HHSAA DIRECTOR PRAISES DSIF SPONSORSHIPFour years ago, Keith Amemiya got an unexpected call

from a friend who asked if he could submit Amemiya’s name for consideration to a committee searching for a new executive director for the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA). On the surface, it seemed like a long shot. After seven years of practice, Amemiya had carved out a successful niche for himself as a business litigation attorney. Amemiya found his friend’s proposition intriguing, however. “I was old enough to know that I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing enough to do it for the rest of my life,” he explained. “At the age of 32, I was young enough to give it a try. If it didn’t work out, I could still go back to law or do something else.... I’ve always loved sports, and I thought I might enjoy it. So far, (the job) has pretty much met my expectations.”

Amemiya took the job knowing that it posed some significant challenges. After 40 years of overseeing high significant challenges. After 40 years of overseeing high school athletics in Hawaii as part of the state Department of Education (DOE), the HHSAA became a private, non-profit corporation in 1996. State monies, which had provided the bulk of the association’s funding, was cut to zero.

Amemiya estimates that the HHSAA needs a mini-mum of $900,000 to operate each year. With a staff of four including Amemiya, the HHSAA assists the state’s 78 public and private high schools in various athletic and educational endeavors, maintains a comprehensive website, and conducts state championships in air riflery, baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross coun-try, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling.

Amemiya is its chief fundraiser. “At some point I’d like to have someone to handle fundraising,” he admits, “but it’s a chicken-and-egg thing. We don’t have the funds to

hire someone to go out and raise funds right now. I also realize that we’re a fairly new entity as a non-profit and our first task is to earn people’s confidence. I feel that I should be the one to knock on doors at least initially.

“It’s a tough time economically,” Amemiya observes. “The HHSAA is very lucky to get help from corporations and foundations in spite of the economy. High school

sports are very impor-tant in Hawaii. We’re still a relatively small community and people feel the need to give back to help others. People like David actu-ally competed in high school golf. He knows how high school ath-letics helped them and now they want to pro-vide the same opportu-nities to young student athletes.”

One of the HHSAA’s major expenses is site rental – especially when venues such as the NBC Arena or Aloha – especially when venues such as the NBC Arena or Aloha Stadium are needed. “In golf, we’ve been very fortunate in that most golf courses charge a minimal fee or no fee at all for us to use their courses for a state tournament.” Amemiya credits Chris McLachlin for doggedly pursuing resort courses to host the HHSAA tournaments for free or at a minimal charge. Others such as Waikoloa Land Co. President Thos Rohr have offered Waikoloa (site of the 2003 state championships) for free. Such commitments help to establish a standard of support and challenge other properties to follow suit.

“In addition to the financial support that his founda-tion offers, just having David’s name associated with the tournament carries a lot of weight with golf courses – in

See “HHSAA,” continued on Page 4

DAVID S. ISHII FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER

I S S U E N O . 2 J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 3

Through the Green

“Just having David’s name associated with the tournament carries a lot of weight...”

OFFICERSDavid Ishii – President

Lorraine Ishii – Vice PresidentFay Nagata – Treasurer

BOARD OF DIRECTORSDavid Ishii – Chair

Warren Haruki – Vice ChairAllan Ikawa

Lorraine IshiiAnn Miller

Elton TanakaTracy Tanji

Wendell TomAllan Yamamoto

Honorary DirectorGEN Eric K. Shinseki

Golf TournamentElton Tanaka – Director

David Ishii – Advisor

Tournament CommitteeDayton Asato, Marilyn Chinen,

Ted Ganade, Arnold Hiura, Jay Hirazumi, Lorraine Ishii, Ann Miller,

Val Nagaji, Eloise Nakama, Neal Okamoto, Bill Sato,

Steve Shishido, Tracy Tanji, Wendell Tom, Allan Yamamoto,

Pauline Yanagisawa and Rudy Yanagisawa

Junior Golf Scholarship CommitteeGuy Yamamoto – Chair

William SatoClark Miyazaki

John IshiiSteven Shishido

College Scholarship CommitteeNeil Okamoto – Chair

Dayton AsatoYasuko Asada

Pat ArikiJay Hinazumi

NewsletterArnold Hiura, MBFT Media

Eloise Nakama, MBFT MediaVictor Castro, Obun Hawaii Group

MESSAGE FROM DAVID

I would like to thank our Board of Directors, committee mem-bers, volunteers, sponsors, donors and tournament participants for their support of the Foundation. Thanks to their selfless com-mitment, the Foundation has succeeded in establishing a stable base of support for the future of young golfers in the state of Hawaii.

