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Remembering a beloved coach and athletic director - Excerpts from article by Wes Nakama, Advertiser Staff Writer

MASA YONAMINE, a former longtime Waipahu High School coach and athletic director is remembered for his dedication toward Hawai'i's youth, died Dec. 6. He was 81. Yonamine was Waipahu's football coach from 1954 through 1970, compiling a record of 120 wins, 61 losses and 9 ties (.632 pct.), including three Rural O'ahu Interscholastic Association championships. He also coached the Marauders to eight league baseball titles, including four straight from 1954 through 1957. The school's Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex was dedicated after his retirement as athletic director in 1987.

In a 2001 Advertiser interview, Yonamine's wife, Lillian, described how her husband's coaching philosophy influenced her career as a school counselor. "I watched Masa coach and to him, the kids were all special," she said. "He had kids coming out of Olomana School (at the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility).  We'd take them down to GEM (store) to buy clothes, pick them up on the way to school, feed them breakfast, things like that to nurture them. Masa also used to give them lunch and haircut money. His philosophy was never cut anybody down and always give them a chance to do their best. These kids really appreciated what little they had..."

Mr. Yonamine is survived by his wife Lillian and their son Ken.

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"Hawai'i Volunteer Honored at White House Ceremony" by Dan Nakaso, Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writer and the National Service News Release 5/11/07

Linda Flores Uyehara and President George Bush (Click on photo to enlarge.)

President Bush yesterday awarded retired Leeward teacher Linda Uyehara of Mililani one of six President's Volunteer Service Awards for 40 years of work with Hawai'i youth, families, schools and communities. Uyehara, 60, received the lapel pin in the White House's East Room yesterday.  Later, in a telephone interview, Uyehara was still so excited she had to have her daughter, Marcie Herring, read the words on the pin. "It says, 'The President's Call To Service Award. USA Freedom Corps,'" they said.  Bush didn't say anything of particular note to the six winners from across the country, Uyehara said.  "He just congratulated all of us,"  she said.  "He came in, shook our hands and thanked us individually for the work we do, in terms of volunteerism."  Uyehara was nominated for the award by the state Department of Education and Learn and Serve America.  She taught for 33 years in the Leeward District.  As a teacher at Kapolei Middle School, she was the 2002 Leeward District's outstanding teacher the same year she retired.  In 2006 Uyehara won an Ola Pono Award for promoting safe drug-free lifestyles.  In 2003, Gov. Linda Lingle appointed her to serve on the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council.  Uyehara also volunteers with the Hawaii Girls Court and co-facilitates Girls Street Smart, a life skills program for Asian and Pacific island teenagers. Over the years she has also helped with Hawai'i programs that include literacy workshops for K-12 teachers; a "communicating with teens" program on Kaua'i; work with teen girls at Hawai'i Youth Correctional facilities; and sessions for the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawai'i.  Uyehara had been to the White House before, when U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie arranged a tour in 2006 during a Washington, D.C., visit with the Juvenile Justice Commission.  Today, Uyehara is scheduled to have breakfast with U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, followed by a VIP tour of the Capitol and the Library of Congress.  "Isn't that wonderful?"  she said.  "We're just so thrilled for everything."  Uyehara and Herring - who works for the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawai'i - are scheduled to fly back home tomorrow.

Uyehara said she became involved in service-learning because she grew up watching her father, Marcario Flores, volunteer for many worthy causes.  "That legacy has been passed on to the children," she said.  "When I do service-learning and participate in the community, I think about honoring my father."

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60th Birthday Reunion Celebration - October 19-22, 2006 - Classmates who attended: 

Reunion Recap - Congratulations to all the Winners!

"...From far and near, our voices cheer Waipahu, our high school Long will live thy fame."