NAWILIWILI — The unsung heroes of Kaua‘i’s high school sports had an opportunity to be in the limelight, Wednesday during the Kaua‘i Youth Sports Awards at Kalapaki Joe’s in Nawiliwili. “This is the first time we’re hosting an award of
NAWILIWILI — The unsung heroes of Kaua‘i’s high school sports had an opportunity to be in the limelight, Wednesday during the Kaua‘i Youth Sports Awards at Kalapaki Joe’s in Nawiliwili.
“This is the first time we’re hosting an award of this type,” said Andy Melamed of KQNG Radio Group, one of the program sponsors. “The Grove Farm Company is presenting the athletic directors of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation member schools with cash donations based on online voting for ‘The Grove Farm Team of the Week’ campaign.”
Athletic directors, normally unseen during the excitement of sports events, need to be credited for the success of our sporting community and the KIF student athletes because of their support for the coaches and programs which offer students an opportunity to grow and succeed, said Grove Farm Senior Vice President Michael Tresler, also a former Kaua‘i High School defensive coordinator and defensive back at the University of Hawai‘i.
Honored with donations were Greg Gonsalves, athletic director of Kapa‘a High School; Kaipo Kealalio, athletic director of Island School; Ross Shimabukuro, athletic director of Kaua‘i High School and Jon Kobayashi, athletic director of Waimea High School.
The star of the afternoon was Shea Shimabukuro, an inductee to the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Hall of Honor and a 2011 graduate of Kaua‘i High School where he starred in several sporting arenas, the most recent being in baseball where he pitched a complete-game victory to help drive Kaua‘i High School to an upset HHSAA Division II baseball championship.
Shimabukuro, planning on attending Creighton University, was presented a $1,000 scholarship by Jody Valente, representing Kalapaki Joe’s, the host for the Wednesday afternoon event where complimentary pupu greeted guests.
“Kalapaki Joe’s gets a lot of support from the sporting community and Kaua‘i,” Valenti said. “By helping some of our young students who participate in sports, Kalapaki Joe’s would like to give back to the community.”
Melamed said the history of the Kaua‘i Youth Sports Award dates back to 1973 when Gene Good of KIVM Radio started doing play-by-play.
He was later replaced by JK, currently of the JK Show, and when David Haberman and KUAI Radio came on the scene, play-by-play of KIF sports continued to flourish.
The Grove Farm Company came up with the idea for the more specific “Team of the Week,” Melamed said.
Today, youth sports continue to offer the community an opportunity to work with youth, interact with sports and help develop character of tomorrow’s leaders.
The Kaua‘i Youth Sports Awards program would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of the KQNG Radio Group, Ron Wiley, The Garden Island newspaper, The Grove Farm Company, Kalapaki Joe’s, Eric Kaneda of State Farm Insurance in the ‘Ele‘ele and Kapa‘a Shopping Centers, Subway Sandwiches, Wilcox Health Bone and Joint Center, West Kaua‘i Medical Clinics and PS&D.
Melamed said he hopes the program will continue for many more seasons.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
