When Leon Gonsalves’ oldest son signed up to play Pop Warner football, that drew Gonsalves into the football arena. Thirty-four years later, Gonsalves is still on the football field, now a spectator enjoying watching his grandchildren work through the program.
When Leon Gonsalves’ oldest son signed up to play Pop Warner football, that drew Gonsalves into the football arena.
Thirty-four years later, Gonsalves is still on the football field, now a spectator enjoying watching his grandchildren work through the program.
“People volunteer for various reasons,” said Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League commissioner Mel Rapozo during the season’s opening game in September. “Some volunteer because of selfish motivations or personal causes, but Leon is a true volunteer in the total sense of the word. He volunteers to help the youth of Kaua‘i through a medium in which he is comfortable and useful. There is no thought or intent of personal gain or glory.”
Gonsalves started on the sidelines as a parent, observing, participating, and slowly being more involved in Pop Warner football, states a release from the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League.
Two years later, in 1978, Gonsalves volunteered to serve as an assistant coach, a role he filled until 1980 when he stepped in as the head coach of the Koloa Packers, a Bantam team of 14- to 16-year-olds.
Four years later, the Bantam program left Kaua‘i, but Gonsalves closed the program on a winning note, earning the division championship.
With no Bantam program, Gonsalves moved to the Koloa Raiders as their head coach in 1985, working with Midget division players between the ages of 11 through 14.
He served as coach for the Raiders until 1997 when he was called on to fill the shoes of the island commissioner who passed away.
“Over the span of two decades, Leon has touched the lives of many young people,” Rapozo said at the KPWFL opener. “Many of the youngsters he coached in his early years are now fathers of players on the field.”
Stepping in as commissioner and administrator of the Pop Warner football program on Kaua‘i did not detract from Gonsalves’ role as a part-time coach for the Koloa Raiders.
“He undertook both assignments with his usual ‘can do’ and positive attitude,” Rapozo said. “In 1998, he relinquished his head coaching assignments to devote his time to the administration of the Pop Warner program on Kaua‘i.”
But Gonsalves’ life has not been limited to the football field as he is active with his church, coached community track and flag football programs, served as an Assistant Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council program, is an active member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha and the Kaua‘i Police Relief Association.
He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Kaua‘i Government Employees Credit Union, in addition to helping friends and family with various projects.
Gonsalves was a successful police officer in his professional life, ending his career with the Kaua‘i Police Department as a detective and continuing to serve as an investigator with the County Prosecuting Attorney’s office for many years, Rapozo said.
His efforts did not go unnoticed as Gonsalves was named as the Kaua‘i County Employee of the Year in 1988, and in 1994, he was recognized as the Coach of the Year by the KPWFL.
“The value of this individual to the Pop Warner program is not measured only in his commitment to coaching,” Rapozo said. “He has, over his many years of involvement, touched the lives of many young men and women — Leon being the first person many young people and parents would seek out for advice and assistance in times of trouble. Leon has been able to provide help to troubled youngsters and those with minor squirmishes with the law. His non-judgmental approach to teen age problems and his willingness to give of his time and expertise to help others makes him the person people turn to when in need.”
Rapozo said these are just some of the traits that made the KPWFL recognize and dedicate the opening games to Gonsalves.
“There is a saying which many volunteers are familiar with,” Rapozo said. “When you need something done, ask the busiest person, and it will be done. Those with dedication seem to find the time to help others, and Leon is one of those individuals who have helped make our community a better place to live.”
