off with the Opening Ceremonies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Les Murakami Stadium on Friday, June 5
The bar is set high as hundreds of Special Olympics Hawaiʻi athletes and coaches from across the state gather for the 56th Annual State Summer Games. After months of training and preparation, athletes and coaches will come together to compete in powerlifting, softball, track and field, and swimming while showcasing the dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship that define Special Olympics Hawaiʻi.
Athletes and coaches will parade into the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa’s Les Murakami Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026, for the organization’s Opening Ceremonies. The Opening Ceremonies kicks off the weekend of competitions with a parade of athletes, coaches, and families into the stadium with entertainment and a celebration for sponsors whose support helps to make the weekend’s events possible.
The Opening Ceremonies also marks the finish line for the Guardians of the Flame participating in this year’s First Hawaiian Bank Troy Barboza Law Enforcement Torch Run, an event that brings together law enforcement officers from city, county, state, and federal agencies running to raise awareness and resources for people with intellectual disabilities. Named in honor of Honolulu Police Officer Troy Barboza, who coached Special Olympics athletes and was tragically killed in the line of duty, the event remains the only Torch Run in the world named after a fallen officer…