Letter for Saturday, February 3, 2018

Ishida ohana a blessing to Mokihana Aquatics

Mokihana Aquatics has a proud history on Kauai. Hundreds if not thousands have supported us and we have serviced tens of thousands in our storied history. With that said, there have been a handful that have stood out in the support of our program. The Ishida ohana is one.

Elsie Ishida passed away a week ago peacefully with her family by her side at home. Her service is this Saturday at the Kapaa Hongwanji by the lehi in Kapaa. Elsie is the mom of Pamela Ishida who we honor with the Pamela Ishida award for our most inspirational swimmer award.

To date this award has not been handed out as Mokihana Aquatics has not had a swimmer with the traits that Pam had / has.

These traits are attributive to her ohana and especially her mom Elsie. She retired as a elementary school teacher at Kilauea and she taught me some valuable life lessons. Her daughter Pam was not our fastest swimmer but was one of our best. Elise’s husband, Pam’s dad, made a event board for us back when we first started our Fun Meet in the early eighties.

You see back then entries were done manually and calls for events were done by billboard notice. Mokihana Aquatics had the best thanks to Pam’s dad. We also had the best with her mom who again taught yours truly many valuable life lessons through her manao and how she raised a wonderful family.

Elsie and her ohana truly blessed Kauai and Kauai age-group swimming. They were always so supportive. Pamela herself even helped as a coaches’ assistant, being our trainer for a couple of years when she moved back to Kauai after graduation from college. In fact, she was the last trainer we have had.

Our condolences to the Ishida ohana and our mahalo for their unwavering support of Mokihana Aquatics. I called Elsie as recently as several years ago to seek her manao. She was always there for me. Aloha Elise. God be with you.

Most humble and with respect to all the ohana;

Orlando Anaya, Kapaa