Aina named Damien athletic director

Wally Aina, Jr., who coached Damien Memorial School's varsity football team from 1980 through 1993, has been named the school's new athletic director, Damien high school principal Michael Weaver announced yesterday.

Aina succeeds Pohai Lee, who resigned after one year to join the football coaching staff at the University of Montana-Western.

Aina, 55, is a 1970 Damien graduate and has served as Damien's dean of students since 1987.

"I've been involved with sports here so many years and I feel comfortable in this job. I've known all the principals, teachers, and coaches. There are kids at the school whose fathers I coached," Aina said. "The first and most important job is to give the coaches the tools they need to makes the students successful. Other than that, I'll be in the stands and on the sidelines to cheer them on."

His sons, Punahou and Kuhio, both played football for Damien and are both assistant coaches for the Monarchs varsity.