Building a prize-winning program

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

In his first year as Kalani girls' varsity basketball coach, Darold Imanaka has won more than just games. He's also won over players and the community with his positive coaching style and prize giveaways.

Darold Imanaka, right, has led the Kalani girls' varsity basketball team to a 14-2 record and the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White title. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

"You name it, we had it," said Imanaka, who credits supporters and parents for the donations. "We do this almost every game."

Besides the goodies, Imanaka has treated Kalani's growing number of supporters with personal thank you letters and a carnival-type home atmosphere with a rousing school band and a top-notch concession stand.

The basketball has been top-notch, too.

For the first time in school history, Kalani won both the O'ahu Interscholastic Association regular-season White Conference varsity (14-2) and junior varsity (16-0) titles this season. The Division II tournament begins tomorrow.

The Falcons had to overcome numerous obstacles, including a season-ending knee injury to its top player, senior point guard and co-captain Richline Batoon, and the loss of three players who chose to concentrate on club volleyball, Imanaka said.

If that wasn't enough, Kalani also faced preseason scheduling headaches because Imanaka accepted the coaching position in December. He scrambled to secure Interscholastic League of Honolulu opponents.

"You talk about adversity," said Imanaka, who is a former Punahou intermediate and junior varsity girls' basketball coach. "These kids faced so much adversity. We face it as a team, but they deal with it.

"To be honest, I'm overwhelmed," Imanaka continued. "I never thought we would be this good. I told the team when I first met them in December, 'This is our goal, we're going to the states.' They bought into it. If we don't make it, they'll be disappointed because they have accomplished a lot."

Kalani lacks height — junior center Mana Camara is the tallest player at 5 feet 8 — but compensates with determination and an uptempo offense. Imanaka said no player gets left out.

"I believe if you come to practice every day, and you practice hard, I've got to get you in the game somehow," he said. "Win or lose, I try to get everyone in the game."

This season, Kalani rallied around injured Batoon, who tore her right anterior cruciate ligament April 2 against 'Aiea. The Falcons, who were 7-0 with Batoon, lost two of their next three games, but won their final six.

Imanaka, a 1971 Kalani graduate who was the captain of the Falcons' football and basketball teams, said his goal is for spectators to pack the gym "for the girls."

"When I played here, I remember the two sides (of the bleachers) would be filled," he said. "People were standing outside the gym to watch us play. I want the girls to feel that. That's something that will be in my life until the day I die."

In its final home game, Kalani's gym was more than half full, and the concession stand ran out of food by halftime.

Senior forward and co-captain Liandra Bonifacio said it's sometimes "nerve racking" to play in front of such large crowds, but added such great support is inspiring.

"You're doing it for everyone," Bonifacio said. "You're doing it for your school and your community. I've been playing since I was a freshman. I couldn't be any prouder with this team right now."

Imanaka said he preaches "positive" coaching and credits assistants Dean Sakaue, Darlene Tsukazaki and Mike Saito with helping him do that.

"There's nothing negative in the gym," said Imanaka, who also coaches linebackers on Kalani's football team. "There's no yelling or swearing. I used to do that 30 years ago, but I've grown up. We make jokes, but during practice they're serious."

Imanaka's players said they appreciated his Kalani roots and his devotion to them and the school. As an added perk, Imanaka stocks a snack bar especially for his players, who can eat granola bars, fruit or pizza, before practice.

"He's really special," Camara said. "He's like a father to us. He's always there if we have problems with basketball or schoolwork. He's there to bring us back up if we hit rock bottom. If we didn't have coach Darold, I don't know where we would be right now."

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.