Iolani Alumni

More for you to read from the people that you went to school with… Some professional, some not, yet all entertaining in their own way. Enjoy!

Iolani Alumni - Blogs:
• Prep Talk - Wes Nakama ‘86
• Quarterlife Cafe - Kim Fassler ‘02
• Pulpconnection - Greg Yamane ‘90
• Katsuyoshi.org - Clayton Katsuyoshi ‘92
• Life in Vietnam - Greg Nakajo ‘94
• The Diary of an Enginerd - Ryan Kanno ‘96
• RemyOmar - Remy Hiramoto ‘88
• Straying From the Norm - Michael Ni ‘01

Additions:
• How to Change the World - Guy Kawasaki ‘72
• So Necessary… - Jason Genegabus ‘95
• Bytemarks - Burt Lum ‘73
• Olympic Dream - Taylor Takata ‘00
• The Notebook - Peter Boylan ‘97

If you know of any others, please post them in the comments and I’ll add them to the list. Mahalo!

Add an Iolani Alumni Blog »

Joshua Miyazawa, son of Jeff ‘87 and Jonie Miyazawa, is headed to Washington D.C. next week to play in a just-for-fun tee-ball game on the South Lawn of the White House.

He was selected for the game based on the recommendation of his coach Sarie (Okimoto) Uechi ‘86, who submitted an application on his behalf and wrote a 300-word essay describing Joshua’s incredible story.

Just six weeks ago, the energetic 5-year old underwent open-heart surgery to repair a small hole in the upper chambers of his heart. Now, proudly sporting a 5-inch scar that runs the length of his breast bone, Joshua is back on the field and more than ready to make the trip to the nation’s capital.

During his days at Iolani, Jeff Miyazawa was a standout second baseman for the Raiders during their state title run in 1986. Currently, he runs his own dental practice in Kaneohe and, in his spare time, serves as an assistant coach for the the Iolani Baseball team.

Read the entire story from the Honolulu Advertiser »

[Photo: Honolulu Advertiser]

Special Note: In the photo, Joshua and Jeff are sporting gear from Hawaiian Hardball which is owned and operated by classmate and former teammate Jason Arakaki ‘87.

Hawaii Music Award winner Paul Shimomoto ‘86 recently appeared as a performer on “Night Time with Andy Bumatai”. Just in case you missed it…

Three recording artists with Iolani ties will be honored later this month when Johnny Kai and his Music Foundation of Hawaii present the 11th Annual Hawaii Music Awards at the Winners’ Banquet on March 15.

Best Contemporary Hawaiian Music Album: Paul Shimomoto ‘86, “Sentimental Alibi”

Best Island Contemporary Album: Mighty J, “Calling Out” (featuring Tiki Suan ‘94)

Best Pop Music Album: SDIB (San Diego Island Boys), “SDIB” (featuring Jeff Iwashita ‘98)

With a win over the OIA Champion Kalani Falcons, the Iolani Girls Basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the 2008 Hawaii State Basketball Tournament to face BIIF Champion Waiakea tonight at 8:00pm at Kaimuki High School (Live on OC16).

In a quarterfinal matchup of alumni coaches, the Glenn Takara ‘80-led Raiders defeated George Weeks ‘86 Falcons 60-37. All-state center Jamie Smith scored a game-high 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds for the Raiders whose stingy defense held the Kalani posts to a combined 9 points and limited Falcon star Iwalani Rodrigues to just 2 points in the first half.

To compliment the inside attack by Smith, Iolani continued its hot long-range shooting last night, connecting on 5 three-pointers to bring their two game total to 10. Tami Konishi led the way with 2 followed by Chanel Hirata, Dayna Jandoc and Kylie Ahlo with one apiece.

Online voting ends today for the 11th Annual Hawaii Music Awards, a people’s choice competition honoring local musicians as well as international artists performing Hawaiian music throughout the world.

A number of artists with Iolani ties are eligible for awards this year, so please make your way to HawaiiMusicAwards.com and submit your vote. Anyone can log-on and submit up to one vote per day per email address.

