Waipahu Sports Legends

A commemorative unveiling of a monument honoring Waipahu Sports Legends and their legacies Waipahu’s green canefields and towering mill marked it as one of Hawaiʻi’s most productive sugar plantations, but the town’s playing fields and gym produced another crop— a group of sports legends who would make their mark throughout Hawaiʻi and the world. Hans L’Orange Baseball Park traces its roots to 1924, when Oʻahu Sugar Company set aside several acres of cane fields for a worker recreation area, creating a gathering place that would become central to Waipahu’s athletic and community life. In 1999, Waipahu celebrated the 75th anniversary of Hans L’Orange Baseball Park and dedicated a commemorative monument honoring Waipahu Sports Legends. Today, the City and County of Honolulu’s Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA) invites the community to join us for the dedication and unveiling of a newly refabricated monument honoring these legends and preserving their place in Waipahu’s history. The effort to bring the monument back began with a shared belief that these athletes and their stories should not be forgotten. The new monument restores their names and legacy to the community where many of their stories began. Kenneth Kimura, the only surviving honoree, continues to reside in Waipahu. Family members and friends of the Sports Legends are especially invited to join us in honoring their legacies. Waipahu Sports Legends Hans L’Orange • Fred Yasui • Johnny Yasui • Eddie Yasui • Chester Yasui • Andy Ganigan • Al Silva • Henry “Prince” Oana • Kenneth Kimura • Richard Oamilda • Crispin Mancao • Katsuji Kojima • Mitsuru “Brown” Watabu • Walter Gouveia Sr. • Masa Yonamine • James Moniz • Takemi Arakawa • Dr. Richard Noda • Mac Flores Event Details Date: Friday, September 25, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Location: Hans L’Orange Baseball Park Address: 94-1024 Waipahu St, Waipahu, HI 96797 The dedication will include remarks and the unveiling of the refabricated monument. This event is free and open to the public. Family members, friends, former athletes, Waipahu residents, and members of the public are warmly invited to attend. Registration by 9/23 is requested.