WAILUA — Justin “Pono” Tokioka, a senior at Kaua‘i High School, has signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa golf team, said his father, James Tokioka, Wednesday afternoon Pono Tokioka will become a member
WAILUA — Justin “Pono” Tokioka, a senior at Kaua‘i High School, has signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa golf team, said his father, James Tokioka, Wednesday afternoon
Pono Tokioka will become a member of the Hawai‘i golf team with an athletic scholarship for the 2013–14 academic year.
“I feel blessed to be able to play college golf for a Division I school and also to represent my state,” Tokioka said in an email. “It’s been a long journey and I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me all the way.”
Currently a senior, Tokioka has been with the Red Raider varsity golf team since his freshman year, earning the low scoring average for the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 academic seasons. During the 2012 season, Tokioka finished the David Ishii Foundation Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state boys golf championship and tied for sixth place.
“We are all very excited that Pono has decided to be part of our golf program in the fall of 2013,” said Ronn Miyashiro, Hawai‘i’s golf coach.
“There were many attributes which encouraged me to recruit Pono, but two really stood out to me. Pono has a great work ethic and a strong desire to be the best every time he steps on the golf course. These two traits, I truly believe, will help him become successful at the college level.”
Glenn Tamagawa, the Kaua‘i High School golf coach, also praised Tokioka’s presence on the golf course.
“Pono has the innate ability of having great feel in his hands,” Tamagawa said. “His other senses are heightened, which has helped him master golf faster than others as I have seen firsthand over the past three years. He has become someone whom others look up to, to either ask for help, and to also beat him at his game. He has become such and encouragement to myself and his fellow teammates.”
Following the KIF golf season, Tokioka became part of a six-man team, which represented the United States in the World Deaf Golf Championship in Tsu, Japan in October. The youngest member of the U.S. Men’s team, Tokioka led his teammates by finishing eighth overall in the field of 55 players from around the world.
His experience with golf started in 2008 with the Kaua‘i Junior Golf Association, and two years later, earned the coveted Player of the Year for the KJGA. He has qualified to compete nationally in the International Junior Golf Tour, American Junior Golf Association and twice in the Optimist International Junior Golf Tournament at the PGA National Course in Florida.
Tokioka participated in the Asia Pacific Junior Cup sponsored by the Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Association in 2011.
During 2011 and 2012, Tokioka competed in the Manoa Cup, this year making it as far as the Round of 16 before falling to Oregon State University junior David Fink, 3 and 2.
He also played in the Hawai‘i State Open for the past four years, logging his best finish in 2009 at third place in the Men’s Amateur Division.
Profoundly deaf since birth, Tokioka has attended public schools since preschool and has excelled with the aid of a sign language interpreter, said his father.
Tokioka is the son of James Tokioka of Lihu‘e and Beth Tokioka of Puhi. He has a sister, Emma, 13.
