August 21 - BallHype: 

Of course, there are hundreds of athletes from Hawai'i, and certainly more when you include those who lived there but were not born there.  We hope you enjoy this list, which is not meant to be exhaustive or definitive...just fun and informative, as we celebrate 50 years of our nation's 50th state today !
 
TOP TEN (ranking based on importance, influence, historical significance, and - primarily - current name recognition in both homeland and outside of Hawai'i)
 
10. Natasha Kai - Known as one of the most colorful of all American female athletes, Kai plays pro soccer for the WPS' Sky Blue FC, but is much more famous for her performances with the U.S. Women's National Team.  She was instrumental in propelling the USWNT to an Olympic Gold Medal in 2008's Summer Games in Beijing, and is perhaps as well known off the pitch for her famous tattooes, piercings, and lifestyle.
  
9. Shane Victorino - Member of 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies; In 2009, became the first-ever Hawaiian-born positional player (and only the fourth overall) to be named to an MLB All-Star roster.  He was originally drafted out of high school by the LA Dodgers, and played for the San Diego Padres before joining the reigning MLB champs. 

8. Akebono Taro (birth name: Chad Haakeo Rowan) - Though he entered Hawaii Pacific University on a basketball scholarship, he switched to sumo wrestling and became the first-ever non-Japanese individual to reach the highest rank of sumo, called yokozuna. He won the sumo's biggest prize, The Emperor's Cup, a total of 11 times in his 13-year career; his fame in the early '90's brought sumo to U.S. TV more than in any other era.
 
7. Gerry Lopez - An innovative surfing pioneer who has more recently appeared in feature films (most famously as Arnold Schwarzenegger's sidekick in "Conan the Barbarian," as well as in some of the best surfing documetaries of the 2000's).  A major part of his legacy will be as a shaper, one who was at the forefront of the first shortboard revolution; boards he designed were among the most popular of the early '70's.
 
6. Eddie Aikau - A legendary surfer, who in 1968 became the first-ever official lifegaurd on Oahu's North Shore. His legend grew ven more in death, when he went missing while on a voyaje retracing steps of the ancient mariners who originally journeyed from Polynesia and settled in Hawaii.  A major pro event "The Eddie" is a renowned big-wave competition held each year on the North Shore, renamed in his honor to remember his extraordinary life.
 
5. Brian Ching - An avid surfer in his youth, Ching is by far the most-successful Hawaiian in pro soccer, and still going strong.  A three-time MLS Cup champion (in 2003 with San Jose Earthquakes, 2006 and 2007 with Houston Dynamo), he also won the prestigious U.S. Open Cup in 2001 with his first MLS team, the LA Galaxy. Ching is now equally well-known as a member of - and frquent starter for - the U.S. Men's National Team; he has made over 40 appearances for the USMNT, and is on the roster for 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying.
 
4. Sunny Garcia (birth name: Vincent Sennen Garcia) - Still the best-known of the modern era surfers born in Hawai'i, Sunny holds the record for most wins (6) for the annual Triple Crown of Surfing, considered the sport's most prestigious competition, held at the end of each year in Hawai'i.  At the age of 30 in 2000, his ASP World Tour title made Garcia the oldest surfer at that time to have been awarded that annual title. Now semi-retired, he is also one of only three pro surfers to have accumulated more than $ 1 million in total career prize money.
 
3. Jack Johnson - A well-known local surfer and filmmaker in Hawaii, but now much better known - and all over the world - as a singer/songwriter with true superstar status.  He began writing music for surfing films which he assembles himself, and in which he would also appear in surfing with his friends; a major accident ended his pro surfing career. His first mainstream music release came in 2001; since then, his singles, EPs, and albums have sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Two of his most recent albums were number one hits on the U.S. Billboard album chart; globally, he is a major concert draw.

2. Duke Kahanamoku (birth name: Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku) - Although he had peaked long before Hawai'i became a state, the person most responsible for popularizing modern surfing remained a revered figure until his passing in 1968.  He was originally known - and gained world fame - for winning three Olympic swimming Gold Medals (in 1912 and 1920), and was dubbed 'The Father of Surfing' when he took the sport outside of Hawai'i to places like the U.S. mainland and Australia.  He is also known for having formed the world's first surfing club, called Hui Nalu (Club Of The Waves). His influence and modernization of the sport cannot be overstated; a famous statue of the Duke stands at his birthplace in Waikiki, the beach which is perhaps still Honolulu's most popular tourist destination.

