Isle File
Longtime Mililani A.D. Kauinana retires
Advertiser Staff
The only athletic director in the history of Mililani High School retired Monday and was replaced, at least temporarily, yesterday by the only baseball coach in the school's history.
John Kauinana, 55, who has guided the Trojans' athletic programs since 1974, began a long-planned retirement and Glenn Nitta, 54, coach of the Trojans' varsity baseball team the past 27 seasons, moved into his office. Nitta, who has the longest service of any current high school baseball coach in the state, was an outreach counselor at the school.
Nitta said he will apply for the post permanently when the opening is officially announced. If he is selected, he will have to give up coaching baseball because Department of Education rules do not allow A.D.s to coach.
His sons, Galenn and Gainor, were members of his baseball team this past season. Galenn graduated and will attend Hawai'i Pacific University, but Gainor will return for his senior season.
"Ideally, I would have liked to have coached (Gainor)," Nitta said, "but if I don't apply now, and I wait, I probably will never get to be an athletic director."
He said he hopes a decision on a permanent A.D. will be made by early October.
"The OIA (O'ahu Interscholastic Association) is losing a mighty fine person" in Kauinana, Nitta said. "He has done a lot."
Volleyball
Three to attend USA Volleyball camp: Three Hawai'i high school boys will participate in the USA Volleyball High Performance Development Camp set to begin Saturday at California State University, Long Beach.
Max DeWolff of St. Louis, Bronson Soares of Punahou and Sean Carney of Iolani were among 30 players from the western region selected for the four-day camp.
DeWolff, a 6-foot-5 outside hitter, and Soares, a 5-9 libero, will be juniors this fall. Carney, a 6-2 setter/outside hitter, will be a sophomore.
The selection of the players is a result of a nationwide talent search including tryouts and evaluations at the Junior Olympics held in Phoenix last week. DeWolff, Soares and Carney play for Outrigger Canoe Club's 17-and-under team, which finished fifth in the open division of the Junior Olympics.
GOLF
Junior World Championships: Three Hawai'i girls are among the leaders in their respective age groups after one round of the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego.
Waipahu's Kayla Morinaga shot a 1-under-par 71 at the Singing Hills-Oak Glenn course to share the lead in the Girls 13-14 age division. Hilo's Amanda Wilson is 10th in the same division with a 74.
Stephanie Kono of Honolulu is tied for fourth in the 11-12 age division after shooting a 2-under 62 at the Lawrence Welk-The Fountains course. She is four strokes off the lead.
The tournament continues through Friday.
