Akebono honors himself and Hawai'i

Hawai‘i should take great pride in the achievement of one of its larger sons, Waimanalo’s Chad Rowen, who made his name and his mark in Japan’s sumo rings.

With a discipline and a respect for his sport that few athletes seem able to muster, Rowen, who competed as Akebono, decided to retire near the top of his form. "He wanted to go out while he was still on top," his wife told The Advertiser’s Ferd Lewis, "so people would remember him that way."

Akebono retires as one of only 67 yokozuna in the centuries-old sport, the first foreigner to reach that rarefied rank. Said his mentor, Jesse Kuhaulua, "I’m very sad for Akebono, but also very proud of all he accomplished in his career."

So are we all. Akebono has done Hawai‘i proud.

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