'Clown' Kahuanui was athlete, coach

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

In his later years, Harry "Clown" Kahuanui helped his daughter, Shelley, coach the Punahou School girls basketball team. Advertiser library photo • May 12, 1994

Kahuanui is a member of UH's Circle of Honor and was remembered by former teammates as a superb all-around athlete. As an end on the Rainbows' 1949 football team, he became only the second UH player to earn honorable mention All-America honors. His coach, Tommy Kaulukukui, was the first in 1936.

Kahuanui also broke new ground for the Rainbows in 1949 when he was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game, the premier college all-star game at the time.

"That was a big honor," said Dr. Richard Mamiya, another Circle of Honor member who was Kahuanui's teammate.

Since then, more than 100 UH football players have participated in various all-star games.

Kahuanui also was a starter on the Rainbows' basketball team and was a territorial heavyweight boxing champion. He was inducted into the Circle of Honor in 1984.

"When he came to UH out of Farrington (High School), he was pretty raw," Mamiya said. "But he developed into an all-around athlete. He was one of the few guys who was that tall (6 feet 4) back then, but he had raw talent and was a natural athlete."

Jimmy Asato, a football teammate and Circle of Honor member, said Kahuanui was an "outstanding" end and a "terrific" person.

"He was very talented and athletic," Asato said. "He was a great player. But the thing I remember most about him is what a wonderful guy he was. He was such a nice guy."

Mamiya said the nickname "Clown" was a good fit for Kahuanui.

"He did a lot of joking around, he was the life of the team," Mamiya said. "He was such a joy, a fun guy to be around."

After leaving UH, Kahuanui served in the Marines on the Mainland and later returned to Hawai'i and coached football and basketball at several high schools. He coached Kahuku's football team from 1963-66 and guided the Red Raiders' boys basketball team to the 1968 Rural O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship.

Later that year, he became head varsity football coach at Roosevelt, a position he held through 1971.

Kahuanui also developed into a single-handicap golfer. One of his daughters, Shelley Kahuanui Fey, became a successful basketball coach at Punahou School.

Kahuanui is survived by wife, Lily; son, Lance; daughters Shelley Kahuanui Fey and Charlene Christenson; grandsons Fatu Kahuanui, Micah Christenson, Kupono Fey and Keaupono Fey, granddaughter Joanna Christenson and great-grandson Isaiah Kahuanui.

Services are pending.