UH alumnae match to benefit Iolani's Kang

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

There has always been a bond for those who originated the Rainbow Wahine volleyball phenomenon. It has grown closer over the years.

It just never hit home quite like when Ann (Goldenson) Kang, now a teacher and coach at Iolani, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — Lou Gehrig's disease. Her former teammates learned of her challenge the last few months.

Tomorrow's alumnae match will be like no other.

Kang and her husband Alan — the Rainbows' first coach in 1974 — will be honorary coaches for the 5 p.m. match between the Green and White teams. Thirty alumnae will play and coach, from Linda Fernandez (1974) to Tanja Nikolic (2001). There will be a tribute to the Kang family between Games 2 and 3.

Then the alumnae will collect donations for "Friends of Ann Kang," a group organized to help the Kangs with medical expenses. Members of the Volleyball Booster Club, Rainbow Wahine Hui and Letterwinner's Club will take donations from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. by the main entrance. The alumnae will collect from 6:30 to 7:30. Tickets for the Nov. 26 "Friends of Ann Kang" fund-raiser will be on sale in the arena.

"I just feel like we're all here and connected," says Paula Gusman Jenkins, who came to Hawai'i with Kang in 1976. "There's so much energy. We can give her a lot of love and support. She's getting that from all over, especially Iolani. She's touched so many people."

Kang, Jenkins and Rocky Elias played together on the Junior National team in Southern California, then came here as Hawai'i's first true Mainland recruiting class. The Rainbows won the first of four national titles three years later.

They kick-started a program that has become the country's most popular. Now, they have yet another reason to come together. Their compassion for Kang makes them realize how blessed they are to be healthy heading toward 50. They also realize what a blessing Kang has become in her adopted home.

"What would Hawai'i high school volleyball be without Ann Kang?" Waynette Mitchell says. "She's been doing her summer program for 20-something years. She is dedicated."

The toughest part now is to find a way to tell Kang how much they care. Some, like Mitchell, went straight to her when they heard and tried to lighten the load.

"Ann told me her left arm was kind of going numb," Mitchell says. "I told her, 'That's OK. It wasn't Alan's favorite arm anyway.'

"Ann is lucky to have Alan. And Alan is very lucky to have Ann."

Terry Malterre, fearing her emotions might get the better of her, found it easier to e-mail Kang when she first heard the news. Now she believes the perseverance Kang showed in starting Iolani's girls program and ultimately leading it to a state championship last year was only a beginning.

"She was a pioneer at Iolani," Malterre. "She can also be a pioneer and beat the disease. She's a strong person. She's all-in-one — a teacher, coach, mother, wife. She has her masters, worked on her doctorate, has gone through all these things. She can get over one more obstacle. She has a lot of support by a lot of people. Some she probably doesn't even know."

Some, she's known her entire Hawai'i life.

QUICK SETS: For information on how to help the Kang family, call 544-8322, e-mail FriendsofAnnKang@aol.com or visit iolani.honolulu.hi.us/ann.htm. ... Top-ranked Hawai'i plays WAC matches against Nevada tonight and Boise State tomorrow, then plays fourth-ranked Stanford on Sunday. ... The Rainbow Wahine remained No. 1 in the new NCAA West Region rankings this week. They are followed by UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Utah, Pacific, Nevada and Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. ... Stanford and USC are tied for first in the Pacific Region. ...Stanford has moved up to No. 1 in blocking in this week's national statistics. Jennifer Harvey and Sara McGee are among the top 25 individually. ... McGee also leads the country in hitting percentage (.442). Hawai'i's Lauren Duggins (.389) is 13th, and Kim Willoughby is 21st at .375, and ranks third in kills per game, at 6.43. Lily Kahumoku is 13th (5.28). ... Hawai'i remains first in kills, assists and hitting percentage. It is 11th in digs.