Moanalua coach resigns

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Joel Kawachi, who coached two Moanalua High girls state wrestling championship teams, said yesterday that he is resigning.

Kawachi, 33, said, "It's good timing for me. I've met every goal I set except one — the OIA boys championship. We were second to McKinley by two points in 2002. I'm very happy with what we've created and the people who have come through the program."

Kawachi, who will continue as a special education teacher at Moanalua, has been head boys and girls coach for five years and in the program at Moanalua about 10 years.

Kawachi and his staff coached 10 individual state champions, three national champions, a three-time state champion (Stephany Lee) and the first girls four-time state champion (Caylene Valdez).

The 2001 Menehune team was inducted into the Moanalua High School Hall of Fame and the 2002 team was the No. 1 high school at the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association championships.

Moanalua had a dual meet record of 42-7 in boys and 45-4 in girls in Kawachi's head coaching tenure, winning or sharing 12 O'ahu Interscholastic Association or divisional championships.

He has taken pride in the non-athletic achievements of his athletes as well.

"We've had two senior prom queens, two senior prom kings, three student body presidents, four valedictorians and a National Honor Society president, among other honors," Kawachi said.

Four of his athletes have wrestled in college and "some of them had no thought of going to college until they got involved in wrestling," he said.

Kawachi said that athletic director Dana Dias would interview all of his assistants and would open the job to outside applicants, as is required by the Department of Education.

He said he would remain involved with wrestling.

"There is so much for us to do to promote the sport, I will never leave it," he said.

Kawachi formally announced his resignation at a team banquet Sunday night.

Girls volleyball

Miyashiro puts family first: Joey Miyashiro announced yesterday that she would not return next season as head coach at the Kamehameha Schools, which won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship last season with a 15-0 record.

"I'm going to be doing a lot of things, but my roles will be different," Miyashiro said. "I have five children, three of whom are in high school. They are all very active in school activities and sports.

"I've coached for 25 years. This year I don't plan on coaching at any particular school, but have been contacted by several schools to do 'consulting.' "

Miyashiro said it's time to focus on her children.

"For once in my life, I'm going to try to be there to support my son Ainoa (junior setter for Kamehameha), my daughter Tamari (All-OIA sophomore at Kalani) and my younger son Kaulana (freshman varsity football player at Kalani), and of course, we're hoping our daughter Tehani will return as the girls varsity volleyball coach at Kalani.

"I've been helping other people's kids to fulfill their dreams through club and school volleyball, and have missed out on my own children's endeavors. I missed out on the majority of their games and activities due to my own team's commitments."

Miyashiro had been head coach at Kamehameha for three years. She replaced Dan Kitashima, who won seven state titles in nine years.

Cheerleading

Career focus: Maile Kapuniai, Punahou head varsity coach the past two seasons, has resigned to "focus on (my) school counseling career and other personal pursuits."

Kapuniai's teams qualified for the state championships both years, finishing third this year in the medium-squad division.

Positions open

• 'Aiea — Boys bowling and boys volleyball. Send resumé to Athletic Director, 98-1276 Ulune St., 'Aiea 96701. Deadline Thursday.
• Maryknoll — Boys and girls volleyball coaches for varsity, junior varsity and intermediate teams. Send resumés to Pattie Heatherly, athletic director, Maryknoll Schools, 1526 Alexander St., Honolulu 96822.
• Mililani — Head varsity girls soccer and head varsity girls volleyball coaches. Send resumés to Athletic Director Glenn Nitta, 95-1200 Meheula Parkway, Mililani 96789 or call 627-7369. Deadline April 25 for girls soccer and May 2 for girls volleyball.
• Punahou — Head varsity cheerleading. Contact Tom Holden, Punahou Athletic Director, at 944-5744. Deadline May 2.