Wayne Joseph Running with the Big Dog column ADVERTISING When I was in graduate school at the University of Hawaii more than 40 years ago, I lived in a wooden duplex on the side of Punchbowl and made friends with
Wayne Joseph
Running with the Big Dog column
When I was in graduate school at the University of Hawaii more than 40 years ago, I lived in a wooden duplex on the side of Punchbowl and made friends with my neighbors, Herman and Dorothy Wilson.
The Wilsons were an older couple and from time to time they would take care of their grandson, an active little toddler, who would scamper around the area. He enjoyed a variety of make-believe games, which included playing “Army.”
Last year at the Veteran’s Day 5K in Hilo an active duty National Guardsman, stationed at the Pohakuloa Training Area came up to me and offered a surprising statement.
“I think you knew my grandparents,” he said.
To my astonishment, standing before me was a grown man who looked to be in top shape, by the name of Harold “Mokuahi” Wilson.
His grandparents have since passed, but their legacy was standing before me and preparing to walk to the starting line and challenge me in a 3.1-mile race.
Growing up, Wilson played and fell in love with baseball, which he got from his grandfather and father, who both stayed active with community league softball well into their later years.
“I loved doing outdoor activities. I came from a baseball family and I played Little League,” Wilson said. “I did lots of stuff outdoors and as a child I liked to play ‘Army.'”
His love for playing Army evolved into the real thing as he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1994 and switched to the Hawaii Army National Guard in 1998 to present.
“I want to do something greater than myself,” Wilson said. “I want to serve my country and be the best of the best.
“I knew that the Corp would challenge me more than I have ever been challenged and my love for running started in the Marines.”
Wilson is a staff sergeant in the Army National Guard on active orders at Pohakuloa Training Area and has served multiple tours to Iraq with a light-infantry scout platoon.
“The most difficult part of deployments is being away from my family,” said Wilson, a 1989 Waiakea High graduate, who is married and has five children.
When not on deployment Wilson likes to work out in the nearest gym, where he gets in a good sweat. He also works out with a variety of weights at home, and runs at PTA where the air is thin and makes it more difficult to move.
At the Veterans Day 3.1 mile run Wilson encouraged several of his fellow soldiers and others to come out and run, including his wife Alicia and their 10-year-old son Austin.
“I am a self-motivator and I love to motivate others,” he said. “I’m in no way a body builder or marathon runner, but I am looked up to and always strive to serve as a role model for my soldiers.
“Being in the military gives me a good reason to take care of myself. I strive to not only push myself but the soldiers I serve with. With all the stress of being in the military, I find that running and exercising is a good way to deal with that stress.”
He recently turned 41 years old and has made adjustments to his diet, such as switching from white to brown rice, avoiding sweets and eating lots of greens.
When a hunger attack hits, Wilson will curb that void by eating some almonds or having a triscuit with tuna and lettuce.
“My favorite dinner would be a quarter-pound of poke with about a half cup of brown rice,” he said. “For drinks it’s water and 100 percent pink grapefruit juice.”
Wilson’s overall goal is to lose some weight and when he does overeat he will get out and push himself a little harder the next day.
“Alicia and I made New Year Resolution’s to improve our overall health,” Wilson said. “Alicia is giving up smoking and I’m giving up beer!”
The Wilsons have made a pact to help each other quit their bad habits and they try to motivate each other in a positive direction.
“The kids help keep an eye on mom and they will let me know if she is about to smoke,” he said with a grin.
I’m sure that Harold “Mokuahi” Wilson’s grandparents are watching over him and they are smiling and proud to see the man that he has turned into.
And someday should you happen to see a Vietnam Veteran jogging through the streets of East Hawaii remember to smile, say ‘woof’ and never shy away from “Running with the Big Dog.”
Email the Big Dog at waiakeabigdog@aol.com.
