HONOLULU – Hawai‘i Pacific University will hold Helmet Night on Saturday, Feb. 9, in honor of the late Kameron Steinhoff and Zachary Manago.

Free bike/skateboard helmets will be given to all children on a first-come, first-served basis after the men's basketball game, which begins at 5 p.m. at Moanalua High School.

Steinhoff and Manago were HPU student-athletes that passed away during the 2010-11 school year due to bike/skateboard accidents.

As a way to hopefully prevent a future tragedy, HPU established a program last year called Kam's Helmets that provides helmets to children and other community members.

In conjunction with The Queen's Medical Center's Trauma Center and ThinkFirst Hawaii, HPU gave out more than 200 free helmets last May.

HPU is continuing the program, now called Kam's and Zach's Helmets, this year with the first event taking place on Feb. 9.

Tickets to the game are $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors. The HPU Athletics Department has donated 100% of all ticket money from the 2012-13 season to the program.

Manago was a freshman at HPU and was looking forward to beginning his career as a member of the Sea Warrior baseball team. Tragically, on Dec. 17, 2010, Manago died as a result of a hit-and-run accident in Wahiawa. He was struck while riding his bike with others in an organized ride.

Cycling was a passion of Manago's; he enjoyed it as an activity, transportation, exercise and a way to lessen the impact on the environment.

Weeks before his passing, Manago penned an essay titled Should There Be More Bicycle Lanes in the State of Hawai‘i. In it, he argued for more bike lanes in Hawai‘i for safety reasons.

Steinhoff, an HPU men's basketball player who had just finished his third year, passed away on May 18, 2011, from head injuries resulting from a skateboarding accident. Steinhoff, a 2008 Punahou graduate and former Hawai‘i State Player of the Year, competed in 51 games as a Sea Warrior, with a career-high 13 points in an overtime win vs. Dominican University in February of 2010.

He was a popular student-athlete, teammate, friend, brother, uncle and son who touched the lives of many.

Everyone is encouraged to attend; helmets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. For questions, please contact Lauren Conching at 356-5223 / lconching@hpu.edu.