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Kafentzis family & UH Letterwinners Board

Letterwinners Club

Celebration of Our Legends

The Letterwinners Club (LWC) hosted various Legends at every home football game in 2024. These legends were treated to a pre-game reception at Klum's Korner with food and drinks; participated in a meet-and-greet with the fans inside the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex; and were recognized with a special on-field recognition during the game.

At the season and home opener on August 24, we celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the Rainbow Wahine Soccer program with members of that inaugural team and welcomed our past and current Olympians Deitre Collins (USA Women's Volleyball 1988), Robyn Ah Mow (USA Women's Volleyball 2000, 2004, 2008-Silver Medalist), Camille Radosavljevic (France Water Polo 2024), and Akira Jacobs (Japan Men's Basketball 2024).

On August 31, we recognized our former football players who participated in the East-West Shrine game starting with Harry "Clown" Kahuanui who was our first UH player invited to participate in the all-star game 75 years ago. Kahuanui was represented by his grandson Kupono Fey (former Rainbow Warrior Volleyball player and current Assistant Coach) and his daughter Charlene Christensen. Also recognized was all-star Vaughn Meatoga who was joined by his teammate Liko Satele.

September 21 was "Disco Night" which was celebrated by two players from the mid-1970s Norris Birdsong (remembered as the first player to score a touchdown in Aloha Stadium) and his teammate Eugene Price.

It was First Responders Night on October 12. Recognized for their service to the community were former football players Alan Hackbarth (Firefighter-Kailua Station), Rob Wengler (Firefighter-Kaimuki Station), and Daniel Reed (Special Investigator, Attorney General Office).

The Homecoming game on October 26 celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 1999 football team who holds the record for the greatest turnaround season in NCAA history going from 0-12 the year before to co-champions of the WAC. Members of the 1999 team participated in the celebration joined by their head coach June Jones.

Military Night on November 9 paid tribute to the men and women of our armed forces. Participating that night were U.S. Army Colonel (retired) Ed Gayagas (men's basketball) and Colonel (retired) Ed Cruickshank (football).  

The final home game of the season on November 30 was not only Senior Night, we paid special recognition to one of our Legacy families – the Kafentzis 'ohana. In all, five Kafentzis brothers, two sons, and one nephew played football for UH. Earlier in the year, Kent Kafentzis (1981-82, 1984-85) passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was represented on the field by his daughter, Kennedy, who was joined by her uncles Kurt (1981-84), his twin brother Mark (1980-81), Kyle (1983-86), and her cousins Landon (2004-05) and Tyson (2005-08) who are both sons of Mark. It was a beautiful tribute to Kent and the entire Kafentzis 'ohana as we also celebrated our Seniors. 

LWC was proud and honored to have hosted all these Legends in 2024!
 
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