The Long Game with Mark Carpenter

Hawaii News Now is now the home of University of Hawaii athletics and to celebrate this agreement, we sat down with UH athletics director Matt Elliott.

Just one year into his tenure, he's already made a tremendous impact on the department-- boosting fundraising, strengthening the university's relationship with the community, and laying a foundation for long-term success.

Elliott joined UH after extensive experience with the Hawaii Community Foundation and 13 years with UCLA Athletics.

In this episode, we talk about his career journey, the changing landscape of collegiate sports, and what makes UH fans unlike any other.

'You're not just a St. Louis head coach'

Tupu Alualu is a state championship winning head coach and entering his third season leading the St. Louis Crusaders. It's a program he's been around for most of his life and one that he is beyond proud to represent as a former star player, longtime assistant, and now the man in charge of one of Hawaii's most storied teams. His journey to Kalaepohaku is fascinating and in this episode, he shares his emotional story of moving to Hawaii from Samoa as a young boy and how football changed his life.  

Chad Owens is among the most electrifying players in University of Hawaii football history. His journey to success serves as an inspiration. The Roosevelt alum joined the Rainbow Warriors as a walk-on and went on to enjoy a record-setting All-American collegiate career. The playmaking receiver and returner was recently inducted into the UH Circle of Honor and is a member of the Canadian Football League Hall of Hame, Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame, and Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.

'Winners make it happen. Losers let it happen.'

Ron Nomura has dedicated his career to guiding Hawaii's next generation of baseball stars. After graduating from McKinley High in the 1970s, he went on to enjoy a standout career at the University of Hawaii before spending 15 seasons working alongside the legendary Les Murakami. Together with his sons, he established the Nomura Academy, an organization built to develop the state's prep baseball talent and help provide pathways to collegiate and pro opportunities.

Chris Blake is one of the most successful head coaches in Hawaii high school volleyball history. Through a decades-long career, he's led Kamehameha Kapalama to 13 state championship victories and helped guide countless student-athletes to NCAA Division 1 programs. He currently serves as the Director of Pacific Innovations at KS and is an apprentice navigator with the Polynesian Voyaging Society. In this episode, he talks about his coaching journey, his passion for teaching, and the lessons from sailing around the world with Hokulea.

Laura Beeman spent 14 seasons as the Rainbow Wahine head basketball coach. The four-time Big West Coach of the Year is one of the longest-tenured and most successful coaches in program history, leading the team to three NCAA tournament appearances. In this episode, she talks about her decorated coaching career, the work it takes to build a program, and her love for the state of Hawaii. This episode was recorded before she announced her retirement on March 30th.

Darren Johnson is the head football coach of the Campbell Sabers and recently led the team to its first ever Division One Open State Championship.  As a native of O’ahu’s North Shore, he’s dedicated years to the sport and has a passion for inspiring young student-athletes.

In this episode, he discusses Campbell’s championship run, the evolving high school football transfer portal, and how coaching has impacted his personal health

Kristi Yamaguchi is an Olympic gold medalist and world champion figure skater. The hall of famer made history in 1992 by becoming the first Asian-American woman to win gold in any Winter Olympic sport. As a former part-time Hawaii resident, Yamaguchi maintains strong ties to the islands through Always Dream, an organization dedicated to early childhood literacy. This year, Always Dream is celebrating its 30th anniversary and works closely with elementary schools across the state. In this episode, Yamaguchi discusses her extensive Olympic career, the decision to compete professionally, and the success of Always Dream.

Anthony "A.C." Carter ranks among the greatest players in University of Hawaii men's basketball history. The electrifying point guard led the 'Bows during some of the program's most memorable seasons before going on to experience a 13-year NBA career. He recently became only the second player in UH history to have his number retired. In this episode, he reflects back on his tough journey to Manoa, leading upsets over nationally-ranked opponents, and lessons learned from the NBA.

Part 2 of our conversation with Jarinn Akana dives in to his career as an NBA assistant coach and professional sports agent.

Following his playing days at the University of Hawaii, Akana maintained close contacts within the basketball community and eventually landed a coaching position with the Dallas Mavericks.

He went on to work with several other franchises before moving into the agency world, where he represented some of the league's top players and brokered millions of dollars worth of contracts.

Considered among the most successful sports executives to come out of Hawaii, Jarinn Akana carved a unique path to success.

Akana grew up a basketball star on Molokai before becoming a standout point guard with Riley Wallace's Rainbow Warriors in the mid 1990s. Akana later went on to join several NBA franchises as an assistant coach and eventually entered the world of sports management.

Over the course of 16-plus years as a professional sports agent, Akana represented some of the NBA's biggest stars and brokered hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts.  In part 1 of this 2-part episode, Akana reflects on growing up in Hawaii and his time at UH.

Kurt Zwald is the senior director of business strategy and analytics for the Seattle Mariners.

The East Honolulu native and Punahou alum recently joined the Mariners after nearly 15 years in a similar role with the Boston Red Sox.

Before becoming a seasoned MLB front office executive, he got his start with Hawaii Winter Baseball in the mid-2000s.

In this episode, he discusses the business of pro sports, the experience of working for a championship-winning franchise, and the life lessons learned throughout his career.

Kyle Quilausing's story is one-of-a-kind. The Hilo native burst onto the scene of Hawaii's junior golf circuit before life took an unexpected turn as he fell into a downward spiral of addiction, crime, and incarceration. After spending 10 years behind bars, Quilausing has since dedicated his life to faith, family, and sobriety. He's now an influential motivational speaker, sharing his journey with youth across the nation.

Selected in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, Caleb Lomavita is a catcher with the Washington Nationals organization. The Ewa native and St. Louis alum is entering his second full professional season and is one of the league's rising stars.

In this episode, he talks about growing up in Hawaii's youth baseball circuit, his all-american collegiate career at Cal, and life in the pros.

As the founder of Brain Health Hawaii, Dr. Jason Keifer has spent years helping the state’s top athletes fine-tune and sharpen their mental performance. 

His clinic specializes in a non-invasive magnetic neurostimulation treatment that has yielded positive results to overcome a number of conditions, including anxiety, depression, concussions, and PTSD. 

In this episode, he discusses advancements in brain research, the importance of sleep, and the science behind “coming up clutch” and “the yips.”

Derrick Low is widely considered to be among the greatest local prospects in Hawaii prep basketball history.

The Iolani alum is a three-time Hawaii player of the year and led the Raiders to three consecutive state championships. 

He went on to star collegiately at Washington State before playing professionally overseas. 

In this episode, Low talks about growing up in the Kalakaua basketball clinic, life as a pro, and the lessons learned from childhood with a single father.

As the owner of Tactical Strength & Conditioning, Darin Yap has built a reputation over the years as one of the country's premier trainers.

He works closely with Hawaii's top professional athletes, including Max Holloway, Ezekiel Lau, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Joey Cantillo, and Kolten Wong. 

The Aiea native is known for crafting personalized training regimens designed to help elite athletes hone their skills or assist everyday clients in reaching their fitness goals. 

In this episode, he talks about working alongside pro athletes, the evolution of fitness over the years, and common training misconceptions.

Joey Cantillo is a pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians. The Kailua alum was drafted out of high school in 2017 and immediately pursued a pro career.

He spent years working his way through the minor league system before making his Major League debut in the summer of 2024.

In this episode, he discusses his time with the Surfriders, the decision to go pro, and his MLB experience thus far.

The 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.