Investing in Hawai'i sports

According to an Advertiser survey, Walter Dods, left, was an easy choice as the most influential person in local sports. Joining the chairman and chief executive of BancWest in the top 10 are (left to right, from top): Mark Rolfing, June Jones, Hugh Yoshida, Duane Kurisu, Warren Haruki, Larry Price, Calvin Say, John Fink and Walter Kirimitsu. Advertiser library photos/Stephen Downes graphic

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

When the University of Hawai'i scrambled in attempting to put together an 11th-hour bowl game for its football team last month, the first call for help went to Walter Dods.

And when June Jones' representatives began seeking an enhanced package to keep the coach at UH, Dods quickly offered to help, saying, "... if there is any kind of community effort to keep him here, I would want to be part of it."

When it comes to people who can get things done in Hawai'i sports, the name of the chairman and chief executive of BancWest, the parent company of First Hawaiian Bank, tops the list.

In an Advertiser survey, Dods was the runaway choice as the most influential figure in local sports, a power broker whose extent of influence is limited only by the degree he chooses to exercise it.

"If Walter believes in something, it'll get done," said a figure in local sports marketing who asked not to be named.

"Walter has meant as much to UH as he has to the whole state," Jones said. "He has a lot of love for the state and sports is part of it."

BancWest Corp, the largest Hawai'i-based financial institution, is a major player on several levels of local sports through its event sponsorships and advertising. Its visibility spans signage at Aloha Stadium and the Stan Sheriff Center to underwriting today's Pro-Junior Golf Challenge at the Sony Open in Hawai'i, formerly the Johnny Bellinger Shoot-Out.

Since the arrival of Jones, whom Dods has called, "the greatest coach in the history of Hawai'i," the support has become more visible.

A First Hawaiian spokesman declined to provide specific numbers on the bank's commitment to sports beyond "the six-figure range," but people in local sports marketing estimate the value at around a half million.

Dods, according to people familiar with his role in sports, is less in the mold of a hands-on, call-the-shots power broker of bygone days. Instead, they say, he picks spots of interest where he is asked to help.

Not that Dods would have trouble being heard or influencing policy on a wider basis if he chose. He was instrumental in bringing in Evan Dobelle, the new UH president, and also has the ears of several regents. His right hand man and fellow St. Louis School alum, Tony Guerrero, is on the Stadium Authority.

Dods' role underlines how the positions of power have evolved in the past 20 years. Where the power to hire and fire coaches and influence policy was once the province of politicians such as the late Gov. John Burns or exercised by behind-the-scenes "godfathers" such as Mackay Yanagisawa and Wally Fujiyama, increasingly it now belongs to those who hold sway over the key financial pillars of advertising, sponsorships and television.

As state support has declined or been unable to keep up with needs, UH, the high schools and other events have had to increasingly seek private sector help.

That has been illustrated in UH's last two major coaching hires, where the school has gone to screening committees mostly made up of well-heeled boosters to both help make the selections and underwrite the contracts past the modest base salaries the university provides.

Without outside help, UH's funds from gate receipts and other traditional means alone would not have been sufficient to offer the $350,000 package that brought Jones here or the reported $165,000 necessary to attract baseball coach Mike Trapasso.

The 10 most influential figures in local sports

1. Walter Dods, chairman, chief executive of BancWest.
2. Mark Rolfing, member of Hawai'i Tourism Authority, NBC commentator and operator of Kapalua. He is Hawai'i's link to the golf world and the estimated billion dollar impact it has locally.
3. June Jones, head football coach, University of Hawai'i. An opposing coach has called UH, "June Jones University," which is stretching his importance. But not much in some people's minds.
4. Hugh Yoshida, UH athletic director. Runs the state's only Division IA athletic program, a 19-sport, $16 million operation.
5. Duane Kurisu, UH regent and businessman, is heavily involved in the baseball community. If professional baseball is to return to the state, Kurisu will be involved. In the meantime, he supports the sport on several levels.
6. Warren Haruki, president Verizon Hawaii. A rising financial supporter of several sports programs who recently underwrote a reported $50,000 study center for UH baseball.
7. Larry Price, K59 radio personality, chairman of the Stadium Authority and Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame. People listen to his opinions.
8. Calvin Say, House Speaker. Through his hands flow the funds to build or renovate many of the athletic facilities in the state.
9. John Fink, president and general manager, KHNL and KFVE. His stations air more than 100 local sporting events — UH, high school and others — per year and pay the Rainbows nearly $1.3 million per year.
10. Walter Kirimitsu, UH Chief of Staff and chairman of the St. Louis School Board of Trustees. The former judge is the quiet, behind-the-scenes right hand of UH President Evan Dobelle and a prime voice at St. Louis.

