Maui High 2019 Hall of Honor Inductees Announced

The Maui High School Foundation announced its inductees to the Maui High School’s 2019 Hall of Honor.  The school’s Hall of Honor was created in 2011 and annually recognizes individuals with ties to Maui High School who have made outstanding contributions to the school and community. Honorees will be recognized at the Foundation’s 9th Annual Hall of Honor Banquet slated for Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, at the King Kamehameha Golf Club Ballroom.  This event is open to the public with tickets on sale at www.mauihighschoolfoundation.com.

The 2019 Maui High School Hall of Honor Awardees are:

SILVERSWORD HERITAGE AWARD: an alumnus who is distinguished in life & work

Bob Monden – Class of 1950

Robert Masashi Monden served his country, state, community and family. He worked for over 20 years with the Second Circuit Court of the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary, ultimately becoming its Chief Administrator.  Having a passion for politics and being very involved in the community, Monden also assisted in numerous political campaigns throughout his life and eventually ran for County Council himself in the mid-’90s. He represented the Upcountry district for one term from 1995-1996. Monden also carried on his parents’ family farm in Kula while raising a family of his own with his wife Mary.

A 1950 graduate of Maui High School, Monden joined the Army after high school at the onset of the Korean War. Following the war, Monden attended Cannon’s Business College in Honolulu by way of the GI Bill and graduated in 1957. He worked on Oʻahu in the Honolulu City Finance department for about a decade before returning to Maui in 1970 to help with the family farm after his father’s passing.

Monden was a loving husband and father. He and Mary enjoyed 51 years of marriage prior to his passing in 2015 and together they raised their two daughters Linda and Jade. His community involvement included serving as a board member for Maui Economic Opportunity and the Kula Agriculture Park, and serving as an officer of the Kula Community Association, Lions Club of Kahului and the Maui Vegetable Growers Association.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: an alumnus who has excelled in their field or profession.

Zach Scott – Class of 1998

A graduate of the Class of 1998, Zach Scott was MIL Soccer Co-Player of the Year his senior season and was also selected to the All-State First Team. He continued his soccer career at Division I school Gonzaga University, where he played from 1998-2001 and helped lead the team to its inaugural NCAA tournament playoff berth in 2001. During the course of his senior season, Scott became only the fifth player in school history to score a hat trick, which was even more impressive due to his position as a defender. Following his college career, he was signed by the Seattle Sounders, a professional team belonging to the A-League before it was re-branded as the United Soccer League.

Scott played for the Sounders from 2002-2009 when they were added as an expansion team to the MLS (Major League Soccer), the highest level of professional soccer in the United States. Despite an almost complete overhaul of the team, Scott was retained and made history as the first-ever MIL player to sign an MLS contract. He continued with the Sounders until his retirement from professional soccer in December 2016.

During his tenure, the Sounders have won two USL championships, four US Open Cups, one MLS Supporter’s Shield, four Cascadia Cups and in Scott’s final season with the Sounders, the club won their first MLS Cup. Scott also made individual history with the club, notching a significant milestone in 2012 having played 10 years for Seattle, and another in 2014 with 300 games played for the Sounders.

In addition to achieving a successful career in professional soccer, Scott is married to his wife Alana, also a Maui High graduate (‘97), and together, they have three children: son Kalei (13) and daughters Kaʻena (11) and Koʻolina(7).

SPIRIT OF MAUI AWARD: an alumnus who gave back to the community, who made a difference within the community.

Elaine Randall – Class of 1969

Elaine Fukushima Randall has committed decades of service to the Maui community while being a wife, mother of two, grandmother of three, and helping to run her parents’ family-run business, Dick’s Fumigation, where she worked as Secretary of the corporation. Back in high school, the 1969 alumna served as President of the Future Business Leaders of America in her junior and senior year. Today, she continues to extend her leadership skills for several community organizations.

For the past five years, Randall has been serving as President for Soroptimist International of Maui, a global non-profit women’s service organization that aims to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. Prior to that she served six years as the organization’s treasurer and has been a member since 1995. Randall is the current Chair of the Supervisory Committee of the Kahului Federal Credit Union, for which she has been a committee member for the past 16 years. She is also a former member of the Lions Club of Kahului, serving from 1998-2009 where she held positions of club president, Zone Treasurer, and district —Lions Quest chairperson.

Quite unique among her volunteer work is her 16-year-long service as a puppy foster mom with Assistance Dogs of Hawaiʻi. This Maui-based non-profit organization trains and places service dogs to help people who have a wide range of disabilities. Randall is currently raising Toby, her 28th puppy in training.

