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20th Century Top 50: Hawaii
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Rank |
Profile |
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1 |
Duke
Kahanamoku , Honolulu
First great Hawaiian swimmer; in 1912, '20 and '24 Olympics won total of three
golds and two silvers; father of modern
surfing. |
|
2 |
Chad
Rowan , Waimanalo
Known as Akebono in Japan, first foreign grand champion in 1,500-year history of
sumo.
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3 |
Clarence (Buster)
Crabbe , Honolulu
Won gold in 400-meter freestyle at 1932 Olympics; set 16 swimming world
records.
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4 |
Russ
Francis , Kailua
Star QB at Kailua High; set national high school javelin record senior year;
drafted by Royals in 1974; a three-time Pro Bowl tight end with Patriots
and
49ers. |
|
5 |
Mosi
Tatupu , Honolulu
Special teams terror at USC has NCAA award named after him; NFL running back for
14 seasons
(1978-91). |
|
6 |
Herman
Wedemeyer , Honolulu
All-America running back at St. Mary's College in 1945; was
outfielder with San Francisco
Seals. |
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7 |
Ford
Konno , Honolulu
Six NCAA swimming titles at Ohio State; two golds, two silvers at 1952 and
'56 Olympics; set world records in 400- and 800-meter
freestyle.
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8 |
Warren
Kealoha , Honolulu
Won 100-meter backstroke golds at 1920 and '24 Olympics; set four world records;
was undefeated in the backstroke until
'26. |
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9 |
Derek
Tatsuno , Aiea
Set then NCAA career strikeout record at Hawaii from 1977 to
'79.
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10 |
Sid
Fernandez , Honolulu
Led Kaiser High to state title in 1981; two-time All-Star won 114 games in 15
seasons in
majors.
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11 |
Robyn Ah
Mow , Honolulu
All-America on Hawaii's women's volleyball team in 1995 and '96; one of the
best setters in college
game. |
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12 |
Robby
Naish , Kailua
Won first boardsailing world championship as amateur in 1976; dominated pro
tour, winning four titles in the
'80s.
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13 |
Mike
Lum , Honolulu
Played first base and outfield for four teams in 14 major league seasons; 103
career pinch
hits.
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14 |
Jesse
Sapolu , Wahiawa
All-State in football at Farrington High in 1978; All-Pro center and guard
earned four Super Bowl rings with
49ers. |
|
15 |
Adrian
Murrell , Wahiawa
Set state single-game rushing record (322 yards) at Leilehua High; has three
1,000-yard seasons in six-year career with Cardinals and
Jets.
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16 |
Tom
Haine , Honolulu
Captain of U.S. men's Olympic volleyball team in 1968; named an All-Time
Great Player by U.S. Volleyball Association in
1990. |
|
17 |
Jackie
Pung , Honolulu
Won U.S. Amateur in 1952; first Hawaiian in the LPGA; lost '57 U.S. Open
because of scorecard-signing
snafu. |
|
18 |
Mark
Tuinei , Honolulu
State shot put champion and football star at Punahou High; won three Super Bowl
rings as Cowboys offensive
lineman. |
|
19 |
Jesse
Kuhaulua , Maui
First foreigner to win a sumo title in Japan; now Akebono's stable
master. |
|
20 |
Rell
Sunn , Makaha
Helped found Women's Pro Surfing Association in 1975; in '82 was ranked
No. 1 in world on
longboard.
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21 |
Carl (Bobo)
Olson , Honolulu
Won world middleweight title in 1953; career record of 92-16-2 with 49
knockouts.
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22 |
Wally
Yonamine , Maui
First post-World War II foreigner to play pro baseball in Japan; won three
batting titles in 1950s; in Japanese baseball Hall of
Fame. |
|
23 |
Dave
Shoji , Honolulu
Built one of country's top volleyball programs at Hawaii; coached three NCAA
champions (1982, '83,
'87). |
|
24 |
Kurt
Gouveia , Waianae
Won state football championship with Waianae High, NCAA title with Brigham
Young in 1984; got Super Bowl ring as Redskins
linebacker. |
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25 |
Aileen
Riggin-Soule , Honolulu
Olympic springboard gold in 1920 at 14; diving silver, 100-meter backstroke
bronze in
'24.