Clay Benham, executive secretary of the ILH. A force in high school athletics for four decades.

Damien Bonenfant, president Anheuser-Busch Hawai'i Sales Inc. Attend or turn on a television or radio to a local sporting event and chances are Budweiser is there, too.

James Burns, justice of the state appellate court, long-time president of Koa Anuenue and president of St. Louis Alumni Association. His group contributes nearly $1 million annually to UH and controls some of the most desirable seating locations at Rainbow events. If a reorganization of booster programs put them under Koa Anuenue umbrella, his influence rises.

Jim Donovan, UH associate athletic director. The money man for the $16 million UH-Manoa athletic program.

Wayne Duke, chairman, Maui Invitational.

Lenny and Marcia Klompus, operators of Hula Bowl Maui.

Bobby Lee, former president of the World Boxing Council. Still a member of several world boxing bodies and an advisor to the Hawai'i State Boxing Commission, he remains Mr. Boxing here.

Norman Minehira, Leilehua High principal. Veteran behind-the-scene voice in public school and state athletics.

Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano, UH assistant athletic director. The highest-ranking woman in Division IA sports in the state and major proponent of gender equity in athletics.

Jim Leahey, K5 sportscaster. Long-time "voice" of UH sports whose opinions carry weight.

Dr. Edison Miyawaki Sr., extensive holdings in the health care industry. Contributor to UH athletics and minority owner of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Don Murphy, owner of Murphy's Bar & Grill and president of Na Koa. Major fund-raiser for athletics.

Jill Nunokawa, president of the Gender Equity Sports Club and UH Civil Rights counselor. Aggressive agent for gender equity in high school and college sports.

Don Takaki, president of Island Movers. Long-time baseball supporter.

Barry Taniguchi, president of KTA Stores. Prominent contributor to UH-Hilo and Big Island prep athletics.

Jimmy Yagi, retired UH-Hilo basketball coach and influential figure in Big Island athletics.

Ten to Watch
(Alphabetical order)

Keith Amemiya, executive director of Hawai'i High School Athletic Association. Has raised the quality of state championship events. Working to bring national high school football champion De La Salle of California here this fall.

Evan Dobelle, University of Hawai'i President. After less than six months in office, nobody doubts where the buck stops at UH or where the bucks are going to have to come from to implement his vision of Rainbow athletics.

Jeremy Harris. As mayor of Honolulu he built up soccer infrastructure. If he makes it to Washington Place, figures to play a major role.

Linda Lingle. As Maui mayor, her administration brought Hula Bowl and other events to the Valley Isle. If elected governor, could have a major impact.

Kathleen McNally, UH-Hilo athletic director. In office just a year this week, she faces the challenges of dealing with either keeping the Vulcans in Division II or laying the ground work for Division I membership.

Dean Neubauer, Interim UH-Manoa chancellor. Athletics at UH are in his sphere of influence. He will occupy UH's seat on the critical Western Athletic Conference Council.

Michael O'Neill, chief executive officer of Bank of Hawaii. Before the economy soured Bank of Hawaii was putting more than $700,000 annually into sports sponsorships and advertising.

Nate Smith, chairman of Oceanic Cable. Will he pick up where his innovative predecessor, Don Carroll, left off, and expand AOL Time Warner's presence in local sports, including making a run at the UH television contract?

Leigh Steinberg, president Steinberg & Moorad. Long-time friend of June Jones, his firm has been contracted to represent UH's interests in marketing and promotions and could expand its ties considerably in the next year.

Mike Trapasso, UH baseball coach.