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Keeping Score
HE'S easy to spot with his hair the color of a new baseball and his face tanned by the sun from hours of riding his bike around Kailua. Hats off to
Rainbows’ biggest fanHe's the one waving the big towel with the "Go 'Bows'' logo.
He's John Sakamoto, one of the biggest fans of University of Hawaii athletics. He has season tickets to all the major Rainbow and Wahine sports, and often attends sporting events where no ticket is required simply to be supportive of the players.
His first love, however, is Rainbow baseball. On Sunday, the program will return the favor when Sakamoto is honored for more than 20 years of volunteer work as the recipient of the Charles Ushijima Rainbow Service Award.
"It means a lot to me because Charlie and I were good friends and he's the one who first asked me to get involved,'' said Sakamoto. "It was back during the Derek Tatsuno era (1977-79) when I first started helping out.
"Gradually, I got more and more involved, more than I expected to be. I'm honored because the award is what Charlie had in mind when he first started giving of his time to help the players.''
"No question, he deserves the award,'' said Rainbow baseball coach Les Murakami. "He's helped out a lot of our programs, not just baseball. He supports everything. He just loves UH athletics.''
Sakamoto, a Farrington High graduate, didn't play for the Governors. Instead, he spent the time after school helping his father do janitorial work.
He also didn't go to college. He had hoped to be a mechanic and started trade school. The Army had other plans, and during World War II, Sakamoto was assigned to the postal division.
He continued that career as a civilian, working for the U.S. Postal Service for 34 years before retiring in the late 1980s.
It was through his job as a mail carrier that he found a new love: UH women's volleyball. On his delivery route was the home of Mahina Eleneki, a member of the Wahine championship team in 1987.
"I got hooked on volleyball because of her,'' said Sakamoto.
He's addicted to the athletic complex as well, sometimes spending seven days a week on campus.
"I give a lot of credit to my wife (Mildred),'' said Sakamoto. "She has understood my love for baseball. We've been married for almost 50 years and for 25 years of that time I've been helping out with that sport."
The Sakamotos will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 1.
John Sakamoto has done a variety of jobs for the Rainbow baseball program, including videotaping practices. For 10 years he made every road trip with the team, always paying his own way.
He said his favorite road trip was to Tucson for the 1992 regional. That was also the last baseball road trip for Ushijima, who passed away later that year.
"I believe in the baseball program and I want to continue to support it like Charlie did,'' said Sakamoto. "As long as they want me, my services are available.
"It gives me great satisfaction to watch the boys grow and mature, to see them improve over the years. My joy is helping out however I can.''
Sakamoto never used to wear a hat, but Ushijima gave him a white cap before his death.
"I really cherish that cap,'' said Sakamoto. "I wear it as a memorial to Charlie.''
On Sunday, it will be hats off to Sakamoto for his years of support. Ushijima would be proud.
Cindy Luis is Star-Bulletin sports editor.
Her column appears weekly.