First 8 inductees announced for Hawaii Sports Officials Hall of Fame
STAR-ADVERTISER / 1988
Umpire Hide Yamashita makes the call at home plate during the seventh inning of a University of Hawaii baseball game in 1988. Yamashita was among the first eight people inducted into the Hawaii Sports Officials Hall of Fame.
Leilani Okuda, a softball umpire who worked the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, is among eight inaugural inductees announced today for the Hawaii Sports Officials Hall of Fame.
Also selected are: Jimmy Aiona (basketball), Roy Chong (football), Earl Galdeira (football), Patrick Tanibe (basketball), Ray Verdonck (wrestling), Frank White (football) and Hide Yamashita (baseball/softball).
They will be installed in ceremonies Sept. 9 at the Ala Moana Hotel.
A spokesman said the eight inductees were selected based on the criteria of demonstrating the highest level of achievement, character, leadership, skill and commitment-to-officiating over a significant period of time.
The Hawaii Sports Officials Hall of Fame describes itself as a non-profit organization “to promote public awareness of officials and their value.”
