Star-Bulletin Sports


WALTER WONG / 1912-2002

He knew how to win
as player and coach

SEE ALSO: OBITUARIES

Star-Bulletin staff

Hawaii prep basketball lost one of its most consistent winners Wednesday.

Walter Wong, who participated in 75 high school championship games as a player and a coach, died Wednesday at Castle Medical Center. He was 90 years old.

After becoming the first player to win three straight territorial championships as a player, Wong turned to coaching and became the first to win three straight state tournaments.

Wong won three straight territorial titles playing for McKinley, then taught hundreds of young men to equal his accomplishments.

Duke Aiona, who played for Wong in his last state finals -- A loss to Kailua in 1972 -- was just one of them.

"He was competitive to the end, he stressed the fundamentals and pushed you to the limit," Aiona said. "It definitely helped make me who I am and shaped how I live life. If I don't succeed, at least I tried my best. That's Mr. Wong."

Wong served St. Louis for 34 years as a coach and athletic director, winning five state championships and 18 tournament championships.

As a coach, Wong went 409-87, winning 89 consecutive games between 1966 and 1968, when he became the only coach to put together three straight state championships.

Wong is survived by daughter Sheila Flynn and sons Walter, Melvin and Jonathan.

Services are Friday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary at 12:30 p.m. with burial to follow at 2 p.m.



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