The significance of tomorrow is not lost on Taylor Takata.

The 26-year-old from Wahiawa will attempt to become the first judoka from Hawai'i — and just third overall — to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Judo Team since Clifton Sunada in 1996.

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling and Judo begin tomorrow and run through Sunday at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

"I've have some really good practices in the last few days," Takata said. "I'm right where I need to be, physically and mentally."

This is the 2000 'Iolani graduate's second attempt at making the team. At the 2004 trials, he lost to the eventual U.S. Olympian by a penalty after moving up a weight class from 132 pounds.

"I learned a lot from that experience," Takata said. "There were a lot of things I could have done differently when I look back on it. I am much more prepared and focused this time around. That experience shows me how much I needed to step up my game and training to be an Olympian."

Kevin Asano, the only other Hawai'i judoka to make the Olympic team, captured a silver medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympiad and believes Takata — who is the top seed at 145.5 pounds — has what it takes.

"He's been dominating that division," said Asano, a 1981 Pearl City graduate. "I anticipate that he will win, barring any injury, which is always unforeseen."

The top eight judoka, according to points accumulated through senior level competition, were invited to the single-elimination trials.

If Takata wins the bracket, he will earn the Olympic berth. If the he loses during the trials, he will meet the winner of the division in a best-of-three playoff for the spot.

"He's pretty much in control," Asano said. "He's been around for about seven, eight years now, so he's a veteran already. Taylor's at the peak of his competitive career and I think he has everything going for him. This is his year."

Takata, who lives and trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., meets eighth-seeded Tanner Singh of Plano, Texas in the first round.

"There are some tough competitors in my division, but I feel very good about my position in the bracket," Takata said. "I'm not focusing on one specific opponent. I'm focused on myself and doing my style of judo."

Takata has quite an impressive resume, most recently finishing fifth at the Pan American Championships last month in Miami, Fla. He took second at last year's U.S. Open and Senior Nationals and first at the FEDOJUDO International Cup. Takata has collected more than 40 medals in elite-level competition.

"He's gone through a lot of emotional highs and lows, but he was able to overcome all of that to where he is now," Asano said. "At that (elite) level, you can't do it because someone wants you to do it. You have to want it so badly that you'll do whatever it takes."

Takata has remained steadfast in his preparation for the trials.

"Training for the Olympics ia full-time commitment," he said. "Many people are unaware of the sacrifices that Olympic hopefuls make. Judo for me is a full-time job."

For Takata, who began judo at the age of eight, a trip to Beijing would cap a stellar career.

"I've accomplished a lot in this sport. I've fought in two World Championships, won two Pan American Championships and Senior Nationals a bunch of times," Takata said. "This is the last thing I want to accomplish in my career — to go to the Olympics and win a medal."

Asano says Takata's ascent in the elite level can only help judo in Hawai'i.

"I think when the kids see the level that the judo players are achieving here in Hawai'i, it will inspire them to try and attain that level," Asano said. "In my mind I think he's going to make the Olympic team, but in my heart it doesn't really matter. He's already a champion in my eyes and I think he's a champion to the whole community here in Hawai'i."

SIX OTHERS COMPETING

Takata is just one of seven judoka with Hawai'i ties competing in the trials.

Joining him in the 145.5-pound division is Honolulu's Daniel Chow, who recently graduated from Punahou School and was inducted into the Hawai'i High School Hall of Honor on Sunday. Chow, 18, won three state judo championships and three state wrestling titles as a Buffanblu. He is the sixth seed and will meet third-seeded Nate Torra, of El Cerrito, Calif. in tomorrow's first round.

Competing in the 178.5-pound division is Andrew Hung, a 2003 graduate of Pearl City, who is competing out of San Jose State University.

"I think that Andy has as good a chance as anybody else to make the team," San Jose State coach Keith Nakasone said. "Don't get me wrong, though, he will have a really, really challenging division. But he's doing an outstanding job and he's training really, really hard."

Nakasone, who has ties to Hawai'i but was raised in Okinawa, was the captain of the 1980 Olympic Team, but because of the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Games, he never realized his dream.

"Even though we couldn't go, they say that you make an Olympic team and it stays with you; once an Olympian, always an Olympian," Nakasone said. "It's a great honor that you carry with you through your lifetime and hopefully Andy has the heart to make it there."

Hung is the fourth seed and will meet No. 5 seed Ross McBaisey of Atlanta.

Waimanalo's Christian Aarona, 31, is making a comeback after being out of competition for the last six years.

"My family and friends encouraged me to try it again," said Aarona, who competed collegiately at San Jose State, where he was a captain for the Spartans.

Aarona, who coached judo at Leilehua and Kalani during his hiatus, finished third at the 2007 U.S. Open, vaulting him to the No. 2 slot in the 220-pound weight class.

"I didn't expect to do that well," Aarona said. "After that tournament, I was able to get into the rankings and then I started to take this more serious again."

Aarona, who missed qualifying for the Athens Games in 2004 because of elbow and knee injuries, will meet No. 7-seed Victor Jean-Baptiste, of Brooklyn, N.Y. in tomorrow's first round.

SISTERS IN SAME CLASS

Daniel Chow's sisters, Mindy and Chrissy, are both in the 115-pound division.

Mindy, a 13-year-old Punahou eighth-grader, is the fourth seed and meets No. 5 Tara Clark, of Livermore, Calif. in tomorrow's first round.

Chrissy, a 15-year-old Punahou sophomore, is seeded third and will play sixth-seeded Kim Carpenter, of Glenville, N.Y. in the first round.

Melinda Swanson, who, like the Chows, is from Hawai'i Tenri Judo Club, is the second seed in the heavyweight (more than 171.75 pounds) division and has a first-round bye.

However, because the U.S. did not qualify for the Olympics in either the 115- or over 171.75-pound class, the champion will not receive a berth on the U.S. Team.

"Even if they're fortunate enough to win, they end up not having a place to go," said Greg Chow, who coaches children. "But, it still gives them an opportunity to compete and being that they're so young right now, the chance to get out there and be in this kind of tournament, that's a great experience for them."