Glenn Tokunaga will go from adminstration of sports at Waianae to watching his kids play more often.
Sports has been the name of the game for Tokunaga for a long time, and he won’t have to do as much planning now that he will be retiring as the Waianae athletic director. Tokunaga told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Hawaii Prep World of his plans on Friday.
Tokunaga, who will turn 56 on July 19, has 10 days left in the position he’s held since 2003. Before that, he was the head baseball coach for the Seariders (1998 to 2002) and an assistant baseball coach (1986-97) and he’s been in the Waianae athletic department for 31 years.
On Friday, Tokunaga was at Les Murakami Stadium watching his son, Tanner Tokunaga, practice for the Hawaii Island Movers baseball team, which is preparing for its annual trip to Japan.
Tanner Tokunaga and his brother, Tyler Tokunaga, who is playing in the Jayhawk League (collegiate summer baseball) in Kansas this summer, both played for the Pearl City baseball team in recent years. Their sister, Daelenn Tokunaga, is going into her sophomore season as a Pearl City soccer player.
“They say retirement is the best job. That’s what I’m hoping,” said Glenn Tokunaga who will spend some of his new-found time working as a Riddell sports equipment sales representative. “I have mixed feelings. I will miss the coaches and all the interaction with the kids and the faculty and things like that. I won’t miss the drive (from his home in Waipahu) to Waianae every day.”
Tokunaga is a 1977 Aiea graduate and played on the Na Alii’s state championship team with star pitcher Derek Tatsuno as his teammate and George Anzai as his coach.
“I’ll be able to watch my two boys and my daughter play sports more often,” Tokunaga said. “Maybe get in some golf, and I might even be able to eat breakfast with my wife, Daena, sometimes.”
Tokunaga took over the Seariders AD duties from Leo Taaca in 2003, and there is no word from the Waianae administration on a replacement for Tokunaga at this time.
Maybe he did win a state title with Derek Tatsuno, but I remember Iolani beating Aiea for the state champiosnhip Tatsuno’s junior year at the old Honolulu Stadium in Moiliili. The Iolani cleanup hitter got the key hit, blasting a ptich from Tatsuno into the eceterfield gap, clearing the bases. Maybe he chugged into third for a triple. Maybe it was just a double, I can;t remember. All I remember is him blasting Tatsuno’s ptich into the centerfield gap for the key hit of the game.
Mr. Tokunaga,
I attended Ewa Elementary School over 50 years ago. My most favorite teacher was my second grade teacher and her name was Mrs. Lillian Tokunaga. I am also a second grade teacher because of her. Would you be related to her? Thanks so much!
Mahalo,
glory f.