Posted on: Sunday, July 22, 2001

Haru new Castle athletic director

Advertiser Staff

Richard Haru, a champion of success in the classroom as well as on the field, will take over tomorrow as athletic director of Castle High School.

Haru's appointment was announced yesterday by Castle principal Meredith Maeda following the confirmation of Maeda's recommendation by state Superintendent of Schools Paul G. LeMahieu. Haru replaces Ken Watanabe, who retired last winter, but remained on the job until a replacement was chosen.

Haru, 50, has been assistant athletic director at Roosevelt High since 1988, and coached at McKinley, Iolani and Roosevelt, beginning in 1971. He also was a counselor at Roosevelt the last 10 years.

At Roosevelt, he developed a tutorial program for student-athletes and ultimately opened it to the entire student body.

"This is an opportunity to work with student-athletes as well as work in an area where I really believe you can work to provide the opportunity for positive growth on their part," Haru said. "It's rewarding to watch them grow in all aspects."

Haru was graduated from McKinley High in 1969 and University of Hawai'i in 1976. He began coaching at the suggestion of McKinley athletic director Neal Takamori after knee surgery ended his career as a football player. "Coaching changed the direction in my life . . . for the better," Haru said.

Roosevelt athletic director Rodney Iwasaki said Haru "was always the support person I could turn to, either to talk through how to help an individual or where to go with a program . . . or for physical labor. He always puts students ahead of everything else."

And Iwasaki has a warning for Castle coaches: "He's a workaholic. You've got to move with him."

Haru and his wife, the former Kersten Kakazu, and their two daughters reside in Kane'ohe.

Assistant athletic director John Chung will take over Haru's responsibilities at Roosevelt, Iwasaki said.