In just two years, the work of the Foundation has exceeded my expectations. Staging a successful fundraising tournament is no small task. Our economy has experienced some serious setbacks, and there are many other events out there that are also seeking the support of sponsors, donors and participants. The entry fees are not cheap, and it is only through the efforts of many people that we are able to get the level of participation that we have enjoyed. The tournament committee has worked hard to ensure that the event is handled in a first-class manner and that all of the details are covered to ensure the enjoyment of the golfers.

For my part, I am grateful to the professional golfers on the Japan tour who so willingly donate prizes for the auction, which has drawn a lot of interest on the part of the tournament partici-pants. The players in Japan now know about the tournament, the Foundation, and the purpose of the fundraising. Many of the pros now approach me to ask when the tournament is going to be held so that they can be sure to send their donations.

As the Foundation gathers strength and stability, I would like to see it add to its support of the HHSAA boys and girls state golf championships and awarding of scholarships to deserving young student-athletes. We can do more for our high school players by sponsoring more clinics and seminars, as well as conferences for players and coaches to help to improve the game.

I thank you all for your generosity and humbly ask for your continued support.

David S. IshiiFoundation

P.O. Box 2927 Aiea, Hawaii 96701P.O. Box 2927 Aiea, Hawaii 96701

2 0 0 2 G o l f To u r n a m e n t D o n o r sAisen Chiryo Doin Inc./Aisen

Shiatsu SchoolShiatsu SchoolAkatsuka Orchid GardensAlan Wong’s Restaurant

Aloha AirlinesAloha Diners Club

Anheuser Busch Sales of HawaiiAriki, Pat

Arts & SignsAsada, Yasuko

Ayabe, Sidney & CookieAzabu USA

Backwell, Richard (JGTO)Big Island Candies

Brown, Kate & MooseCanon USA

Central Pacific BankChand, Dinesh (JGTO)

Chen, T.C. (JGTO)Chen, T.M. (JGTO)

Chinen, MarilynChow, Lynne

Classic Resorts LimitedCoca Cola EnterprisesConran, Steve (JGTO)

Coral Creek Golf CourseCrews Co-Japan

Daiwa-Japan (Mr. Hiroshi Sato)Escada

Fiori, Ed (PGA)First Hawaiian BankFlora-Dec Sales, Inc.

Fong, DanaFred’s Produce

Fujimoto Foundation, Robert M. & Alice K.

Fujita, Del-MarcGeneral Growth

Gilligan, Anthony (JGTO)Gish, Denny & Ronnie

Haley - JapanHamamoto, Craig & Karlyn

Hamilton, Todd (JGTO)Hayama, Chizuko

Hawaii Popcorn CompanyHawaiian Sun

Hinazumi, ShigeHonda, Cary

Hualalai Resort Ikeda, Howard

Ikesawa, MasahideInouye, Glenn & Lynne

Ishii, MasakoIshii, Dean Y.

Ishii Dental LabIsland Air

Ito en of HawaiiJones, Coach JuneKakaako Kitchen

Kaneko, Yoshinori (JGTO)Kapalua

Kauai Lagoons Resort Co., Ltd.KC Drive Inn

Kiyohara, Deano Kiyohara, Deano

Ko Olina Golf ClubKop DistributorsKop DistributorsKrason, George

Kuwabara, Katsunori (JGTO)Laycock, Scott (JGTO)

Makino, Hiroshi (JGTO)Mamala Bay Golf Course

Maruyama, Shigeki (JGTO)Mauna Kea Golf Course McLachlin, Chris & Beth

Meshiai, Hajime (JGTO)Meyer, Greg (JGTO)

Miller, AnnMinoza, Frankie (JGTO)

Miyamoto, Katsumasa (JGTO)Miyashiro, DennisMoe, Zaw (JGTO)

Morikama, Ken & MichelleMurota, Kiyoshi (JGTO)

Nagata, MelNakagawa, ChikakoNakagawa, Kazuo

Nakajima, Tommy, (JGTO)Nishimoto Trading Co.

