Pierce Murphy of Island School and Shea Shimabukuro of Kaua‘i High School were named to the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Hall of Honor Monday. Wes Nakama, the HHSAA Assistant Director of Information, made the announcement via email, naming the
Pierce Murphy of Island School and Shea Shimabukuro of Kaua‘i High School were named to the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Hall of Honor Monday.
Wes Nakama, the HHSAA Assistant Director of Information, made the announcement via email, naming the two Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation athletes to the list of “Top 12 Hawai‘i High School student-athletes.”
Joining Murphy, a track and cross-country standout, and Shimabukuro, of the Red Raiders’ football and baseball program, Chrisy Chow of Punahou was named for her achievements in judo and wrestling; Kalei Adolpho of Moloka‘i earned kudos in basketball, volleyball, track and cross-country; Micah Christenson of Kamehameha School got nods in basketball and volleyball; Caprice Dydasco, another Kamehemeha student, was applauded for soccer and Koa Ka‘ai, the third Kamehameha Schools student to be named, was tapped for feats in football and track and field.
Leisha Li‘ili‘i of Castle was nominated for her feats in softball and basketball; Marcus Mariota of St. Louis had honors in football, soccer and track; Zhane Santiago’s prowess on the track and soccer field copped a Hall of Honor award for Kahuku; Maiki Viela of Lahainaluna was applauded for basketball and Kailea Tracy-Visintainer of Seabury Hall rounded out the field of 12 HHSAA Hall of Honor inductees in the areas of track, cross country and swimming.
Nakama said the 2011 top 12 will be formally inducted during a banquet June 5 at the Sheraton Waikiki on O‘ahu.
He noted that Murphy is the first-ever inductee from Island School.
During the recent Island Movers HHSAA track and field state championships, Murphy established new state records in the boys 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter runs, breaking his own record of 4:02.06 set in 2010 for the 1,500. In the 3,000-meter, Murphy’s 8:52.44 run broke a 2009 record of 8:52.90 set by Bryce Jenkins of Leilehua.
Shimabukuro, of the second-seeded Kaua‘i, went the distance to pick up the Division II championship win over top seeded Pac-Five in its 11-2 win at Les Murakami Stadium on O‘ahu, recently.
William Arakaki, the Kaua‘i representative to the HHSAA Hall of Honor selection committee, was elated over the announcements, Murphy and Shimabukuro being the first recipients since he became the Kaua‘i representative.
“We had a good number of nominees going into the selection process,” Arakaki said in a phone interview. “All of our schools participated with candidates and they were all very deserving student-athletes. However, not everyone can be chosen and I’m very happy and proud for our two inductees.”
Ross Shimabukuro, athletic director for Kaua‘i High School, said Shea is well deserving of the honor.
“It’s terrific he was selected,” Ross said in a phone interview. “The honor is well deserved because Shea works really hard in all that he does. He sacrificed a lot during football, playing quarterback because it was for the good of the team.”
Ross said in baseball, Shea is a “bulldog.”
“He always plays hard and maintains good grades as an honor student,” Ross said. “But what we really appreciate about him is how humble he is.”
The HHSAA Hall of Honor was established in 1982 by the Nissan Motor Corp to recognize athletic excellence and accomplishments of Hawai‘i’s high school athletes.
Along with the induction into the Hall of Honor, each student athlete receives a $1,000 college scholarship.
Visit www.sportshigh.com for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