1. Barack Obama - In some circles, the current U.S. President is better known for having played high-school basketball than for being a Hawai'i native (that's him in the header photo while playing for Punahou School).  Having just celebrated his 47th birthday on August 4, the 44th U.S. President was born in Honolulu to parents who met at the University of Hawai'i.  An avid fan of the Chicago White Sox, he threw out the first pitch at the 2009 MLB All-Star Game. Both of his children play organized soccer, and he is on the U.S. bid committee for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup.  He also recently honored the MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew at the White House, and has met with FIFA officials recently to discuss MLS and world soccer, and U.S. stadium development. In his short time as U.S. President thus far, he has been seen to embrace all sporting culture, and has promoted fitness in general through everything from his daily morning workouts to increasing funding and awareness for major health and sporting initiatives.
 
FORTY MORE - in alphabetical order, with most notable team(s), accomplishments
 
Benny Agbayani - MLB and Japanese league (currently with Chibba Lotte Marines)
Charles Teetai Ane - (retired) NFL's Detroit Lions, 2-times NFL Champion
Kala Alexander - Surfer, also known for feature films including "Blue Crush"
Dustin Barca - Surfer, rookie on 2009 ASP World Tour
Matt Blair - (retired) NFL's Minnesota Vikings
Byron Chamberlain - (retired) NFL's Denver Broncos
Ron Darling - (retired) MLB's New York Mets (World Series champion, All-Star)
John DeSoto, Jr. - (retired) 2-time U.S. Motocross Champion, Int'l Hall of Fame
Shane Dorian - Surfer, regular on the ASP World Tour for many years
Sid Fernandez - (retired) MLB's New York Mets (World Series champion, All-Star)
Kurt Gouveia - (retired) NFL's Washington Redskins, 2-time Super Bowl Champion
Fred Hemmings - Surfer, former World Champion (now a Hawai'i State Senator)
Derek Ho - Surfer, 4-time Triple Crown winner, former ASP World Tour Champion
Michael Ho - Surfer, brother of Derek Ho, also a winner of the Triple Crown
Charlie Hough - (retired) MLB's Texas Rangers (and All-Star)
David Hughes - (retired) NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks
Henry Thomas Hughes, Jr. - NFL's Boston Braves and Washington Redskins
Sam Ichinose - Boxing promoter, International Boxing Hall of Fame
Andy Irons - Surfer, 3-time ASP World Tour Champion
Bruce Irons - Surfer, brother of Andy Irons, winner of "The Eddie" and Pipeline Masters
Emerick Ishikawa - Weightlifter, World-record holder and U.S. Olympic team
Rusty Keaulana - Surfer, 3-time Longboard World Champion (now also a stuntman)
Matty Liu - Surfer, 5-time Hawaiian champion (now also an actor)
Mike Lum - MLB's Cincinatti Reds, World Series Champion (now White Sox front office)
Robby Naish - Windsurfer, 4-time World Champion
Margo Oberg - Surfer, 3-time World Champion
Bobo Olson - Boxer, World Middleweight Champion, Int'l Boxing Hall of Fame
Eileen Olszewski - Boxer (and previously, an NBA Knicks City Dancer)
Chad Owens - NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars
Fred Patacchia - Surfer, top Hawaiian on the 2009 ASP World Tour
Bronson Sardinha - MLB's New York Yankees
Clay Stanley - Indoor Volleyball, won Olympic Gold medal in 2008
Mike Stewart - Bodyboarder, 11-time Pipeline Champion
Rell Kapoiloka'ehukai Sunn - Surfer, Int'l Surfing Hall of Fame
Esera Tuaolo - (retired) NFL's Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings
Justin Wayne - MLB's Florida Marlins
Herman Wedemeyer - St. Mary's, College Football HOF ("Hawaii Five-0" 's 'Duke')
Jerome Williams - (retired) NBA's Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors
Tyler Yates - MLB's New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, and Pittsburgh Pirates
Wally Yonamine - NFL's 49ers and Japanese league baseball (in latter's Hall of Fame)

author: Ric Schenck / getin2thegame (a BallHype original article)