Nishimura, ScottOhtani, Ronald T.

OIA Oishi’s Property Management

Okuda, Seiki (JGTO)Omuro, Garrett

Oshiro, CPA, Clyde T.Paiva, Shawn M.Paiva, Shawn M.

Paradise BeveragePearl Country Club

Phil’s GoldPint Size Corporation

Planos, LoriPoipu Bay Resort

Power BiltPuakea Golf Course

Reid, Mike - PGAReilly, DianneRK Sales, Inc.

Rolfing Sports, Inc.Roots & Relics

Royal CollectionSakaguchi, GlennSako, Kazuhiro

Sam Choy’s RestaurantSasaki, Hisayuki (JGTO)

Schroeder, JohnScotty Cameron/Titleist Golf

Serizawa, Nobuo, (JGTO)Sheraton Waikiki-Hanohano

RoomShinseki, Paul

Shirakata, Hidezumi (JGTO)Simpson, Scott (PGA)

Singh, J.M. (JGTO)Smail, David, (JGTO)

Sonomura, RoySugimoto, PaulSugimoto, Paul

Sumida, Dr. RyanSuzuki, RayTakeno, Emi

Tamanaha, OwenTaniguchi, Barry - KTATaniguchi, Barry - KTA

Tanji, Tracy & JoanTanji, Troy and DoreenTanji, Troy and Doreen

Taylor Made Co. - JapanTaylor Made Co. - JapanThe Dunes at Maui LaniThe Dunes at Maui Lani

Theo Davis Food Service GroupTheo Davis Food Service GroupTip Top Café

Titleist HawaiiTom, Mr. and Mrs. BobTom, Mr. and Mrs. Bob

Tom, WendellTurtle Bay Resort Golf ClubTurtle Bay Resort Golf Club

Verizon Hawaii, Inc.Waialae Country ClubWaialae Country Club

Waikele Golf Club Waikoloa Village

Wailea Golf Resort, Inc.Wailea Golf Resort, Inc.Wilson, Dean (JGTO)Wilson, Dean (JGTO)

Wilson-Krason, Dee DeeWilson-Krason, Dee DeeYaeger, Rod

Yamamoto, Guy & TerryYamamoto, Guy & TerryYamamoto, Hisashi

Yamaoka, TadaoYamasato Fujiwara Higa & Assoc.Yamasato Fujiwara Higa & Assoc.

Yanagisawa, Rudy and PaulineYanagisawa, Rudy and PaulineYanagisawa, RandyYanagisawa, Renee

Yashima, MasayoshiYasunaga, Eric

Yawata, Randy & MabelYawata, Randy & MabelYokota, Shinichi (JGTO)Yokota, Shinichi (JGTO)

Yoshikawa, HaruoYoshikawa, Yoshie

Yuhara, Nobumitsu (JGTO)Yuhara, Nobumitsu (JGTO)Zippy’s

SPECIAL THANKS TOSPECIAL THANKS TOChris Mc Lachlin

Ben VegasScott Nishida

Evan Nagao & Team High Evan Nagao & Team High Performance

Beau YokomotoDaiwa - Japan

Golf Tournament Volunteers

Aloha Section PGA representative Ed Kageyama (middle) presents a check for $5,000 to David Ishii (left) and tournament director Elton Tanaka (right).

