It was a night of celebration, and one of thanks.
Hawaii women’s volleyball coach Dave Shoji was the center of both.
Sunday’s banquet at the Ala Moana Hotel was Shoji’s first large-scale public appearance since last month’s announcement that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“I wanted to show up tonight to let everyone know I’m fine,” the 70-year-old said, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd of some 200. “I’m doing fine so don’t worry about me. I feel great.
“Someone said I looked good, too. The important thing is I feel healthy.”
Shoji said he was finished with his first round of radiation and would be starting his second round next month.
“Then we’ll evaluate and go from there,” said Shoji, whose career records stands at 1,202-204-1 after 42 seasons. “I want to thank my wife and nurse, Mary. We’ve been married for 30 years and are working on 31.
“I want to thank the players. They are the reason I do this. Thank you for allowing me to be the coach of this program for so many years. I feel so blessed with all this support.”
Shoji has not announced a decision as to whether he will return for a 43rd season. He has handed over his official duties to associate coach Jeff Hall, but Shoji did attend the Rainbow Wahine’s first spring practice last Tuesday morning.
“My role on the team is to hand in the lineup and let the staff coach,” he joked. “Then I get all the credit.”
Among the featured speakers were University of Hawaii System president David Lassner, the interim chancellor for the flagship Manoa campus. Lassner called the Wahine “the most beloved team in the state for decades.”
“And Dave, you are Wahine volleyball and the best volleyball coach in the country,” Lassner said.
OC Sports broadcaster Kanoa Leahey, the emcee for the program, also read a congratulatory note from Hawaii Gov. David Ige.
Hall recapped the 23-6 season in which Hawaii captured the Big West championship, Shoji was named conference coach of the year for a 14th time — sixth time in the Big West — and Nikki Taylor was named the conference player of the year and All-American for the second straight season.
Shoji also became the second Division I women’s volleyball coach to win 1,200 matches, joining Penn State’s Russ Rose.
Three of the Hawaii seniors — Tayler Higgins, Annie Mitchem and Taylor — spoke about the specialness of having Shoji as their coach and of being a Wahine. The fourth, Katiana Ponce, was unable to attend but had a statement read by junior Gianna Guinasso.
Ponce, who graduated last month, is interning at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Also missing Sunday night was redshirt junior Faith Ma‘afala, whose grandmother died earlier this week.
