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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 14, 2003

State Swim Hall of Fame set to induct second class

Advertiser Staff

The second annual Hawai'i Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held tomorrow night at the Elks Club in Waikiki.

All tickets for the event have been sold.

Highlighting this year's class is Yoshi Oyakawa, a Hilo High School graduate who won the 100-meter backstroke at the 1952 Olympic Games at Helsinki, Finland. His time of 1 minute, 5.4 seconds broke the Olympic record set by Adolph Kiefer in 1936.

Oyakawa also was a member of the 1956 U.S. Olympic team in Melbourne, Australia, and was an All-American at Ohio State University.

Other Olympians who will be inducted tomorrow are Sonny Tanabe, George Onekea, Brent Berk and Chris Duplanty.

In all, 14 new inductees will join the 49 charter members of 2002.

The Hall of Fame was founded last year by the Hawai'i Swimming Legacy Project, a non-profit organization dedicated toward preserving the state's aquatic sports history.

Legends Duke Kahanamoku, "Buster" Crabbe, Keo Nakama and Soichi "Coach" Sakamoto were among the 49 charter members of the inaugural class.

The Hall of Fame does not yet have a permanent home, but the Hawai'i Swimming Legacy Project's traveling exhibit " 'Aukai to 'Aukai" recently won a Certificate of Commendation from the American Association for State and Local History. The AASLH recognizes achievement in the preservation and interpretation of local, state and regional history.

Inductees are selected by an advisory board based on set criteria, including international competition and meet records. The selections then are approved by a board of directors.

Members of the board of directors are Sonny Tanabe (president), Bill Smith (vice president), Hiroshi Yamauchi (second vice president), Evelyn Konno (secretary), Cory LarRieu (treasurer) and Gary Hosaka (member).

Advisory board members are Keith Arakaki (swimming), Wally Nakamoto (diving), John Nielsen (water polo), Diane Stowell (masters swimming) and Carl Kawauchi (ocean/channel swimming).

MORE SWIMMING

• Honolulu resident earns gold: Ernie Leskovitz, a Honolulu resident, captured five first-place finishes at the Australian Masters Games in Canberra, Australia.

Leskovitz, competing in the 65-69 age group, won the 400 individual medley in a record time of 6 minutes, 46.04 seconds. He also set a record in the 400 freestyle in 5:27.56.

The 60-year-old also won the 200 freestyle (2:38.75), 800 free (11:15.77) and the 100 butterfly (1:23.26).

The competition was held from Oct. 31 through Nov. 9.



FOOTBALL

• Title on line: The Pearl City Chargers will play the 'Ewa Saints for the O'ahu Pop Warner Midgets Division II championship in the Mele Kalikimaka Bowl Nov. 23 at Aloha Stadium.

Pearl City (9-0) advanced to the title game with a 30-13 victory over Waimanalo on Nov. 9.