With volleyball being such an important pillar of the Osorio family legacy, 16-year-old Kaulupono “Kaulu” Osorio has upheld that tradition in his own unique way.

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In July, the Ke Kula ‘o Nawahiokalani‘opu‘u junior and Hilo High volleyball star was the first participant from Moku O Keawe Junior Officials Program to be selected as a collegiate line judge. Osorio made his debut at the Hawaii-Alaska Challenge late last month at the University of Hawaii-Hilo.

Duties of a line judge include watching the boundary lines to determine if the ball is in or out of bounds, watching for a player touching the net or foot faults when serving, and more. Specific responsibilities can vary depending on the ruleset and level of competition.

While Osorio admitted his collegiate officiating debut was nerve-wracking, he credited trainer and mentor Jennie Maikui for preparing him for the big moment.

“I was nervous, I can’t lie,” Osorio told the paper in a phone interview. “I didn’t think I was fully ready to line judge at that level, but Jennie always threw me into the fire, and I think because of that, it forced me to learn and get better. It really helped me grow as a referee, and I’m thankful for that.”

Osorio’s officiating journey dates back to 2022, when he was one of three original participants of the junior officials program. Playing club volleyball when he was younger, Osorio was required to occasionally referee youth games. With his father, Mark, being a volleyball official, Osorio’s interest only grew.

A program that once started with three participants has now grown to over 30 future officials. Being one of the originals, Osorio is honored to have been a part of the start of something special.

“It’s awesome to see it grow,” Osorio said of the junior officials program. “You don’t have to wait until you’re older to become a referee. You can start young, and it can be very beneficial. And you get the best seat in the house at games.”

Family legacy is an important element of Osorio’s identity. His great grandfather, Elroy, helped form the Moku O Keawe Region of USA Volleyball — which allowed Big Island volleyball players to play competitively on the local stage, rather than regularly flying to Oahu. Elroy lived to the age of 94, a number Osorio chooses to wear in his great grandfather’s honor.

Osorio’s grandfather, Ecko, founded Pilipa‘a Volleyball Club on the Big Island, also serving as a longtime volleyball coach at Waiakea High School. Currently, Ecko serves as an assistant on UH-Hilo’s women’s volleyball staff.

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On top of being a local referee, Osorio’s father also helped form the keiki branch of Pilipa‘a Volleyball. Mark even led the club’s 16 elite division team to a national championship at the 53rd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships this past summer in Orlando, Fla.

With Osorio’s family serving as role models and positive influences in his life and the Big Island volleyball community, the teen felt that it was only right to carry on their legacies — even if his path looked a little different than his elders.

“Seeing how much they’ve all done for the volleyball community definitely influenced me,” Osorio said. “When I go out there (to officiate), I’m not just representing myself, but my whole family.

“When the old timers around Hilo see me up there, they don’t just see me — they see everything else that past generations have done before me as well.”

Refereeing has also been a big self-confidence boost for the young Osorio. Wanting to become a politician one day, officiating has helped Osorio communicate better and make quick decisions under pressure — skills he believes are important for a future politician.

“To become a politician, you need to have confidence in what you’re saying,” he said. “And in refereeing situations, you can’t go up there and not be confident, especially in higher-level games. You have to be able to focus better and make the right calls, otherwise you’ll get chewed out for it.

“When I’m in school or in a debate, I’m now able to speak up and say what I think, while a lot of my peers get timid very easily.”

Osorio aims to keep elevating as an official, hoping to eventually travel around the world for matches. In addition to Maikui, he is grateful to Moses Aiana and his father for helping develop his officiating skills.

“Moses and Jennie have helped me a lot with growing my skills, and my father as well,” he said. “(My father) is really the one who kept pushing and encouraging me to pursue refereeing.”

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