
A mainstay in the Sarasota Paradise lineup has returned for another season. Kai Tamashiro, a versatile forward from Honolulu, Hawaii, will remain with the squad ahead of the 2025 season.
2024 saw Tamashiro become an integral piece, netting the third most goals of the team last season (5). His keen ability to find the back of the net was crucial against St. Pete FC, crowning the Paradise South Florida Division Champions and earning them the club’s first-ever playoff spot.
Tamashiro is no stranger to Paradise. The Hawaiian native moved to Sarasota at the age of 12 to play in the MLS Next and attend IMG Academy. A brief stint at a second-division club in Barcelona followed, but was cut short due to COVID-19, so Tamashiro returned to finish his high school career at IMG before attending North Carolina.
After two seasons in Carolina Blue, Tamashiro will head to the Hill City to finish his collegiate career at Liberty University.
Although the colors of his collegiate uniform are changing, Tamashiro will be back in Paradise colors this summer.
When asked about his return, Tamashiro said “[I] Can’t wait to get back in that jersey and represent the beautiful city of Sarasota!”
The 2025 season kicks off in May. Season tickets are available at sarasotaparadise.us/seasontickets.
James Maxwell has also returned to Paradise! Read more here!