A Big Win for Na Koa & Warrior Football

With an 11AM shotgun start, 252 supporters of University of Hawaii Warrior Football teed off at Na Koa’s annual golf tournament fundraiser.

The field was well-represented by corporate sponsors, individual supporters, coaches, former players – even some very respectable golfers managed to make the cut for this sold-out April 13th tournament held at the Hawaii Prince Golf Course.

But golf was simply the back drop for Na Koa’s plan to give participants a day of fun, great food, and prizes in exchange for an outpouring of support for Warrior football.

Funds raised by Na Koa are used to pay for the players’ summer school tuition, food for the team’s training table, equipment, supplies and in general resources that support the football program.

To mark the 16th year of this golf tournament, grand prizes were awarded to the 16th place team, as well as the teams that placed 32nd, 48th, 54th and 7oth. Special on-course events– including longest and most accurate drives and closest to the pin were sponsored by Chevron USA, Gordon Biersch, Pepsi, MS Brokerage, Honda Windward, the Willows, Murphy’s Bar & Grill, Papa John’s Pizza, Paradise Beverage, Frito Lay, Phiten USA, and Excessive Celebration.

One of the highlights of the post-tournament celebration was a seafood bar sponsored by Occidental Insurance that provided 10 different types of the crowd favorite poke. Kimo Kahoano was emcee for the banquet where door prizes were randomly drawn and awarded and the live auction included a tour of ESPN-Los Angeles (donated by Neil Everett); signed NFL football helmets from Colt Brennan, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees (donated by Shay Yanagi); signed NFL football gloves signed by Patrick Kearney of the Seattle Seahawks and Patrick Willis from the San Francisco 49ers (donated by Brian Calabrese); a round of golf for 4 players at San Ramon Golf Course (donated by Waterhouse Trust – Stanley Mukai); Wine from the Meritage Wine Collection Clos Du Bois, Rubric Blackstone, Estancia Meritage, Hayman Hill Meritage (donated by Alan Suzuki – Constellation); and a security alarm system from DSD Security.

The event’s title sponsors were the Ed Wong Foundation, The Paperie and an anonymous donor. The Tee Sponsors were Beachside Roofing, Hawaiian USA Federal Credit Union and R.M. Towill Corporation.

Na Koa members who made up the tournament committee chaired by Shay Yanagi wish to thank the UH Coaches & Staff, the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, the Hawaii Prince Golf Course staff and catering department and the following donors who made this event a successful fundraiser for the U.H. Football program.

some of the tournament's lovely hostesses


Kimo Kahoano congratulates the grand prize-winning team