Statewide budget cuts have been “devastating” to paid coaching positions on Kaua‘i, according to Kaua‘i High School athletic director Ross Shimabukuro. With Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation athletic departments asked to cut 30 percent off the top of last year’s spending, coaching
Statewide budget cuts have been “devastating” to paid coaching positions on Kaua‘i, according to Kaua‘i High School athletic director Ross Shimabukuro.
With Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation athletic departments asked to cut 30 percent off the top of last year’s spending, coaching salaries have taken the biggest hit in order to maintain the equipment needs to keep sports at a high level.
The conference has already announced it will be eliminating weekend transportation, putting the onus on parents or family to get athletes to and from their events. Shimabukuro hopes no more transportation cuts will be necessary.
He said that KHS will basically be without any paid assistant coaches positions. Some of his head coaches have met with staff and decided to break up a portion of their salaries to distribute to colleagues.
His assistant coaches have still determined that they will continue to show up even if unpaid.
“These coaches are here for the kids,” said Shimabukuro. “A lot of them are alumni who want to help out. Their hearts are in the right place.”
He stated that those who are looking to just make money would not be coaching to begin with. There is already little money to pay staff and many assistants had been making less than $1,000 for their season’s work.
The initial cuts have led some to step up with funds to help offset the damage. Keith Amemiya, executive director of the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association, announced Tuesday that donations of $400,000 have been made, roughly one-third of the $1.2 million in budget cuts to athletic programs.
Shimabukuro is hopeful that the KIF will “get some money to spend.” However, he said that a large portion of that donated money is marked for the Maui Interscholastic League to accommodate its unique travel situation. With Maui, Lana‘i and Moloka‘i all within one conference, their travel is costly and a high priority to maintain season schedules.
