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Wednesday, April 19, 2000

Hilo High athlete
remembered

Services for two-sport star
Kamohai is set for tonight

By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin

Nathan Grogg hit the biggest home run of his life yesterday, helping Hilo to a 9-0 victory over Hawaii Prep, and the first berth in next month's state baseball tournament.

But Grogg's thoughts were far from personal glory.

"This is for Sheldon," Grogg told Vikings' Athletic Director Roy Kobayashi, showing him the ball he hit.

"Sheldon" is Sheldon Kamohai, 17, the Hilo baseball and football star who died Friday of a yet undetermined cause.

Hilo's game against Hawaii Prep was scheduled for today, but it was moved up to yesterday so that the Vikings' players could attend Kamohai's services tonight, 6 to 9 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Keaukaha Ward.

Kamohai will be buried tomorrow at Homelani Memorial Park in Hilo, after a funeral service at the church at 10 a.m.

Kamohai was one of the most popular students at Hilo High -- and not just because he was a star athlete.

"He was a nice kid, very polite and humble in his approach," Kobayashi said.

Kamohai's mother, Daisy, said her youngest of five children "just wanted to take care of people."

She said Kamohai was being recruited to play college baseball and football, and pro baseball scouts had contacted him.

Kamohai apparently collapsed in his Keaukaha home while preparing for school.

Friends found him unconscious, and he was taken to Hilo Medical Center by emergency personnel, where he was pronounced dead.

Kamohai's mother said he had no known medical problems.