Category: Updated

PIONEER – SPORT FISHING Peter Fithian Peter Fithian was the founder of the Kona Billfish Tournament which, since 1959, has served to identify Kona on the Island of Hawai’i as the big game fishing capital of the world. Fithian served as the Chairman of the Tournament for the next 39 years following its debut. Fithian…

WORLD CHAMPION – PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL Sid Fernandez Sid Fernandez appeared in the 1986 World Series with the New York Mets where he pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings in the final game and helped the Mets clinch the Series. Fernandez played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Mets, the Baltimore Orioles, the Philadelphia Phillies and the…

WORLD CHAMPION – VOLLEYBALL Linda Fernandez Best-known as a defensive specialist in professional volleyball, Linda Fernandez was a member of the International Volleyball Association (IVA), a coed volleyball league. She played for the Los Angeles Stars and later the Santa Barbara Spikers. In 1975, she helped the Stars to an IVA Championship. She was voted…

OLYMPIC MEDALIST – WATER POLO Chris Duplanty Chris Duplanty was a three-time Olympian (1988, 1992 & 1996) in water polo. He was a silver medalist in the 1988 Olympics. In the 1996 Olympics he was selected as captain of the team. and received the distinction of “Most Dominant Goalie” by leading all Olympic goalies in…

CONTIBUTOR – SURFING George Downing Surfing contributor George Downing was born and raised in Honolulu. He began surfing at age 9 off the shores of Waikiki, spending his teen years living and surfing with one of the original big wave surfers where he became a student of the sport. Downing systematically observed weather and reef…

WORLD CHAMPION – MOTORCYCLE RACING John DeSoto, Jr. John Desoto was a two-time national motocross champion in 1971 and 1972 and the Hawai’i state motocross champion from 1965 through 1967. He was the first American to represent the United States In the 250cc Motocross Grand Prix Circuit in Europe. Desoto is the world record holder…

OLYMPIC MEDALIST – SWIMMING Clarence “Buster” Crabbe Clarence “Buster” Crabbe grew up in Honolulu and learned to swim by diving for tourists’ coins. He also played polo for the Honolulu Military Academy and graduated from Punahou High School in 1927. He won a bronze medal in the 1928 Olympics in the 1500-meter free-style swimming event…

PIONEER – SWIMMING Richard F. Cleveland For many years, Richard F. Cleveland was considered the “Fastest Human Swimmer in the World.” At one time, Cleveland held simultaneously four world records in the men’s 100-yard free-style swim, 75-yard free-style swim, 400-meter relay and the 100-meter free-style swim. Cleveland was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of…

OLYMPIC MEDALIST – DECATHLON Bryan Clay Bryan was born in Austin, TX but moved to Hawaii at a very young age. He started his athletic career at Castle High School and was recruited as a decathlete by Azusa Pacific University. After a chance meeting with Chris Huffins, Sydney Olympic bronze decathlon medalist, he dedicated himself…

PIONEER – PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL Herman “Buddy” Clark Herman “Buddy” Clark was a high school sensation at Punahou School in 1947 and achieved all Pacific-10 Conference honors while at Oregon State. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Chicago Bears in 1952 and was named to the NFL Half-Century Team. He made All-Pro in…