INSPIRATION AWARD : (not necessarily alumni) a faculty member past or present who went above-and-beyond and made a difference to the students of the school.

Clarice Lee – Math Teacher 1985-2018

Clarice Lee was a loyal faculty member of Maui High’s math department from August 1985 until she retired in December 2018. Lee also served as the math department head and Math League advisor since 1990.

Throughout her long teaching career, school administrators say Lee inspired her students through good old-fashioned ‘tough love.’  Students can attest to loads of homework and Lee’s adamant attitude about neatness and organization. “The rigor of her class is what shapes her students,” said Lee’s former student Gina Case. Lee’s math colleague Michelle Sera said, “when you receive Ms. Lee’s students the year after they’ve had her, they are well-trained and respectful. Math teachers will tell you, being organized is half the battle in a math class. We appreciate the training Ms. Lee put her students through.”

Lee lassoed student attention with her wit and sense of humor. “She is an amazing teacher and very funny. There was never a dull moment in her class,” said former Lee student Elijah Evangelista. Another student Marisa Fillazar said, “Ms. Lee may be small but she’s full of life. She not only teaches in a way that everyone understands, but everyone has fun learning.”

Lee is devoted to teaching. Students could depend on Lee to arrive at school an hour early each day, her doors always open to students who needed extra help or workspace. Lee also taught summer school for most of her career and additionally helped tutor after school. She retired in December of 2018 but continues to regularly volunteer her time at the school.

SABER SPIRIT : (not necessarily an alumnus) an individual who is an unsung hero to the school, possibly volunteered at the school.

Lee Yonamine, Baseball Head Coach 1996-2014

Coach Yonamine has been with the Maui High baseball program since he was in high school. He played four years of Varsity baseball with his team winning the 1982 state championship during his senior year.  Yonamine returned to the program three years later at the age of 20 and served as the JV head coach for two years and then as the assistant coach for Varsity for three years. He was involved in coaching youth baseball leagues at all levels including making it to three Colt League World series in 1991, 1992, and 1993. He took the helm as Maui High’s Varsity Head Coach in 1996 until he retired in 2014. He led the Sabers to 4 MIL titles and 14 state tournament appearances. Rallying support from parents and supporters in 1999, Yonamine also coordinated the construction of the first covered high school batting cage on Maui.

During his long tenure with the program, Yonamine mentored countless young athletes. He led his teams with integrity and a sincere love for the sport. “Even after retiring from the program he still checks in, asks about his former players, and is willing to help anyone with anything in any way he can,” said Maui High Vice-Principal Ty Ogasawara. “He’s a true blue Saber for life.” Current MHS Varsity Baseball head coach Chase Corniel, who played as well as coached under Lee’s mentorship, commented that “one can only imagine the sacrifice it takes to be a coach let alone a head coach for that long. Yonamine’s dedication to this program is like no other and is what I’ve learned from him and will continue to carry on in myself as the head coach of the program.”

Since 1995, the Maui High School Foundation has worked to promote and foster the development of Maui High School. The annual Hall of Honor Awards plays a vital role in connecting students, staff and community with Maui High’s rich history and proud heritage. The Banquet element serves as the Foundation’s top fundraiser and paves the way for the Foundation to offer scholarships and funding support to the school and its students. The Maui High School Foundation invites the community to join in this fun and inspirational evening that will bring family and friends together to honor pillars of Maui High’s legacy while helping to advance its future.

Maui High School Hall of Fame honorees for 2019. Top (L to R): Zach Scott and Lee Yonamine. Bottom (L to R): Bob Monden, Clarice Lee and Elaine Randall. PC: Maui High School.

Zach Scott – Class of 1998. AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: an alumnus who has excelled in their field or profession. PC: MHS.

Lee Yonamine, Baseball Head Coach 1996-2014. SABER SPIRIT : (not necessarily an alumnus) an individual who is an unsung hero to the school, possibly volunteered at the school. PC: MHS

Bob Monden – Class of 1950. SILVERSWORD HERITAGE AWARD: an alumnus who is distinguished in life & work. PC: MHS

Clarice Lee – Math Teacher 1985-2018. INSPIRATION AWARD : (not necessarily alumni) a faculty member past or present who went above-and-beyond and made a difference to the students of the school. PC: MHS.

Elaine Randall – Class of 1969. SPIRIT OF MAUI AWARD: an alumnus who gave back to the community, who made a difference within the community. PC: MHS.