In "The Long Game" video podcast, Mark Carpenter sits down with influential figures across the Hawaii sports community. Whether it's going down memory lane with former athletes who've ascended to the heights of their craft or meeting rising up-and-comers eager to build their legacies, this series will dive into their careers and lessons learned while having fun along the way.
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RSS FeedThe Rainbow Warriors’ offense is clicking this season, and quarterbacks coach Chad Kapanui is a huge reason why.
The Roosevelt alum and former UH standout is back home after spending nearly two decades in Nevada, coaching national powerhouses Liberty and Bishop Gorman.
In this episode, he talks about growing up as a three-sport athlete in Pauoa, his time in Las Vegas, and the talents of Micah Alejado.
Kainoa Obrey is a championship-winning head coach for the Iolani girls volleyball team and recently led the Raiders to another successful campaign that ended with the program’s fifth state title.
Before entering the coaching world, Obrey, an Iolani alum, was a baseball standout at the prep and collegiate levels before ultimately being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.
In this episode, Obrey revisits his playing days, his transition into coaching, and talks about the growth of prep volleyball across the state.
Andy Archer is a star player for one of the most entertaining teams in baseball, the Savannah Bananas. The former University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors pitcher joined the exhibition travel squad after two years of working in finance in Honolulu. He lives in Hawaii during the offseason and will be hosting a youth baseball clinic this December. In this episode, he talks about falling in love with Hawaii, playing for Rich Hill, and playing in sold-out professional stadiums across the country.
Mana "Da Hawaiian Hitman" Viernes is the reigning and defending Power Slap super heavyweight champion. Viernes grew up on Oahu and later moved away to Las Vegas where he bounced around security jobs before making a name for himself in the world of competitive slapping. He quickly rose through the ranks and has become a fan favorite in the sport, which continues to grow in popularity. In this episode, he talks about his time in the islands, his fighting career, and his strong faith.
Considered by many as one of the pioneers of professional combat sports in Hawaii, Egan Inoue is a world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts. While growing up in Manoa, he started training at the age of 4 and in addition to his extensive martial arts background, he's also won a racquetball world championship. After retiring from fighting in 2008, he and his wife established Egan's Fitness, which is about to celebrate its 15th anniversary this year.
Alison Takamiya is a rising star in the world of women's golf. After graduating from Punahou in 2020, she went on to Oregon's George Fox University where she won a national championship and earned multiple All-American honors. She recently announced her intent to turn pro and is making a serious bid to join the LPGA Tour.
Broadcaster, coach, athlete, and educator, Chris McLachlin is a beloved fixture in Hawaii's sports community. In this episode, he talks about the twists and turns in a career that’s spanned decades, including coaching President Barack Obama at Punahou, building the Stanford volleyball program, being the voice of UH volleyball, and becoming a health care advocate after surviving a stroke.
In the middle of her 14th season with the Rainbow Wahine soccer program, Michele Nagamine is among the school’s longest-tenured coaches.
The Kamehameha grad has been entrenched in Hawaii’s soccer community for most of her life with coaching experience at all levels. In addition to her success on the field, she’s also an accomplished businesswoman as both an entrepreneur and executive.
In this episode, she opens up about her wide-ranging career trajectory, her coaching philosophy, and why she initially turned down the UH head coaching job.
When University of Hawaii football fans look back on the program’s biggest upsets, Garrett Gabriel is a core part of those memories. After leading Pac-5 to a Prep Bowl victory in 1985, the star quarterback committed to Hawaii where he led one of the country’s most exciting offenses.
Today, he’s a proud husband and father of three young sons, including Cleveland Browns quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Dillon Gabriel.
In this episode, he recounts his days at Pac-5, taking out Hawaii’s football rivals, and life as an NFL dad.
If fantasy football existed at the collegiate level, Greg Salas would be a top pick. Despite being recruited as a defensive back and not playing varsity football full-time till his senior year, he first arrived at Manoa in 2006 and went on to become the program's all-time leading receiver. He then spent six years in the National Football League, playing alongside some of the game's biggest stars. In this episode, we revisit his best moments at UH and catch up on his current role with Hawaii athletics.