2025 Overall Women’s World Slalom Skateboarding Champion (held in Sao Paulo, Brazil), 100-Cone Junior Women's world record holder and USA Slalom “Skater of the Year,” Leiola Kahaku is part of the next generation leading the resurgence of slalom skateboarding in the US.   The 17-year-old from Campbell, CA ended the 2025 season ranked 3rd in the world and pre-seeded for the World Skate Games 2026 in Asuncion, Paraguay. 

Leiola began skating parks with her uncles on the weekends almost 12 years ago. During the pandemic is when her love of skateboarding grew, and she spent most of her days at the skatepark.  In September of 2023, a friend from one of the Newark skate session invited Leiola to a slalom practice to run cones.  Leiola was instantly hooked.  It was at that practice that she met her future mentor, Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductee, World Champion and Guinness World Record holder, Judi Oyama.   

Leiola skated her first 25-Cone-Cyber Slalom race in January 2024.  Judi Oyama encouraged Leiola to travel two months later to the Texas Sizzler, a qualifier for the USA Slalom Skateboarding Team where she earned a spot on the women’s team and qualified to compete at the World Skate Games 2024 in Italy. 

In two years Leiola has become both a national and international champion.  She is not only a member of the US Slalom Skateboarding Team, but a team rider for Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word, Sk8Kings, NorCal Slalom Skateboard Racing Team, La Costa Racing Team and N-Men Racing.  In 2025 she was a recipient of the Support Women Athlete’s Grant by Lume Six and is sponsored by S1 Helmets, Santa Cruz Boardroom, Ace Trucks, Ferrell Speed Racing, Switch Skate Supply, Badass Skatemom, Snowtime Desserts, Aloha Fresh Poke, Kaiolohia Consulting and Puahina Hawaiʻi.

When Leiola is not on her board, she enjoys traveling with her family, creating stop motion animation projects and all types of arts and crafts made from recycled materials.