Musashimaru, Shoji, Sullivan feted tonight
Advertiser Staff
A diverse field — Musashi-maru, a former sumotori; Dave Shoji, a celebrated women's volleyball coach; and Jack Sullivan, a soccer pioneer — will be inducted into the Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame and Cybermuseum tonight.
Their induction banquet at the Honolulu Country Club will bring to nearly 100 the number of sports notables honored since the shrine was started in 1997.
This year's Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame inductees are, from top, Fiamalu Penitani, sumo grand champion Musashimaru, Hawai'i women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji and soccer pioneer Jack Sullivan.
Fiamalu Penitani, better known in Japan's national sport of sumo as Musashimaru, went from the football field at Wai'anae High to win more tournaments than any other foreigner. Musashimaru won the Emperor's Cup, symbolic of a tournament championship, 12 times before retiring in 2003.
Shoji, who completed his 30th season as the University of Hawai'i women's volleyball coach in December, earned selection to the hall as a pioneer. He has led the Rainbow Wahine to four national championships, the only national team titles in school history.
Sullivan helped organize the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) in Hawai'i. What began with 225 boys at the Ko'olau Boys Home in 1974 has become an organization with more than 27,000 boys and girls today.
Sullivan was also involved in the development of the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex and still actively promotes the sport.
The dinner begins at 6:15 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m.
Nominations for the next round of selections may be made in writing to: Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame, Box 30666, Honolulu, HI 96820-0666. Additional information is available at www.alohafame.org.
