Categorized | Sports

Three to be inducted into UH-Hilo Vulcans Athletic Hall of Fame

MEDIA RELEASE

Tennis player Randy Kunimoto, basketball player Scott Prather and KTA Super Store President and Chief Executive Officer Barry Taniguchi comprise the 2012 University of Hawaii at Hilo Vulcans Athletic Hall of Fame class.

This year’s induction dinner will be held on Wednesday, August 29 in the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort Polynesian Room. Tickets for the 5:30 p.m. event are $50 and available by calling 974-7700.

Kunimoto was a four-year player (1994-1997) playing first singles and doubles. In 2000, he was named the men’s head coach. Three months into the season, Kunimoto resigned to join the Department of Education. While the classroom was his primary venue, he continued to share his knowledge with the tennis community through clinics and private lessons eventually leading to the start of Randy’s Tennis.

Prather was a four-year starter from the 1998-99 season through 2001-02 season. The Maui native’s 37-point ­performance against NCAA Division I South Carolina State in 2001 ended the Vulcans’ 23-game losing streak in the Big Island Invitational. Prather went onto be named to the 2001-02 Pacific West Conference first-team. He continues to share the game as a high school coach on Maui.

Taniguchi is president and CEO of KTA Super Stores, and a company director of Valley Isle Produce, Hawai‘i Employers Mutual Insurance, Hawaiian Electric Industries and American Savings Bank. A premier volunteer leader of UH Hilo and a former UH Foundation trustee, his gifts have supported UH and its students systemwide. Taniguchi is a catalyst for community service, has served on the boards of: Hawaii Community Foundation, Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation, Lyman Memorial Museum, Mauna Kea Management, Pacific Tsunami Museum, Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

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