Solomon & Margaret Kaulukukui

Nearly 1,000 supporters gathered December 2nd at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel for the Centennial Celebration Gala -- a tribute to reaching an amazing 100-year milestone for the University of Hawaii football program. The event raised $275,000 for UH football through numerous special donors, sponsors, ticket sales, and silent and live auctions. About $100,000 is earmarked for immediate needs in support of the football program, and the balance will be used to create an endowment to provide a continuous flow of funds in the future.

More than fifty former UH football players and coaches attended the Gala making it a truly special evening. It was an event dedicated to the football program and all who bled to make it work through 92 years of actual play since 1909. UH had no football team in 1912 - 1914. The attack on Pearl Harbor cut short the 1941 season, and football went on hiatus through 1945. And in 1961 thoughts of dropping football altogether prevented play. It is a tribute to all involved that the program was revitalized in 1962 and has advanced ever since.

Twenty-seven All-Americans have played for the University of Hawaii, and 63 former players went on to play professionally in the National Football League. Hawaii has appeared in nine bowl games – the first in 1989 under Coach Bob Wagner. Through UH football history, twenty-one head coaches guided the “Fighting Deans,” “Rainbows,” “Rainbow Warriors,” and today the “Warriors” to a lofty 510 - 385 - 25 record.

UH Athletic Director, Jim Donovan, marveled at the 100-year achievement. He emphasized how difficult it is for any kind of entity to last for 100 years so this is something very special. Donovan was especially pleased to see so many former players present to help celebrate this event. These former players also attended an early reception hosted by Chevron Hawaii where they were greeted with a UH jersey the number they wore during their playing days. A custom UnderArmour Centennial edition Football Alumni polo shirt, tickets to the Wisconsin game, and other special amenities were also distributed to attendees.

It was a parade of great memories with players whose playing years spanned from 1946 (Solomon Kaulukukui) to 2007 (Micah Lau) in attendance. The former players were joined by former head coaches Jimmy Asato (1962 - 1964, 15 -12 won-loss record) - who also played from 1948 - 1952, and Bob Wagner (1987 - 1995, 58 -49 -3 record).

There were five players from the 1955 team that defeated Nebraska 6-0 at Nebraska. Explaining their improbable win, Richard Ueoka reported that Nebraska refused to pass so Head Coach Vasconcellos and Line Coach Kayo Chung used a 4-5-2 alignment and a lot of stunting to stop the powerful Huskers. Ueoka said “…they were very overconfident.” UH lost to Nebraska 50-0 the previous year in Honolulu.

Members of the 1955 team that beat Nebraska

The pass and catch duo with the team record for the Longest Touchdown Pass of 95 yards, was in attendance. Don “Spuds” Botelho and Colin Chock achieved their record in 1957 against Willamette. When individually asked how long the pass was versus the yards after catch, both simply replied, “it depends on who you ask.”

Special memories of beating BYU in 1989 56-14 were evoked when Garrett Gabriel greeted Coach Wagner. Hawaii had lost to BYU in ten straight games since 1978 when UH was still an Independent. UH entered the Western Athletic Conference in 1979 - they did not play each other in 1983. Those 1989 memories were shared by Rick Blangiardi, whose last television color commentary was that BYU game before Blangiardi headed off to the mainland - for a while.

Lost, but not forgotten, bonds of love between players permeated the ballroom during the Gala’s presentations made by noted politicians and UH officials. Governor Linda Lingle reasserted her support of the UH football program and noted the significance of the upcoming games this weekend: The UH/Wisconsin game, as well as the Division I and II high school football championships. Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann exclaimed, “….only UH football can make me go against my family…” a reference to his cousin, Ken Niumatalolo, Head Coach of Navy. Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw alluded to the Wisconsin game quoting Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can do it!”. Other officials in attendance were UH President Marcy Greenwood who spent the night greeting everyone, WAC Commissioner Karl Benson, and Kauai Mayor Bernard Cravalho Jr., who also played for UH.

In his praise of past coaches, keynote speaker and 15-year NFL head coach, Dick Vermeil, said, “We would not be here tonight celebrating 100 years if the coaches had not been doing the right things.” Coach Vermeil outlined the qualities coaches must have to be successful: common sense; sincere respect and regard for players and staff; the ability to bring a special energy to the program and create an environment coaches and players want to be part of; sincerity – always be real. Vermeil had personal relationships with former coaches Hank Vasconcellos, Dick Tomey, and June Jones so he could attest to the fact that they possessed those qualities. He also averred that Coaches Wagner and McMackin practice and instill the same qualities and value sets. Vermeil concluded with “If you have integrity, nothing else matters, if you do not have integrity, nothing else matters.”

A 20-minute video, produced by Robert Kekaula and Rob DeMello, highlighting the past century of Hawaii football was shown. Attendees received a DVD copy of the video and a commemorative 100th Anniversary coin.

The Centennial Celebration Gala reunited players and coaches who were all part of the history of UH football. The Gala also presented an opportunity for supporters to show how much the UH football program means to the people of Hawaii. It was a night that truly mattered. A night of tribute to the rich legacy of our University’s football program.

The Centennial Celebration Gala raised $275,000

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