Tokuda orchestrated Leilehua's turnaround
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Although he will be the first to tell you he had the support of the administration and community, Nolan Tokuda helped turn around Leilehua's football fortunes. That is why he is our Coach of the Year.
Just as it was difficult in choosing the Defensive Player of the Year and the first-team quarterback, it was the same in selecting the coach's honor.
Tokuda
Hawai'i Prep's Tom Goodspeed led his team to an undefeated season in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation. That meant beating all the Division I-classified teams in the league. He also did what no other BIIF coach has done in the six-year history of the tournament: Win a game.
Kamehameha's Kanani Souza had the most talented team in the state — the Warriors had 11 first- and second-team selections, including the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year — and won the state Division I title, the school's first major crown since the 1976 O'ahu Prep Bowl. It was a major feat for a program pressured to win annually.
Both were worthy candidates.
But when all the players were mentioned, Leilehua ended up with just three selections on the All-State first and second teams, by far the fewest in recent history for a runner-up. If all other coaches could think of were three players on the state's second-place team, then it was obvious the Mules' success had to do with how they were taught. Tokuda, Leilehua's first-year coach, turned a program that was 3-5 a year ago to 11-3 and a win shy of a state championship.
"He had been groomed by our previous coaches," Leilehua principal Norman Minehira said. "Coach (Jake) Kawamata served as the interim (the previous two years) to provide Nolan time to develop as a head coach. His success at the JV level helped make the decision for us (to hire him)."
The 32-year-old Tokuda, a counselor at Leilehua, was a motivator. After the Mules' upset of defending state champion Kahuku in the state semifinals, he brought his players back to earth the following Monday in preparation for the championship against Kamehameha. He marched the players in the school gym and talked about the championship banners of past teams. He told them how they would feel when someday they could return and show their children that one of the banners could be from their team.
"He did a great job in his first year, taking them all the way to the final game," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said. "He's young and energetic."
The 1990 'Aiea High graduate knew his calling in high school. He played quarterback and defensive back in football and the infield in baseball. He went on to play baseball at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo under Joey Estrella. When he finished at UHH, he returned to his alma mater to be an assistant coach in baseball.
Tokuda was later offered an assistant football position by 'Aiea coach Wendell Say. But Minehira, who was vice principal at 'Aiea when Tokuda was a student, hired him as a counselor at Leilehua. He spent four seasons as a football assistant to Cass Ishitani. He then became head JV coach when Kawamata served during the interim.
Tokuda led the JV Mules to the semifinals, finishing 7-3 the first year, and led them to the championship, ending at 10-1. Both times they lost to Kahuku.
After last season, he was then promoted to the varsity. Along the way, he had guidance from Kawamata and athletic director Richard Townsend, Minehira said.
Tokuda said he was inspired in high school by his coaches, then varsity football coach Glenn Tamayoshi, baseball coach Alan Higuchi, football assistant, the late Lino Caling, and then-athletic director Dan Hironaka.
"They made sure to keep me in line," Tokuda said. "It was inspiring. I knew I had to give back (to the community)."
As it turned out, it would be the Wahiawa community. And the community in turn made its support known.
On the night of the state title game, fans lined California Avenue and Kamehameha Highway leading to the freeway, cheering the team buses. The community postponed the annual Christmas parade the following day so the fans could attend the game.
"The fire station blared sirens, people were waving and screaming and were holding signs," Tokuda said. "It was chicken skin having that experience. The whole community backed the football team."
Tokuda's assistants are Mark Kurisu (defensive coordinator), Kapena Kaohu (linebackers), Ed Kama (offensive line), Jon Morikawa (quarterbacks), Alfred Viloria (offense advisor), Rod York (defensive line) and Uila Barnett (defensive backs).
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
