HHSAA honors 4 local
legends tonight

Eddie Hamada was introduced at a luncheon yesterday where he was an honoree, among the initial inductees of what is essentially a Hawaii high school sports hall of fame.

He identified himself as "Wally Yonamine's bat boy."

It was typical Hamada, who as an athlete, coach and athletic director at Iolani always put others ahead of himself. He was, and is, the perfect embodiment of Iolani's concept of "One Team."

Yonamine, who was a standout in every sport he played at Lahainaluna and Farrington, Waianae football coaching legend Larry Ginoza and Punahou multisport star Charlie Wedemeyer are the other honorees. They will be feted tonight at the Hawaii High School Athletic Awards Recognition Dinner at the Sheraton Waikiki.

And, as they would want it, the four magical, giant names in Hawaii sports history -- who share humility as a personality trait -- will serve as a curtain call to tonight's main event: the induction of 12 new members to the Nissan Hall of Honor.

Those student-athletes who just completed their outstanding prep careers are Shanna-Lei Dacanay (Punahou), Spencer Hafoka (Kahuku), Jessica Hanato (Konawaena), Trenson Himalaya (Baldwin), Courtney Kessell (Kailua), Michael Kopra (Hawaii Prep), Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani), Kyle Pape (Iolani), Brashton Satele (Word of Life), C.J. Tausaga (Aiea), Futi Tavana (Kauai) and Fran Weems (Kealakehe).

None of the dandy dozen is old enough to have seen a football game end in a tie, especially for what amounts to a state championship. But that's what happened when Ginoza's Seariders and Hamada's Red Raiders squared off in the 1980 Prep Bowl.

It ended in a 7-7 tie. And, in a way, it was fitting.

At the time, Waianae was a dominant program. The Seariders, winner of two of the previous three Prep Bowls, played with a disciplined, efficient, no-frills style -- similar to that of Iolani.

"Ginoza and I were friends for a long time," Hamada said of his fellow Iolani graduate. "So that made it memorable. They were so well-coached. A lot of guys thought they'd kick our butts."

Ginoza disagreed.

"That game, they were supposed to win," he said. "They played great defense."

As time goes by, fewer people will remember that teams coached by Larry Ginoza and Eddie Hamada tied in the biggest game of the year.

But their legacies as leaders of young people will live on. Both were coaches of future coaches who share their ideals.

"They were two guys who really respected each other. I did, too," retired Star-Bulletin sportswriter Jim Easterwood said. "Of all the coaches I've covered in more than 50 years they rank right at the top as far as integrity and discipline."