Aonuma, ShunsukeArgent, RamonArgent, Miya

Cruzada, Corey AnnGanade, Ted

Gier, CharlotteGier, Misty

Gier, WatsonHirai, WallyHirai, Lana

Hirai, LanceHuang, EddieIshii, Colan

Kaaina, Taylor and his group

Kern, LucilleKern, Curtis

Kobashigawa, Casey

Kuroiwa, Kory

Kuroiwa, TeriLarson, ChuckLarson, ThelmaLau, BrysonnLau, Danny

Llarenas, AndrewMa, MatthewMau, EhrenMau, Russell

Morikami, Michelle

Morinaga, LindaMorinaga, Kayla

Nadamoto, Zachary

Nagata, EleanorOnipa`a Volleyball

ClubShishido, CharlotteShishido, PomaikaiShishido, Spencer

Spencer, BillTanji, JoanTanji, MarkTom, Aaron

Yawata, ChadYawata, Kyle

Yawata, MabelYawata, Randy

Yoshida, Vernon

The 2002 DSIF Golf Tournament was held on June 5 at the Pearl Country Club. The highly successful tournament was followed by a banquet featuring performances by Evan Nagao and Team High Performance, music by Scott Nishida and Ben Vegas, awards presentations, and a silent auction – all ably hosted by emcee Chris McLachlin.

Asada, YasukoHayama, ChizukoIkezawa, Masahide

M. Miura StoreNakagawa, Mr. & Mrs. Kazuo

Sako, KazuhiroTakeno, EmiUnity House

Yoshikawa, Haruo & Yoshie

MAHALO TO DONORS

2002 DSIF Golf Tourney

(Above, L-R) David presents scholarship awards to Mathew Moran, Rie Ganir and Darene Matsuoka (missing: Kevin Atebara).

(Left) 2002 boys and girls individual state high school champions Jarett Hamamoto and Leah Whiting were special invitees to the tournament.

(Below, lL-R) Scott Nishida and Ben Vegas entertain players and guests at the awards banquet.

HOLD THIS DATE!

ThursdayJune 12, 2003

Third Annual David S. IshiiFoundation Golf Tournament

Pearl Country Club

2002 Tournament Sponsors

GOLD $3,000Mrs. Yasuko AsadaFirst Hawaiian Bank

Fujitsu CommunicationsVerizon Hawaii

SILVER $2,000International Union of Painters

and Allied Trades

BRONZE $1,000 Advantage Webco

Aisen Shiatsu School/AisenChiryo Doin, Inc.

Ameron InternationalBig Island Candies

Alexander H. BrennerCity Bank

ECD Hawaii, Inc.Golf Concepts Hawaii

HHSAAIsland MoversKC Drive Inn

Koga Engineering & Construction, Inc.Koa Trading Co., Inc.

Pacific TransferRoyal Contracting Co., Ltd.

Tamura Super MarketElton Tanaka

The Honolulu AdvertiserTrans-Pacific Links, LLC

Special “Thank You” to AlohaSection PGA

HOLE-IN-ONEJapan AirlinesPflueger Acura

DSIF Scholarship Awards The David S. Ishii Foundation was proud to present four $2,000 scholarship awards in 2002. Recipients were: Darene DSIF Scholarship Awards The David S. Ishii Foundation was proud to present four $2,000 scholarship awards in 2002. Recipients were: Darene DSIF Scholarship AwardsK. Matsuoka , St. Andrews Priory (Wellesley College); Rie K.A. Ganir, Maui High School (University of Portland); Kevin Atebara, Hilo High School (University or Portland); and Matthew J. Moran, Waipahu High School (Purdue University). Hawaii high school seniors graduating in the 2002-2003 academic school year who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement, were active members of their high school golf teams, and plan on attending college full-time at an accredited U.S. college or university are eligible for one of four $2,000 scholarships available in 2003. Application forms may be obtained by writing to: DSIF Scholarship Fund Committee, P.O. Box 2927, Aiea, HI 96701. Deadline for completed application and materials is May 9, 2003.

HHSAA (Continued from page 1)terms of getting course time, let alone getting to use the course for free,” Amemiya adds. “Our tournaments are held in late April or early May. That’s around Golden Week time, so some courses are initially hesitant to let us use the courses even if we were willing to pay, because that’s considerable revenue lost for them. But once they hear that David is involved in the tournament, almost all of them say, ‘We’ll do it for David.’

