By Harry Thompson, Stars & Stripes
Shane Morris of Kamile Elementary School in Waianae
squares off against junior sumo wrestler Kosojima at the
Takasago Beya Sumo Stable in Tokyo on Sunday.

But Leeward Coast students on a seven-day tour of Japan weren't afraid to take on their 603-pound host Konishiki, bombarding the Hawaii-born sumotori with questions most adults would fear to ask.

"How much do you eat?" asked one, at a reception attended by Konishiki and fellow Hawaii sumotori Musashimaru and Sunahama.

"Can I wrestle you?" challenged another.

"I'd just step on you and that would be it," the No. 13 maegashira replied.

Salevaa Atisanoe:
The Waianae boy also
known as sumotori
Konishiki.

Looking to give something back to the community where he grew up, Konishiki teamed with several corporate sponsors to treat the 35 sixth-graders from the Waianae area to the cultural experience of a lifetime.

"I come from the same area that all these kids come from," said Konishiki, who was born Salevaa Fuauli Atisanoe. "When I was growing up, I never thought I would ever leave my community because I was really in love with it.

"Going to Waikiki was a culture shock for me. When we're there (in Waianae), we don't care what's going on outside. We have the beach and that's good enough for us."

But Konishiki said he hopes the students learn by leaving home, as he did.

"The thing I want the kids to do is learn from it, to see a different part of the world. I want to give these kids a wider view of what the world is. I want to get them into a position where they can chase a dream."

The dream began Friday morning when the kids and their seven chaperons left Honolulu Airport aboard a free flight. They arrived at Tokyo's Narita International Airport on Saturday afternoon, and after the crawl through customs, they experienced their first Tokyo traffic jam on their way to the New Tackinawa Prince Hotel.

When the group visited the Takasago Beya stable Sunday morning, Konishiki was ready to take on all challengers.

"OK, who's going to be the first?" he asked while greeting his guests, who attentively sat on tatami mats overlooking the practice ring.

Several brave souls shed their socks and shoes, rolled up their pant legs and got down in the dirt as they struggled to oust some of the junior wrestlers from the ring.

"It was a lot of fun. I'd like to try it again," said 12-year-old Nolan Grays Jr. of Makaha.

Konishiki fielded more questions during the hourlong session, and offered insights gained from his 16 years in the sport.

After a tour of the Tokyo Edo Museum, the students were guests of the Hawaii wrestlers at the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, where Konishiki lost to finish with a 8-7 record.

The rest of the week features a packed itinerary for the Konishiki Kids that includes visits to the Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace grounds, Miyamae Elementary School and Tokyo Disneyland.

Konishiki came up with the idea for the trip in March and began to assemble sponsors to help pay the freight. In addition to United Airlines, which provided free air transportation, the Prince Hotel chain donated 24 rooms. Support also came from IBM, Merrill Lynch, Tokyo Digital Phone and the Tabasco Co.

"I was really touched with the support we got," Konishiki said. "I didn't have the funds to support this kind of project on my own, so people were willing to help. It shows people that they may be big names around the world, but they have big hearts.

"Someday they'll be the leaders of tomorrow, so we should try to start them when they're young."

Ed Oshiro, principal at Makaha Elementary School who helped arrange the trip, said Konishiki knew what type of child he wanted to reach when he laid down the criteria for participation.

"He wanted financial need to be a key factor because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Oshiro said. "Academic achievement was also important, as was their attitude in school and in the community."

The kids also had to write an essay on the theme: "How Can a Trip to Japan Help Me in My Future?"

"Everyone had a different point of view," Oshiro said. "Some kids said they wanted to be chefs in a Japanese restaurant. Others were interested in Japanese architecture, and some were interested in business and they knew the Japanese are known for their smarts in the business world."

Oshiro said the trip will provide a building block for the future for these kids who otherwise may never have left Leeward Oahu.

"I really want them to come away from this trip with some sense that there's something outside of the Waianae community," Oshiro said. "I'd like them to become citizens of the world and see a different side of the world that they really haven't seen."