CONTRIBUTOR – SPORTS PROMOTER

MacKay Yanagisawa was the top sports promoter in Hawai’i’s history.

Through the years, he promoted almost every kind of sport and event, including Owen’s race against a horse in Honolulu Stadium. The few sports he didn’t promote were boxing and wrestling.

For more than 20 years, he was the manager of Hawai’i’s “Termite Palace,” Honolulu Stadium. He became a part-owner of the Hawaiian Islanders in 1962 and in 1974 took over as manager of the new Aloha Stadium.

MacKay’s greatest contribution to Hawai’i’s sports history was his founding of the Hula Bowl in 1947.

He also was the founder of the Aloha Bowl and a key figure in bringing the NFL Pro Bowl to Hawai’i.

BORN 1918