Raider community aids endangered Hawaii sports

Kaela Shiigi
October 3, 2009
Filed under Sports

The distress signal SOS isn’t just for boats, it applies to Hawaii’s public school athletics programs too. In the current economic situation, funding for public high school sports has been cut, but through the Save Our Sports fund people and businesses around the community have pitched in to help.

The fund started in July by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association has collected over $700,000. People from baseball star Shane Victorino to football players at Saint Louis have donated to the cause.

Although ‘Iolani isn’t directly affected by budget cuts, the list of contributors put out by the Honolulu Advertiser every week contains the names of many teachers, coaches, alumni, and families who have given to the fund. In addition, the ‘Iolani Boosters Club gave a $1000 donation.

Alumni Jade and Kodi Look (’07 & ’08) have also made generous contributions. Their father, Coach Wendell Look, said, “My daughters have known the benefits of having the opportunity to play sports and they don’t want others not to.”