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26 |
Garrett
Gabriel , Pearl City
Set records for passing yards and touchdown passes at Hawaii; led team's upsets
of BYU in 1989 and
'90.
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27 |
Derek
Ho , Oahu
Association of Surfing Professionals champion in 1993, first Hawaiian to win
that
title.
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28 |
Thomas
Kaulukukui , Hilo
State's first football All-America, as running back at Hawaii in 1935;
school's football coach from '45 to
'50.
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29 |
Nani
Cockett , Aiea
Played on four basketball and two volleyball state title teams at Kamehameha
Schools from 1989 to '93; second-leading scorer in Hawaii women's hoops
history. |
|
30 |
Ted
Makalena , Honolulu
First islander with a victory on the PGA Tour when he won the Hawaiian Open
in
1966.
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31 |
Keala
O'Sullivan , Honolulu
Springboard diving bronze medalist at 1968 Olympics; also won AAU one-meter
that
year.
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32 |
Lenn
Sakata , Honolulu
Reserve infielder for four major league teams from 1977 to
'87.
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33 |
Ben
Villaflor , Honolulu
WBA junior lightweight champion from 1972 to '76; career record of
44-5. |
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34 |
Red
Rocha , Honolulu
First Hawaiian in NBA played for four professional teams in 1940s and '50s;
founder of Rainbow Classic college hoops
tournament.
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35 |
Peter
Velasco , Waipahu
Kamehameha Schools grad was captain of 1964 U.S. Olympic volleyball team;
12-time USVBA All-American; named USVBA All-Time Great Player in
'70. |
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36 |
Benny
Agbayani , Honolulu
All-state in baseball, football and soccer at St. Louis High; had 10 homers in
first 78 at bats as rookie with Mets in 1999; finished season with .286
average and 14
homers.
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37 |
Rich
Miano , Honolulu
Safety on Kaiser High 1979 state title team; was Hawaii's leading tackler in
1983 and '84; played 10 years in NFL with Jets, Eagles and
Falcons.
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38 |
Cal
Lee , Honolulu
Coach of 13 consecutive state football champs at St. Louis High in 1980s and
'90s.
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39 |
Pua
Kealoha , Honolulu
Swimmer won gold medal in 4¥200-meter free relay and silver medal in the 100
free at 1920 Antwerp
Olympics.
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40 |
Fred
Hemmings , Honolulu
Won world surfing championship in
1968. |
|
41 |
Salvador (Dado)
Marino , Honolulu
Beat England's Terry Allen for world flyweight title in 1950; held title until
'52; had career record of
57-14-3.
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42 |
Nuu
Faaola , Honolulu
Set state high school single-game rushing record (296) in 1981 (since broken by
Murrell, #15); played four NFL seasons with Jets and
Dolphins.
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43 |
Traci
Phillips , Honolulu
Olympic kayaker in 1988, '92 and '96; twice voted country's top female kayaker;
winner of a gold and a silver at '95 Pan Am
Games.
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44 |
Charlie
Ane , Honolulu
Pro Bowl tackle with Lions in 1957 and '59; son Charlie played in NFL in '70s
and early
'80s. |
|
45 |
Brian
Viloria , Waipahu
Won light flyweight gold medal at World Amateur Boxing Championships in
August.
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46 |
Al
Noga , Honolulu
High school state shot put champion; an Outland trophy finalist at Hawaii in
1986; played defensive end with Vikings from '88 to
'92.
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47 |
Jim
Nicholson , Honolulu
All-America in football and basketball at St. Louis High in 1960s; played
tackle with Chiefs for six
seasons.
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48 |
Rockne
Freitas , Honolulu
Two-time All-Pro tackle with Lions (1970,
'72).
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49 |
Alika
Smith , Kailua
USA Today honorable mention All-America at Kalaheo High; third
alltime-leading scorer and top three-point shooter at
Hawaii. |
|
50 |
David
Ishii , Honolulu
Won Hawaiian Open in 1990 and has five top 10 finishes in 32 PGA Tour events;
also played on Japanese
tour. |
