Tsai-ko Autobiography:  whitey Hawaii Cattle Call emblemLas Vegas Cattle Call emblem
Name:  (withheld)      Bonafide Tsai-ko
High School:  Baldwin High, Maui
Tsai-ko Lunch Size:  Large
Tsai-ko caricature:  first row, 3rd from left
Other:   President Maui Tsai-ko Chapter
 


From the Warrior Beat blog June 10, 2008:
ST's Intro:
Whitey is a part-time poster, but a full-time great guy. His posts are filled with thoughtful insights. Meet Whitey:


First of all, I am honored to be a member of the Tsaikos and hope you all enjoy my “story”.  I was born in Puunene, Maui shortly after WWII started.  My dad was interned shortly thereafter, so I was raised by my mom and her family.  My dad worked for HC&S and we lived in the plantation camp called Young Hee.   For recreation we had slingshots, rubber guns, tin boats, pin guns, pounding redwood post and swatting bumble bees, and swimming in the irrigation ditch.  The ditch goes right next to our camp, so you learn how to swim.  How do you learn?  The older kids grab your shorts by the bottom and fly you into the ditch.  Drink plenty of water, but they teach you how to swim, dog paddle.  I can remember 2 times that I would have drowned, but once the ditchman saved me and the other time obachan saved me. Same ditch is where the first champion swimmers from Hawaii came from. What a life in the camp.

K grade went to Puunene School.  The went to Kaunoa School in Spreckelsville.  Kaunoa was an English Standard public school and you needed to pass an oral exam.  My mom about died when the teacher asked me what kind of games I played and I said tin garanagei.  Went 1-8 grade without shoes, wore homemade khaki shorts and aloha shirts..  Barefeet at graduation.

Bought my first pair of shoes to go to Baldwin High.  Put horseshoe taps, so shoe could last me for 4 years.  Also had 24” bottom drape pants for 4 years.  Participated in cross country and track for 4 yrs.  Cross country was actually road racing from Waihee town to St Anthony School.  Ran barefoot for 4 years cause no can afford track shoes.

Growing up went to horse races, then stock car races at the Fairgrounds.  Saw the Unser brothers, Cherry Neves, Jimmy Pflueger, etc race against the Maui drivers.  Watch the Keiki Aliis and Kieki Kanes come to Maui every year to play the Maui All Stars,  Watched the Dodgers play against the Maui All Stars.

Then went to Iowa State in Ames, Iowa.  Roomed with Berrington brothers, John and Bob.  John was an all Big 8 center and went to be drafted by the KC Chiefs.  Participated and lettered in swimming and completed the Air Force ROTC program, but lost my commission because I failed my final hearing physical.  My job as a waiter, dishwasher, etc at the women’s dorm was one of my best times there.  Met and knew most of the athletic dept staff and coaches at Iowa State.

Upon coming home, went to work for Dr Clarence Ching, then got a job with the Dept of Ag which I stayed at for 34 yrs.  Retired as a noxious weed specialist.  Also worked as a bartender at the Iao Needle Hotel.

Coached age group and high school swimming for over 15 years.  Had great kids and families and met more people throughout the world.  Coached 2 high school all Americans, won numerous MIL swim titles, had state champions, and coached the state age group championship team.  Had age group swimmers in the top 10 in the nation.  Along with Ed Kawachika, Len Limahai, and Kerry Kamisato, we help create, organize and were the first from Hawaii to make the Western Zone Age Group Championship the largest age group meet in the western states.

Also helped at the Boy Builders camp every summer and was very active with the Boy Scouts.  Was an asst scoutmaster for the boys from big island and maui at the world jamboree in Japan.

Now days, go to Vegas, Alaska for fishing, Oregon and South Dakota for hunting, and golf.  Through this blog, I get to meet new friends and lurk to learn more info about the UH programs.  I thank ST for letting me post my bio.
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