Kekaha resident flying to North Carolina for second honor The whirlwind of life continues to sweep Kaua’i’s Edmund Acoba around at will. And the county public defender couldn’t be more honored. In January, Acoba was chosen as one of three
Kekaha resident flying to North Carolina for second honor
The whirlwind of life continues to sweep Kaua’i’s Edmund Acoba around at will. And the county public defender couldn’t be more honored.
In January, Acoba was chosen as one of three individuals nationally to receive a Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association Hero Award. With that came a trip to Las Vegas for him and his family, $15,000 for the charity of his choice and $3000 for his personal bank account.
“It was a true honor to stand up there and be recognized for the things we’ve done on Kaua’i,” Acoba said.
And now there’s more.
Monday, April 30, Acoba will be honored at the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association’s 42nd Annual Awards Banquet in Salisbury N.C. There, Acoba, the SGMA Hero Award’s national winner will share the stage with NSSA Sportscaster of the Year Bob Costas.
“It’s really overwhelming,” Acoba said. “The SGMA just called one day and asked me if I’d come to North Carolina for this banquet.
“It’s been a wild few months.”
Following his heart has been the link between Acoba and all of this attention.
The SGMA award is given to individuals who, “through their unique commitment and humanitarian spirit, have made an exceptional and lasting contribution to the pursuit of sports excellence, sportsmanship, participation or opportunity within their local community or beyond,” according to an organizational press release.
“They asked me to come to North Carolina to talk about the things I’ve been involved in here on Kaua’i,” Acoba said. “I haven’t written up a speech yet, but I will. I want to make sure I represent the island well.”
Thus far in his life, he has done that.
Acoba has been involved with youth sports since 1987, when he first volunteered as an assistant coach in the Kekaha Pop Warner Football Association. By 1989, he was the top head coach in the league and began volunteering with the Kaua’i Special Olympics team. In addition to being a coach and administrator for the football league, Acoba has been a volunteer coach for Kaua’i County’s youth basketball program and the Boys and Girls Club basketball program. He has also coached track and baseball.
“We’ve already been able to put the money I won to good use,” Acoba said. “We’ve made park improvements, bought a nice backstop and built a new baseball field for our Mustangs [on the Westside].”
But the whirlwind has included more than money and recognition. Acoba has also gotten the chance to rub elbows with some sporting celebrities.
“At the Las Vegas event I had dinner with Dick Schapp and Miss America,” Acoba said. “I met some Olympians and Herschel Walker. And I met Roy Firestone, too.”
Acoba also mentioned his good fortune at having been able to attend the SGMA Super Show during his Las Vegas visit. There, he was introduced to the latest in cutting-edge sports equipment.
“That was really beneficial because I got a chance to see what was out there and order it before it got to the distributors,” Acoba said. “There was no waiting in line.”
In North Carolina, Acoba said he will be digging for information on grants he might attain for furthering his community causes on the island.
Sports editor Jason Gallic at 245-3681 or mailto:kauaisports@pulitzer.net
