Special honors

In the early 1960s, the Leeward Coast of O'ahu was known mostly as a surfing haven, a sleepy place far removed from urban Honolulu both geographically and in the minds of the island's sports fans.

That changed in 1965, after Larry Ginoza was hired as Wai'anae High School's football coach.

Ginoza, who played under legendary coach Father Kenneth A. Bray and graduated from Iolani School in 1954, built a football dynasty as Wai'anae's head coach for 20 seasons. The Seariders won nine O'ahu Interscholastic Association championships and appeared in the O'ahu Prep Bowl — symbolizing the mythical state title game — six times, winning three and tying once.

He turned economically challenged Wai'anae into a football boomtown as the program became a source of pride for the entire Leeward Coast.

At 5 feet 7, 145 pounds, Eddie Hamada was not exactly an ideal physical "specimen" while playing football for Iolani School in 1945. Especially while playing center.

But Hamada, playing under coach Father Kenneth A. Bray, overcame any size disadvantage to earn first-team all-star honors in the competitive Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

Hamada's legacy began when he took over as Iolani's head football coach in 1960. In 27 seasons, his teams won three ILH championships and tied powerful Wai'anae in the 1980 Prep Bowl.

Most of all, Hamada's humble, caring personality earned him, Iolani and the ILH statewide respect and he was a constant, stable force in Hawai'i high school athletics even through times of turmoil and change.

Charlie Wedemeyer starred in football for Punahou School in the early 1960s, and then played for Michigan State, including the Spartans' legendary "Game of the Century" against Notre Dame in 1966.

Later, Wedemeyer became a successful teacher and football coach at Los Gatos High School in Northern California. In 1977, Wedemeyer was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an incurable neurodegenerative disorder commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease" that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. The result is a loss of muscle control and movement.

Many patients totally succumb to ALS within two or three years of diagnosis. But Wedemeyer has astounded the medical world by still leading a productive life while battling the disease for 28 years.

He coached the Los Gatos football team to a section championship in 1985 and through his wife, Lucy, continues to give inspirational speeches around the world.

Although Wedemeyer cannot walk, speak, or even breathe on his own, he remains a true inspiration to people from all walks of life and this week, he and Lucy will join Punahou friends for their 40th year class reunion.

When people in Hawai'i hear the name, "Wally Yonamine," most immediately think, "baseball," and rightfully so.

But growing up in the tiny sugar plantation town of Olowalu, Maui, in the 1930s and '40s, Yonamine quickly built a legendary status for himself as an outstanding athlete in football, basketball and baseball.

By the time he played football and basketball for Lahainaluna High School, word of his muscular, rock-hard body, sprinter's speed and amazing agility already had reached Honolulu, and in 1944 all of O'ahu got to watch him play football for Farrington.

Yonamine was offered a football scholarship to play for national power Ohio State, but instead signed with the San Francisco 49ers of the All-American Football Conference. Later, Yonamine became a legend in Japan baseball, and to this day, he gives back to the game and to Hawai'i's athletes through his Wally Yonamine Foundation, which sponsors the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association state baseball tournament, as well as youth clinics in the offseason.