Harry "Clown" Kahuanui, the first University of Hawaii player to participate in a college all-star game, died Sunday at 74 years old. Services are tentatively scheduled for May 4. UH All-American dies at 74
Harry Kahuanui 1928-2002
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Kahuanui excelled in basketball and football at UH, earning an induction into UH's circle of honor in 1984. He also boxed, reigning as Hawaii's Heavyweight Golden Gloves champion while playing football for the Rainbows.
Kahuanui won honorable mention All-American honors in 1949 as an end, and played in the East West Shrine game following the season. The all-star event was the premier one in college at the time, and brought him attention from professional scouts who could marvel at his abilities but were not allowed to touch him because he was already committed to a team -- The United States military.
Kahuanui's collegiate football career wrapped up while the Korean War was reaching its peak, and he was drafted into the Marine Corps and sent to San Diego following graduation. The Corps got wind of Kahuanui's accomplishments when he was midway through boot camp and pulled him out of training so that he could play on the base's football and basketball teams. He finished basic training after earning All-Marine in football and was again attracting attention from pro scouts.
But he never did get into a pro camp, as he fell ill with pneumatic fever and would not be able to play a down again.
"That was always a little disappointment for him," wife Lily Kahuanui, who was engaged to him at the time, said. "He really thought he could do well in the pros, that was always a regret but our plans changed and we adjusted."
And the way they adjusted helped make athletics in Hawaii that much better, as Kahuanui went back to school to get another degree, one that would enable him to teach and coach.
From there, he spent time teaching and coaching at Kahuku, Hawaii Pacific and Roosevelt, leading the Red Raiders to a championship in basketball in 1968.
He spent his later years on the bench with Punahou's girls basketball team, helping out his daughter, head coach Shelley Kahuanui Fey.
"When I got the job as varsity coach at Punahou, the first thing I did was ask him to be my assistant coach," Fey said. "It was sort of a natural thing. There was so much he wanted to share, he would come to practice early just wanting to get started."
Kahuanui is survived by his wife, Lily; son, Lance; daughters Shelly Kahuanui Fey and Charlene Christenson; grandsons Fatu Kahuanui, Micah Christenson, Kupono Fey and Keaupono Fey, granddaughter Joanna Christenson and great-grandson Isaiah Kahuanui.
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