Nice morning here at Kapolei, where 17 college-bound student-athletes were honored in a ceremony by the school. They really did it nice, with breakfast in the gym, parents/family only. And media. Among the signees: pitcher Trey Kamachi-Allen, going to Arizona State; Charlinda Ioane, UH track and field; Winona Pauline, UH softball. More today when I get back from the West side. Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser
(Here’s the extended version of this morning’s story on Tom Lemming and Hawaii’s top football prospects.) Just about every year, Tom Lemming makes his way to the islands from Chicago. And just about every year, the college football recruiting guru is amazed by what he sees. On Sunday at Kapolei High School, Lemming was all smiles once again. “I like to come here almost every year because it’s such a great state for football talent,” said Lemming, who started coming […]
(More on Kamehameha wrestler/judooka Dane Paihi Pestano. The feature story ran in this morning’s edition.) Dane Pestano abstains from rice, fried food and soda, but treats himself to a bag of Skittles now and then. At the next level, Pestano expects to cut down to 197 or 184 pounds, which sounds severe. In fact, he got up to 238 in the offseason while his shoulder healed. He dropped weight through workouts and a diet that restricts soda, rice and fried […]
It was past my deadline when one of my favorite coaches in UH football history called back. Bob Wagner, athletic director at Kamehameha-Hawaii, confirmed what I’d heard recently: he’s ready to retire at the end of this academic year. It’s been a decade since he accepted the job and moved to the Big Island. Officially, Coach Wagner will walk away on Aug. 1, ready to relax and do some traveling with his wife. Isn’t that the dream for most people […]
It was a fun night, a fundraiser event for a friend’s organization, and Darnell Arceneaux was kicking back. There was live music and the singing was nice. Then the lead singer collapsed on stage. There was commotion. There was panic. Arceneaux, the head football coach at Saint Louis, had already been trained for this. Coaches are required to know CPR, and he was right there in the middle of it. “We made sure people moved back and gave her some […]
(Note: Corrects Pua Mo‘okini-Oliveira’s college to Cal Lutheran.) Seventeen student-athletes signed letters of intent Wednesday morning in a signing ceremony hosted by Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance at the Elks Club in Waikiki. More on the student-athletes later today. Here’s some photos I took at the ceremony. Signing officially began at 7 a.m. HST. The group photo includes all 17 signees at the ceremony: (front) Kaylan Siobal (Sacred Hearts/Corban University, soccer), Kimi-Ann Kaniaupio (Waipahu/Otero College, soccer), Jasmine Solley (Castle/Yavapai College, […]
Update 4:20 p.m. Adds Part II below. Part I of video from Wednesday’s PIAA/HUB Letter of Intent signing day ceremony at the Sheraton Waikiki. Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser
The University of Hawaii scored nicely this morning with two signees at the HUB/Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance letter of intent signing ceremony at the Sheraton Waikiki. Punahou running back Steven Lakalaka and Kamehameha offensive lineman Kiha Sai made their commitments official by signing with the Warriors and new head coach Norm Chow. However, another potential signee, Kamehameha safety Taylor Taliulu, reversed field for the second time in three days. Taliulu showed up dressed in a maroon Washington State polo shirt […]