HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	63
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the department of education to designate and name the Waiakea High School Track and Field facility as the Ken Yamase Memorial track and field facility.

     WHEREAS, Kenneth Kenji Yamase served the community for over forty years as a teacher at Ilima Intermediate in Ewa Beach, a baseball coach at Leilehua and Campbell High Schools, the athletic director, baseball coach, and girls basketball coach for Waiakea High School, and executive director of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation; and

     WHEREAS, Kenneth Kenji Yamase was a mentor in the big island community and worked with the philosophy of "respect yourself and others, play as one with unity, loyalty and humility"; and

     WHEREAS, Kenneth Kenji Yamase taught the American Sports Education Program's coaching principle class, built Waiakea High School's athletic program to be one of the most successful in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, created the Waiakea athletic wall of fame, improved the athletic facilities, and implemented the moral foundation for coaches and athletes to grow and build upon; and

     WHEREAS, Kenneth Kenji Yamase was a vocal advocate for the neighbor island athletic programs, wanted equality for smaller leagues, had an open door policy, always explained and answered questions, believed in involving everyone in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, and emphasized loyalty, especially to Waiakea High School; and

     WHEREAS, Kenneth Kenji Yamase's leadership was seen as productive, hands on, passionate, and fair; and

     WHEREAS, Waiakea High School's track and field serves as a testament to the legacy of Kenneth Kenji Yamase and as a reminder to the community of a person who dedicated his time to young athletes; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, requests that the Board of Education and the Department of Education recognize the significant accomplishments of the late Kenneth Kenji Yamase by designating and naming the track and field facility at Waiakea High School in Hilo, Hawaii, as the Ken Yamase Memorial Track and Field Facility; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, and the Principal of Waiakea High School.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Kenneth Kenji Yamase; Waiakea High School Track and Field