Iolani Alumni Artists:
• Paul Shimomoto “Sentimental Alibi” - Paul Shimomoto ‘86 (Contemporary Hawaiian)
• Public Property “Movement” - David Bess ‘99 (Reggae)
• Mighty J “Calling Out” - Tiki Suan ‘94 (Island Contemporary)
• Beach 5 “Beach 5″ - Christian Yrizarry ‘94 (Island Contemporary)

Congratulations to the Class of 1988 for pulling off such a wonderful event…

With food from 13 different restaurants, an extensive wine and beer collection and top quality entertainment from Herb Ohta, Jr. and Daniel Ho (and Paul Shimomoto ‘86), the 2007 Touch of Iolani lived up to every expectation…

What was your favorite?

Bali By The Sea - Ahi Lemongrass Traps
Big City Diner - Guava BBQ Glazed Baby Back Ribs
Big G’s Catering - Vanilla Bread Pudding Ala Mode
Bubbies - Mochi Ice Cream & Thomas Kemper Root Beer Float
Great Harvest Bread Company - Muffins, Scones, Cookies & Bread
Kimo and Kawika’s Mobile Smoke Wagon - Paniolo Smoked Pork Sandwich
Mariposa - Smoked Salmon Filet
Poke Stop - Poke Trio
Roy’s Restaurant - Braised Beef Shortribs
Sam Choy’s - Red Wine Braised Brisket
Sansei - Fried Shrimp Cake
Tango Contemporary Cafe - Mushroom Risotto
Tiki’s Bar & Grill - Braised Beef on Cornbread Pudding

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Iolani alumnus George Weeks ‘86 was hired as the head coach of the Kalani Girls Varsity Basketball team and will take over a successful program led by former head coach Darold Imanaka. During his 3 years at Kalani, Imanaka led the Falcons to the 2006 Division II State Championship and finished third in the OIA in 2007 as a member of the Division I.

Weeks comes into the program having recently served as the head boys basketball coach for the last five seasons at Menlo School in Atherton, California. In 2007, his Knights compiled a record of 28-6 and won their first ever Peninsula Athletic League playoff championship. They also finished as the Central Coast Section Division IV runners-up and advanced to the Northern California playoffs.

Event Date: Saturday, August 4th, 2007

Tickets are now available for the 12th Annual - A Touch of Iolani - Courtyard Paina which will feature several of Hawaii’s top restaurants, live entertainment as well as a silent auction.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, August 4th from 5:00pm to 8:30pm and will feature a live musical performances by Daniel Ho, Herb Ohta, Jr. and 1986 Iolani graduate, Paul Shimomoto.

Restaurants:
Big City Diner
Poke Stop
Roy’s Restaurant
Sam Choy’s Diamond Head Restaurant
Sansei Restaurant & Sushi Bar
ScandinAsian Culinary Concepts (Goran Streng)
Mariposa
Bali-by-the-Sea
Tiki’s Grill
Big G’s Catering (Troy Terorotua & Grant Sims)
Great Harvest Bread Company
Bubbies

Until June 30th, tickets are $55. The regular price is $60. (Reunion Class price $50.) The event is put together by the Iolani Alumni Association and the Class of 1988.

2007 Touch of Iolani Ticket Order Form »

Game Highlights: 2007 NCAA Tournament Video: Washington State »

Despite getting off to a slow start, the Washington State Cougars finished the first half strong and came alive in the second half to secure a 70-54 victory of Oral Roberts.

Through the first 19:50, the Cougs “hung around”… then with under 10 seconds to go in the first half, WSU guard Taylor Rochestie hit a soft runner in the lane and Kyle Weaver stole the inbounds pass for a dunk as the buzzer sounded to start a 24-5 run that saw Washington State turn a 6-point deficit into a 13 point lead midway through the second half. They never looked back… See the Video »

Senior forward Ivory Clark led the Cougs with 19 points and 5 “monster” blocks while the three starting guards combined for 37 points (Rochestie 15, Low 12, Weaver 10). Derrick Low ‘04 finished 5-7 from the field (2-4 from three-point range) with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and no turnovers.

Washington State will face Vanderbilt on Saturday, March 17th for the right to go to the Sweet Sixteen. The Commodores easily took care of George Washington in the first round with a 77-44 victory.

Note: Iolani alumnus and Honolulu Advertiser Sports Writer, Wes Nakama ‘86, is in Sacramento to follow Derrick’s progress in the opening round of the tournament. Read his article here, “National spotlight shining on ‘D-Low’” »