Posted on: Monday, April 25, 2005

EDITORIAL
Stephanie Kono a gem

By any definition, 15-year-old Stephanie Kono is a golf phenom. She's played at a level far above not only her high school peers but most adults. She is blessed with great talent, but also works very hard at developing that talent.

She won the Hawai'i State Women's Golf Association Match Play Championship at age 11 and won the Jennie K Invitational when she was in the seventh grade. And there are many more golf titles in her long list of accomplishments.

For all of that, she still feels that it's an honor to play on her high school golf team.

Hawai'i international golf sensation Michelle Wie, also a Punahou student, has chosen a different path and has achieved great things. But Kono's path is also remarkable. Her commitment to her school, her teammates and her acknowledgement of the value of the experience of high school sports should be applauded. There are life lessons there that are even more important than the game.