“I believe that David is the most accomplished and respected golfer in Hawaii. Not only do people respect his profes-sional accomplishments, but they love him as a person. He has the competitive fire to succeed on the pro tour, yet he’s soft-spoken and humble. We’re very, very fortunate to have his support and the support of the David S. Ishii Foundation. I thank everyone for their support and hope that it will continue.”

ATHLETICS BENEFIT YOUNGSTERSKeith Amemiya is passionate about the mission of the HHSAA. Here are his views on the value of promoting high school athletics amongst our youth:

“High school athletics teaches life skills that cannot be replicated in the classroom, such as teamwork, discipline, integrity and sportsmanship. In life, one of the keys to success is getting along with others, especially at work. Sports is one of the best classrooms in terms of teaching people to work together to achieve a common goal.

“Another benefit is that sports provide an incen-tive to our student athletes to study hard and stay in school. Any high school athletic director or prin-cipal will tell you that without athletics, the school atmosphere would be a lot different. If you don’t

maintain your grades, you can’t play sports. Without sports as an incentive, a number of students would have a hard time attending classes, or even going to school at all.

“Sports also provides student athletes with an opportunity to go to college – and, for some, to even get their expenses paid for. It does not only benefit those who are able to earn an athletic schol-arship, but most colleges these days are looking for well-rounded students who participate in a variety of activities beyond the book work.

“Yet another benefit is that sports promotes physical fitness that will hopefully carry on into the adult lives of our young people. We often read how numerous studies indicate that our kids are getting more obese and out of shape. Well, athletics is important to the extent that it encourages our kids to stay physically fit. It also helps them in the classroom in that physical fitness often correlates to mental fitness.”

Pro Tommy Hines instructs junior golfers at the DSIF Rules of Golf clinic held at Pearl Country Club in February 2002. Chuck Larson, Beau Yokomoto and Greg Meyer also assisted David in running the clinic for nearly 100 players and coaches. Rulings were explained on the course, with a strong emphasis on sportsmanship and golf etiquette. The DSIF is planning to hold a similar clinic on Kauai in 2003.

David S. Ishii FoundationP.O. Box 2927Aiea, Hawaii 96701

HHSAA 2002 DSIF STATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPSWaiakea Wins 2002 Girls Golf Championships

Waiakea High School captured the team title at the 2002 David S. Ishii Foundation Girls State Golf Championships held at the Hawaii Prince Golf Club in May. The three top Waiakea girls (Leah Whiting, Amanda Wilson and Kellie Kawahara) combined for a team score of 459 – 20 strokes better than second place Hilo.

Team standings: 1) Waiakea (459), 2) Hilo (479), 3) Baldwin (489), 4) Kauai (495), 5) Punahou (504), 6) Aiea (524), 7) Iolani (536), 8) Moanalua (541).

Waiakea’s Whiting won the David S. Ishii Foundation Girls State Golf Championship’s individual title by finishing with a two-day total of 149, one stroke better than her teammate Wilson.

Kauai High School’s Lehua Wise came in third at 152, followed by Mari Chun of Kamehameha (153) and Kristen Higa of Hilo (154).

Kamehameha Wins 2002 Boys Golf Championship

Kamehameha broke Waiakea’s four-year reign as state cham-pions by taking the team title at the 2002 David S. Ishii State Boys Golf Championships held at the Leilehua Golf Course. Waiakea finished in second place, five strokes back.

Team standings: 1) Kamehameha (591), 2) Waiakea (596), 3) Iolani (599), 4) Mid-Pacific (613), 5) Kauai (625), 6) Baldwin (628), 7) Pearl City (631), 8) Moanalua (631), 9) Aiea (633), 10) Hilo (648), 11) Kealakehe (650), 12) Lahainaluna (654).

Waiakea’s Jarett Hamamoto won his second straight individual championship, shooting 66-74 to finish at four under par 140. Hamamoto was four strokes better than Iolani’s Matthew Ma, Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Burt Bonk, and Kamehameha’s Christian Akau. All three finished at even par 144.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDAIEA, HAWAII

PERMIT NO. 17