By Paul Honda
paul@hondareport.com
Friday, Jan. 5, 2006

The story ran in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin on Wednesday, and it had been simmering in the back of my mind since I first learned of Coach Wade Ishibashi's presence at Queen's Medical Center way back in the summer. He was there for chemotherapy, and though I chose not to interrupt his peace and privacy then, I kept wondering, is he really going to continue coaching?

Maybe it's not something that would've caught my eye back in the day. Or maybe it would have. Perhaps it seems morbid, but death has always had a fascinating appeal to me. My dad died when I was 16, but what made it unusual is that I was never close to him. That changed a bit when he was near the end. It's a long story that I don't want to repeat right now ... but since then, I've always been amazed by people who can overcome the fraility that comes with human life.

Wade is one of those folks. When I saw him at the Merv Lopes Holiday Classic with his talented team from Keaau last week, I was first struck by their poise and skill. Then I was struck by their ability to handle victory and defeat with composure and humility.

For those of you not from the Big Island, Keaau High School is in a community that has been devastated by the perils of our society for a long, long time. Puna District was once known as "Dodge City" of Hawaii. 'Nuff said.

When I asked Coach Wade about the possibility of doing a story about his team, he was a bit stunned. I didn't know if that was a good thing or bad thing. But the more we talked, the more I knew this would be something worth pursuing. There are a lot of us out there who have played the game, coached it, reffed it, operated tournaments and leagues. A guy like Wade is a lifer for the sport and a lifer for the kids. Like me, he began coaching when he was still in high school.

Like me, he's come to embrace the joy of the game, the spirit of our kids and the ultimate gift of life. He's taken it one step, two steps, a million steps further than most of us by mentoring these players in the off-season, showing — not just talking — love and sacrifice.

So, if you read the story about him and his team, the struggle to stay one step ahead of a deadly disease, I hope it makes you feel alive, even as you read about the threat of death. It may seem morbid, but perhaps it will help you feel much more alive.

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