Kevin Hayashi, Tyler Ota and Carl Ho came back for more and every member of a Ko Olina foursome was honored at Saturday’s 12th annual Ho’olaulea Awards banquet at the Manoa Grand Ballroom.
The event brought together Hawaii’s five major golf associations to honor their best players and major contributors from 2018 — and induct Dean Wilson into the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame.
Ho’olaulea was presented by Aloha Section PGA and and Friends of Hawaii Charities.
For the second time in three years, Hayashi captured the Aloha Section’s player and senior player of the year awards. The 2011 Hawaii Golf Hall of Famer has taken the last four senior awards and now has 11 player of the year honors.
Ho earned his fifth consecutive State Senior Amateur Player of the Year honor and Ota was named player of the year for the fourth straight year.
Ko Olina Head Pro Katie Fuqua was the Bill Strausbaugh Award winner for her work as a mentor and coach. Colleague Kevin Shimomura was teacher of the year and Richard Sung took the president’s plaque for his work in player development. Ko Olina general manager Greg Nichols earned the patriot award, after helping the section raise more than $40,000 last year for Folds of Honor
David Ishii was given the Ho’okuleanoa Lifetime Achievement Award for his “exceptional contributions” to the golf industry. Danielle Tucker, whose Golf Club radio show is on every Saturday, was given the distinguished service award.
Ko Olina Kidz Club begins new sessions
Ko Olina Kidz Club starts up at the end of this month at the club’s Junior Golf Academy. The Kidz Club is a developmental program that introduces the fundamentals of the game.
The first session runs Saturdays, from Feb. 23-April 6. The other three sessions run Sundays, beginning March 17, May 5 and June 23.
Fees range from $150-$200 per session, depending on level. Drop-ins are $30-$40 a class.
A Mini Kidz Club is also being introduced, for kids under 6. The focus of the class is to introduce the game and have fun. Those 45-minute sessions run Saturdays, starting March 2, May 4 and June 22. Cost is $99 a session.
For more information, visit koolinagolf.com. To register, visit the golf shop, call the Golf Academy (686-9064) or email golfacademy@koolina.com.
HO‘OLAULEA AWARDS
ALOHA SECTION PGA
Ho’okuleanoa Award: David Ishii
Distinguished Service Award: Danielle Tucker (Golf Club Radio Show)
President’s Award: Anne Takabuki (Wailea)
Bill Strausbaugh Award: Katie Fuqua (Ko Olina)
Horton Smith Trophy: Ben Hongo (Kapalua Golf Academy)
President’s Plaque: Richard Sung (Ko Olina)
Patriot Award: Greg Nichols (Ko Olina)
Player of Year: Kevin Hayashi (Makani)
Senior Player: Kevin Hayashi
Professional: Scott Ashworth (Four Seasons Lanai)
Assistant Professional: Scott Reinhart (Kapalua Plantation)
Teacher: Kevin Shimomura (Ko Olina)
Junior Golf Leader: Darrell Rego (Wailua)
Merchandiser of Year (Private): Tad Fujimaki (Hoakalei)
Merchandiser of Year (Resort): Travis Joerger (Turtle Bay)
Sales Representative: Henry Komenaka (K&S Golf)
Hawaii State Golf Association
Amateur Player of Year: Tyler Ota
Senior Amateur Player of Year: Carl Ho
Volunteer of Year: Joe MacDonald Jr.
Hawaii State Women’s Golf Association
Player of Year: Jeannie Pak
Volunteer of Year: Bev Kim
Hawaii Golf Course Superintendents’ Association
Superintendent of Year: Les Jeremiah (Hoakalei)
Hawaii State Junior Golf Association
Dr. Ho Spirit of the Game: Teal Matsueda
Players of the Year
Girls 7-10: Kate Nakaoka
Boys 7-10: Tristan Bayot
Girls 11-12: Teal Matsueda
Boys 11-12: Kade Kikuchi
Girls 13-14: Rachael Wang
Boys 13-14: Joshua Hayashida
Girls 15-18: Kyung Eun Lee
Boys 15-18: Noah Koshi
