In December of 2005, the members of the Iolani Raiders Boosters Club’s Board of Directors envisioned a video documentary as a means of helping to perpetuate the ONE TEAM culture, something squarely in support of the Club’s avowed Mission Statement. And thus was taken the first tentative baby step on what has become an ongoing journey. As that journey has come into clearer focus, so have twists and turns in the path become apparent and obstacles to the journey arisen. This page of our website is meant to recount what has happened and to update supporters of this project as to its present status. Please check it for updates and if any of you who believe in and support ONE TEAM want to help with this project, e-mail oneteamdoc@gmail.com for information on how you may do so. We urge all those who hold ONE TEAM proudly in their hearts, especially those who learned it from Father Bray and Coach Hamada and their disciples, to join us in this endeavor. We will succeed if we pitch in and work as ONE TEAM toward this shared goal. ONE TEAM is larger than just 'Iolani School or the Boosters Club and it encompasses all members of the 'Iolani community as equals.

Researching the Trip

Once we saw where we wanted to go, we set out to learn more about how to get there, before actually leaving home. In January of 2006, we asked an 'Iolani alumnus attending the University of Hawaii’s Academy for Creative Media for advice. He provided the Boosters Club an initial outline covering broad points such as type of media ranging from top-of-the-line 35mm film on down to simple home digital video. He advised that costs would be related to the quality of media used, increasing about an order of magnitude between the lowest quality digital video and the highest quality 35mm film, but also would be affected by research time, any special effects, the need for a film/sound crew, lighting, and editing. We continued working with him into the summer of 2006, further refining where and how we might want to go, until his professional commitments demanded his full time attention. Our journey slowed to idle speed while we continued to seek specifics on the making of a documentary.

“Time and Tide Wait for No Man”

With the realization that many of the best representatives and sources of knowledge of ONE TEAM had aged nearly two years since inception of this project, Boosters Club member Harris Nakamoto ’75, in November 2007, agreed to lead a reinvigorated effort to resume the journey. With a firm foot now on the gas pedal and the basic knowledge of documentary making already gained, it was time to approach others in the 'Iolani community with our proposal for the documentary. We wanted, and still want, the documentary to be done in true ONE TEAM fashion, with input and support from all members of the 'Iolani community. Accordingly, in December of 2007, we met with representatives of 'Iolani School. They agreed the proposed documentary was very worthy and offered to contact Waianae High School’s video production group to see if they would help. They advised that Waianae’s video production group is more capable than Iolani’s own and could do the high quality work befitting the proposed documentary. Waianae had done award-winning work and produced, with Iolani, a Sun Yat Sen documentary that was shown on PBS. We agreed to continue working toward the proposed ONE TEAM documentary and to keep the school informed. Subsequently, we learned that Waianae had a full schedule and would be unable to help.

The Boosters Club continued efforts toward the proposed documentary and was fortunate to come in contact with Mr. Eric Nemoto in March of 2008. Mr. Nemoto has intimate knowledge of the Hawaii film making process and was able to provide us very specific mileposts we needed to achieve on our journey. He is both an actor and a writer. As a writer, he has written or co-written seven plays and 82 feature length screenplays, a number of which have been optioned and considered for production by local filmmakers. As an actor he has been nominated four times for a Pookela Award and has received a Pookela as best lead actor. He starred in the acclaimed documentary “The First Battle” which was shown on the West Coast and on PBS.

Through his work on “The First Battle” Mr. Nemoto was able to recommend and put us in contact with Mr. Tom Coffman, an award winning writer and producer. Mr. Coffman has authored or produced noted books and documentaries in addition to “The First Battle,” among many are “Catch A Wave” the story of the evolution of Hawaii politics, and a documentary depicting the life and legacy of First Hawaiian Bank founder Charles Reed Bishop.

Now with knowledgeable and experienced people on the team, we determined that the priority at the start of the journey would be to capture on videotape the icon of ONE TEAM, Mr. Edward Hamada.

All Aboard

In April 2008, we met with Mr. Hamada and he not only gave his blessing to the project but urged that we do it sooner rather than later. He agreed to be videotaped for the proposed documentary because the focus would be on ONE TEAM, not him. “ONE TEAM is not about me, it is about we.”

We also met with representatives of 'Iolani School and later with Headmaster Iwashita and despite concerns over funding the project all expressed support for it. Headmaster Iwashita further explicitly supported and encouraged taping of Mr. Hamada before the passage of more time. We continue to try to work with the Headmaster regarding fundraising concerns.

In May of 2008, we visited Father Bray’s resting place to seek his spiritual guidance. The skies remained clear and sunny with nary a lightning bolt striking near us.

We followed by meeting with Mr. Ron Oba ’42, the principal author of the book “The Ol’ Man.” He not only gave his support to the project but also offered use of all his notes and research material used in writing the book. We contacted the other author of the book, Dr. Don Johnson, PhD, and he too gave his blessing and offered any support we might need.

So, with all aboard for the important first leg of the journey, we started our engine, and it roared to life!

Pulling Out of the Station

In August 2008 we videotaped Mr. Hamada on two occasions. On the first occasion, our director, Mr. Coffman, elected to do taping at Father Bray’s resting place in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, followed by taping at the Nuuanu sites of 'Iolani’s former campus and Father Bray’s home. High definition video cameras and sound equipment were used to capture Mr. Hamada’s thoughts and those of some of his teammates and classmates.

The second session, shot at 'Iolani School, captured more of Mr. Hamada’s thoughts and insights on ONE TEAM. The spontaneous by-word-of-mouth turnout of many of his former players and others to support him and share their ONE TEAM experiences was amazing, prompting Mr. Nemoto to remark that One Team must be very special for so many people to hold the belief so precious, so many years after their graduation.

Hana Hou

Those who attended the videotapings of Mr. Hamada so enjoyed each other’s company and the opportunity to relive and share their ONE TEAM experiences that many expressed a desire to get together again.

In response to those desires to again get together and to afford others in the 'Iolani community the opportunity to share with and learn from these ONE TEAM ambassadors, the 'Iolani Raiders Boosters Club will host an Old-Timers Get-Together on October 12, 2008. Along with fellowship and good food we will also serve up a Tom Coffman produced premiere showing of a preview of the proposed documentary (see preview).

Next Stop

With the priority first leg of the journey nearly complete, that of capturing on videotape Mr. Hamada’s thoughts and insights on ONE TEAM, the Boosters Club will focus on developing a detailed budget for the rest of the documentary, with the goal of completing the documentary within the coming year. We will continue to seek and welcome the participation and input of all in the 'Iolani community as we do so. We call on all members of ONE TEAM to gather to pledge anew their loyalty and love, bound together as ONE TEAM by bonds no power can sever, to prove their faith and belief in ONE TEAM. E-mail oneteamdoc@gmail.com to learn more.

Courtland Pang ‘65