Passion was volleyball

Harry Kealoha "was pretty much an all-around guy when it came to sports," according to his son Dwight. "He had a lot of interests. But his passion was volleyball."

That passion was passed on to players at all levels, from those who considered themselves gym rats to those who became Olympians. The long roster of those he influenced included Pete Velasco, the captain of the first U.S. Olympic men's volleyball team in 1968.

"He was a good man," said Velasco, who played for Kealoha on YMCA teams in the 1950s and '60s. "He was very helpful in promoting the sport in the state, very instrumental in getting a lot of us guys exposure at the national level. He was very committed to the development of the sport and always trying to pass on the skills to his players."

Harry Waiolama Kealoha Sr. died May 29 at Wahiawa General Hospital at the age of 88. He was born Nov. 15, 1916, in Honolulu and was a 1934 graduate of McKinley High School.

Kealoha began his decades-long involvement with volleyball in 1934 as a player in the Palama Community League. He later played on two AAU championship teams (1953-54) and went on to coach Central YMCA, Outrigger Canoe Club, the University of Hawaii men, and the Hawaii national women's, All-Navy men's and Armed Forces women's teams.

His Navy men's teams won All-Navy titles in 1970, 1971 and 1977 and won the inter-service championship twice. He was a Pearl Harbor Shipyard Supply Supervisor and worked with the Naval Special Services.

"It was fitting that his coaching career included success with the military teams," Velasco said.

Called a "volleyball virtuoso" by the Star-Bulletin's late associate sports editor Bill Gee, Kealoha also coached Olympians Beth Hollinger McLachlin, the late Tom Haine, retired Hawaii-Hilo coach Sharon Peterson, Fanny Hopeau and Gail O'Rourke Wong.

Kealoha also was a volleyball referee who earned his national rating in 1960, and served as the state officials chairman for seven years. The U.S. Volleyball Association recognized him with its Leader Award in 1967 and, in 1980, the rare Referee Emeritus Award given those who made significant contributions to the USVBA.

Kealoha is survived by his wife of 69 years, Fanny; sister, Violet Kawalski; daughter, Elsie K. Enos; sons, Harry Jr. and Dwight; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

The funeral services will be held at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow at Mililani Memorial Park.