Tsai-ko Autobiography:  addahknowjoe

Name:  (name withheld)    Bonafide Tsai-ko, Tsai-ko Hall of Fame
High School:  Ka'u (Big Island) 1985
Tsai-ko Lunch Size:  Larger
Original Tsai-ko caricature:  second row, carrying ST
Other:  Creator of banner (Blog party 2), supplied Tsai-ko cartoon poster (Blog party 3),  UNLV game Tsai-ko / Colt for Heisman signs

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From the Warrior Beat blog October 9, 2007:
ST's Intro:
We have blog readers who are rocket scientists, state leaders and even UH football players and coaches. But Addahknowjoe is the only one — as far as we know — who played at Candlestick Park as a teen. Here's one of our original gang:

In 1967, just a few weeks after New Year's, I plopped out into the
middle of nowhere on the Big Island. Nowhere being a little town
called, Pahala. It's one of only two major towns the size of Waialua,
situated in a district that's larger than Oahu.

Growing up in the middle of nowhere

Growing up country, imagination was our favorite toy. Everywhere was
our playground. There were short cuts to anywhere through everyone's
backyard. There was always a fruit tree to grab a bite along the way.
If we didn't already have a tree house or a fort in our back yard, we
built one in the forest next to Teramoto Park. Bikes took us
everywhere. Everyday, somewhere around town, there was a pick-up
game. We'd just show up, wait our turn, and join in. The rubbish dump
below the town was our treasure trove. Out came the best props any
kid could imagine to play with. And we'd play till either the street
lights came on or our moms would yell to come home.

Family Influence

My dad sacrificed his days to watch us grow up and looked for ways to
make ends meet. Aside from his Police work, he drove commercial
trucks, did security, fished, picked coffee and bought a rubbish
hauling business. My mom was our rock. She kept our family together
as a unit. When not laying down the laws of the house she instilled
in my siblings and me our love for the arts and sports. She taught us
how to draw, play instruments, sing and showed us all the nuances of
sports. From making Halloween costumes, building Derby cars and
playing music by ear to delivering the perfect "no look" bounce pass
and placing our fingers across the laces just so, to deliver that
perfect spiral. She was and still is amazing!

Just Try

At 8 years old I saw an article in the Tribune Herald about a girl
from Hawaii who won the state's Punt, Pass & Kick competition. I
asked my mom if I could enter it and she said OK.

We practiced everyday after school in our backyard. Over and over my
mom grilled me on the proper way to step in and follow through on a
pass, keeping my head down and toes pointed on a punt and kicking that
sweet spot just below the mid section of the football. Too low and
the ball will go high but not far. Too high and I've got a squib kick
tumbling in front of me.

We did a qualifying trial up at the school park. A week later we went
to Hilo for the county competition and I won.

A few weeks later we flew to Oahu. The state competition was held
during halftime of a game between Iolani and Pac Five at Iolani field.
At eight years old, I had no idea what was happening. I just
remember staring across the Ala Wai in awe at all the buildings and
cranes that dotted the landscape. I did what I was to told do during
the competition and somehow I won that day. Everyone was
congratulating me and saying, "Wow! You're going to San Francisco!" I
had no idea what or where San Francisco was. I asked my mom, "is it
close to Disneyland?" She just smiled and wasn't sure herself.
So, a month later, here I am, this scared wide-eyed country boy from
the Big Island, walking onto the Candlestick Park field on a blue sky
but, freezing sunny day. I bent down to scratch my fingers through
the artificial turf. (Neva have anything like dat back home)
Everything was so big. Everything was moving so fast.

I had no clue who played for the Niners. But, they were playing the
Oilers, though. And I did know who Dan Pastorini and Billy
"Whiteshoes" Johnson were.

As luck would have it, the Niners and I lost that day. Two local boys
did win. One was Louis Santiago of Kahuku and some big braddah named
Joey Meyer. (Somebody tell Bob Hogue to check his Midweek email a few
months back for my response on his story about Joey)
I had the privilege to go a second time to compete in the PP&K
regionals in the bay area the following year. This time, Louis's
brother, Lane, and I won in San Francisco on Monday Night Football.
We both went on to the semi's in New Orleans. The whole experience
was surreal.

In my fourth year of competition, the PP&K state finals were held at
Aloha Stadium. UH was playing San Jose State. Just after the
scoreboard showed to a cheering crowd that George Ariyoshi won yet
another term as Governor, I also found out I didn't win. But, I got
my first live glimpse of UH football. I was hooked. Jeff Duva, David
Toloumu, Gary Allen and Blaine Gaison tore up the Spartans that night.
Prideperiod was freshman on the team back then.

Up to now

I jumped through three colleges; HPU, UH Hilo and UH Manoa. I ran out
of money and interest in school and looked onward for something else
to do.

In '88, a hometown friend got me a job working for a sign company in
Kalihi. (never thought there were so many signs to be made)
In the fall of 1990, I figured I'd put my political cartooning days at
Kaleo to use and answered an ad in the paper for a cartoonist. I
ended up working for Diana Hansen-Young creating one of the first
full-featured digital animation shows in the nation.

After a brief stint back at the sign shop, I got a job at Manoa
Innovation Center doing animation for a company that developed CD's
for Edutainment, video training for AutoDesk and a medical
Inform/Consent software for the OBGYN field.
From there I went into freelancing as a graphic artist. In between
accounts I did contract work at KGMB (total dream job. Would've worked
for free)

Then in 2000, I got together with friends and started a networking
group called, the E-List. The first Tuesday of every month we'd get a
venue around town and invite various sectors of the business
community, government branches along with the University to network,
exchange and collaborate on business ideas. Along the way, we started
up several e-commerce web sites selling all kinds of local products.
Those were some awesome times.

I'm currently back again at the sign shop. This time helping them get
into the digital age. I'm married to a wonderful Kauai girl who puts
up with my passion for UH and outer island sports. I've got the best
in-laws anyone could ever ask for. My family has remained closer than
ever. I cherish every moment I can still play music and wala'au with
my parents and siblings.

Throughout my life's experiences my loyalty to the Warriors has never
faltered. I'm forever thankful to all of you here for giving this
wide-eyed country boy a chance to share in your passion for UH.

I Mua Warriors!

-Addahknowjoe

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