Masa Yonamine, a former longtime Waipahu High School coach and athletic director remembered for his dedication toward Hawai'i's youth, died Dec. 6.

He was 81.

Yonamine was Waipahu's football coach from 1954 through 1970, compiling a record of 120 wins, 61 losses and 9 ties (.632 pct.), including three Rural O'ahu Interscholastic Association championships. He also coached the Marauders to eight league baseball titles, including four straight from 1954 through 1957.

The school's Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex was dedicated after his retirement as athletic director in 1987.

"He was very well-respected in the community," said Keith Morioka, who was Waipahu's football coach from 1978 through 1984 and succeeded Yonamine as athletic director. "He had a gruff exterior, he wanted some kids to think he was mean, but he was really soft-hearted and gentle. He had a very big heart."

Yonamine played for legendary coach Father Kenneth A. Bray at 'Iolani and began a long teaching and coaching career at Waipahu in the early 1950s after graduating from Emporia (Kan.) State.

"In those days, Waipahu's (school) district was from 'Aiea to Wai'anae, and he would drive athletes home if they didn't have a ride," Morioka said. "His heart was so big, he tried to help the kids who didn't have money."

In a 2001 Advertiser interview, Yonamine's wife, Lillian, described how her husband's coaching philosophy influenced her career as a school counselor.

"I watched Masa coach and to him, the kids were all special," she said. "He had kids coming out of Olomana School (at the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility). We'd take them down to GEM (store) to buy clothes, pick them up on the way to school, feed them breakfast, things like that to nurture them.

"Masa also used to give them lunch and haircut money. His philosophy was never cut anybody down and always give them a chance to do their best. Those kids really appreciated what little they had ..."

Bray's influence on Yonamine was unmistakable.

Yonamine's son, Ken, an All-State defensive back for 'Iolani in 1980, was named after the former Raiders coach and Yonamine tried to instill Bray's principles of teamwork, discipline and humility in the Waipahu players and staff.

"Masa tried to do some of the same things as Father Bray, he wanted to continue Father Bray's legacy," Morioka said. "That was a big thing for him."

Morioka said that as an athletic director, Yonamine insisted on all the Waipahu coaches trying to "win the right way."

"He wanted to make sure we did things fairly and honestly," Morioka said. "He made sure we all knew the rules of the game so we would teach the kids properly. Winning was important, but more importantly, he wanted us to teach the kids life lessons, to be good citizens and show good sportsmanship."

Yonamine's coaching and administrative career almost paralleled that of former 'Iolani football coach and athletic director Eddie Hamada, a close friend and fellow Father Bray disciple.

"Their personalities were different," Morioka said, "but what they worked for was the same."

Yonamine also was field manager of the famed Asahi team in the popular Hawai'i Baseball League for 15 seasons. He guided Asahi to nine HBL championships and an upset of Cuba's national team before 40,000 fans during a 1974 trip to Japan.

"A lot of us — Gary Tanaka, Eddie Hayashi, Clyde Hirata, Milton Holt, Dick Kenney — became coaches ourselves later on," said Tom Gushiken, a longtime coach and educator at Waipahu High who played for Asahi under Yonamine. "He was soft-spoken but we still feared him, and we were grown men, married. But the bottom line is, he was a caring guy and he always did have compassion for kids. With him, that was always the most important thing — putting the kids first."

A memorial service is set for 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Alban's Chapel on the 'Iolani School campus.

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com