Updated at 3:39 p.m., Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Smith, successful Kalaheo hoop coach, will be 'missed'
Advertiser Staff
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Smith coached 18 seasons at Kalaheo, where he led the Mustangs to three state titles (1985, 1995, 2001).
He also led Kalaheo to 14 O'ahu Interscholastic Association titles and in his 18 seasons, his Kalaheo teams never missed a state tournament.
Smith suffered a heart attack following cancer surgery in 2003. On Feb. 18, 2004, he made surprise appearance during an OIA semifinal playoff game against Kaimuki. He joined the Kalaheo bench. The Mustangs won that night, 51-46.
His son, Alika, was a star player at Kalaheo and the University of Hawai'i, where he is now an assistant coach.
UH football player Ikaika Alama-Francis, who came to the Manoa campus as a basketball player, played for Smith's last state championship team. Kalaheo beat Iolani for the state title.
"Shocked," said Alama-Francis, an all-state basketball player.
"My condolences go out to his family. He just inspired so many, and I'm one of them. It's a sad day."
Smith stepped down as Kalaheo's coach in March 2003.
He coached at Kalaheo from 1984-87 and from 1990-03. He also was Chaminade University's head coach for two seasons (1988-89 and 1989-90) and was an assistant to Silverswords coach Merv Lopes when they upset No. 1-ranked Virginia in 1982.
"I knew Pete from (Kailua) intermediate. He was just a great kid," said Lopes, his coach, colleague and friend.
"He was one of the nicest, nicest person I've known in my life... he was a great student of the game of basketball."
As an athlete, Smith was the State Player of the Year in 1972 after leading Kailua to the state basketball championship.
Smith was diagnosed with colon cancer in the summer of 2003 and underwent 28 days of radiation and chemotherapy. He underwent colon cancer surgery on Oct. 31, 2003. Later, he suffered complications. He had spent two weeks in a coma-like state before gradually gaining back his senses. He was transferred to the Rehab Hospital of the Pacific in December and finally returned home on Jan. 16, 2004.
A month later he attended the semifinal game and was full of smiles and encouragement throughout the game and afterward.
"He had a wonderful time," said his wife, Stacey, said after the game.
The Smiths have three sons: Josh, Alika and Kea. Josh and Alika played for Smith.
"I'm going to miss Pete and he had some great sons and his wife is unbelievable," Lopes said. "She was his high school sweetheart, too, so that's an amazing record. He's gonna be missed. I told Kea, uncle Merv's here (for them)."
