Jr. 'Bows' Okubo blessed with a symphony of talent
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| University High senior Diane Okubo can blow a mean oboe for the Hawai'i Youth Symphony as well as blow past opposing players on the basketball court. She "does everything for (the Junior 'Bows), from initiating the offense, to being a scorer, to being a catalyst on defense," says Punahou coach Mike Taylor.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser |
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| "There's no question she has benefited from both (music and basketball). Both have helped her learn about discipline and dedication, and made her more well-rounded."
Ira Wong Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser |
But as it is, Okubo has had to fill her scrapbook with basketball honors, including selection as a first-team Interscholastic League of Honolulu all-star guard in 2002.
In both basketball and music, Okubo has shown the kind of extraordinary talent that got her noticed despite being out of the big school limelight.
She finished third among ILH scoring leaders last season, averaging 13.8 points per game, and was second in 3-pointers with 17. The 5-foot-7 guard entered last Saturday's game against Maryknoll leading the league in scoring. But a seven-point outing dropped her average to 12.7 ppg, which still ranks her third.
And as with most standout players, scoring is but one facet of her all-around game.
"She's like the glue for that team," said Punahou coach Mike Taylor, whose Buffanblu (12-0) play the Junior 'Bows (0-12) at 6:30 p.m. today at Saint Louis' McCabe Gym "She has to do everything for them, from initiating the offense, to being a scorer, to being a catalyst on defense. We pretty much held her in check when we played them earlier this season, but last year she lit us up. We had a hard time stopping her."
In that game, Okubo made 7 of 9 field goals, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, and finished with 18 points. Last Thursday, Okubo had 17 points and helped University stay close with Iolani before she left the game with cramps in the fourth period of a 47-33 loss.
The Jr. 'Bows had led 31-28 after three quarters.
Though this winless season has been a rough one so far, Okubo did have a huge bright spot when she recently accepted a nearly full scholarship offer to play for Nova Southeastern University, an NCAA Division II school in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
"She's definitely a talent," Taylor said. "She handles the ball well, can hit the 3-point shot and plays defense. She wasn't a first team all-star last year for no reason. She's well-respected by the other coaches."
The same could probably be said regarding music instructors from around the state. Okubo's talents with the oboe were first realized during her years at Kaimuki Middle School, and she eventually became part of the elite Hawai'i Youth Symphony, with whom she still performs.
"She's highly accomplished in the oboe," said Ira Wong, Okubo's band director at University High. "The Hawai'i Youth Symphony attracts the finest musicians in the state, it's a highly selective and rigorous process. You have to go through several auditions. If Diane focused solely on music, she probably would have had the opportunity to get a scholarship for that, too."
Juggling both talents has not been easy.
Both endeavors involve logging many hours of practice time, and there often are conflicts.
"When you hear someone first trying to play the oboe, it sounds like a duck," Okubo said. "It takes time to learn. When I started, my teacher made me practice four hours a day, every day, over Christmas vacation. It was like I didn't have a vacation."
When the Youth Symphony is preparing for a concert, the musicians practice every Sunday afternoon from 3:30 to 6. Of course, Sundays also are a time for basketball players to hone their games, which Okubo did every Sunday morning for several years at Dennis Agena's Kalakaua Foundation Clinic.
During basketball season, the schedule gets even tighter.
"I'd come home from basketball practice at about 6, then I'd try to practice (the oboe) early because I don't want to disrupt the neighbors late at night," Okubo said. "Then I'd do my homework."
Sometimes, basketball and music would collide. The Youth Symphony is split into three levels, with three oboe players in each level. Okubo reached the highest level last year, but staying there meant even more practice time.
"There's always a struggle (between basketball and music)," Wong said. "It's very difficult to be very good at both. Each requires a lot of dedication."
With her senior basketball season and potential scholarship offers awaiting her this year, Okubo decided something had to give. So she chose basketball, and dropped down a level with the symphony.
"I still put time into the oboe, but not as much as before," Okubo said.
She also played volleyball in the fall and puts significant time into her schoolwork, with a 3.8 grade-point average to prove it. And to make some spending money, Okubo also has a part-time retail job at a store in Kahala Mall.
"It requires sacrifice," Okubo said of her busy life. "Lots of times, I can't go out with my friends."
Of course, the time she has invested also has paid dividends. And not just because of the basketball scholarship.
"There's no question she has benefited from both (music and basketball)," Wong said. "I'm glad basketball worked out for her, but I think both have helped her learn about discipline and dedication, and it made her more well-rounded."
Okubo cited other benefits.
"I've met a lot of good people in both," she said. "Basketball is fun, it's allowed me to travel and — to get the scholarship — it's taken me farther. But I've also gotten to know a lot of good musicians and teachers, and I've learned about the culture of music."
Plus, the energetic Okubo is not the type to daydream her life away.
"I live in the moment," she said.
