It’s a tribute to his son that Greg Lum Ho was a national winner of the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Double-Goal Coach Award for his positive impact on youth athletes. ADVERTISING It’s a tribute to his son that Greg Lum Ho
It’s a tribute to his son that Greg Lum Ho was a national winner of the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Double-Goal Coach Award for his positive impact on youth athletes.
Lum Ho will often see his son Maka‘ala in the student-athletes he coaches for cross country and girls junior varsity basketball at Keaau High.
Maka‘ala, a promising basketball player for the Cougars, was 16 years old when died in a 2011 kayaking accident.
“Because he was such a good kid and so many people knew him, all his friends rallied around me and helped support me,” Lum Ho said. “That made me want to continue coaching. I tell the kids that when I walk into the gym, this is where Maka is, and each and every one of you keeps him alive when I see you making an extra pass or when I see you helping kids with their homework.
“I see a lot of his traits in these kids that I coach, and that makes me want to get to the gym, so I can be with Maka even though he’s no longer here.”
The loss of his son is a permanent wound for Lum Ho, his wife Imelda, son Kahaku, and daughter Ashley.
But the warmth Lum Ho gives to his Cougars is always returned and appreciated.
“He is always positive and supportive of our student-athletes in everything they do, whether it be on or off the field,” Keaau athletic director Iris McGuire said. “You can always count on Greg. The kids look up to him, and he tries to set a good example.
“We are proud to have Greg as one of our Keaau coaches. His wife and kids are big supporters of our Cougar family as well. Greg not only serves as a role model to our students but to our community with his service to our country. He is very deserving of this award.”
Lum Ho, who serves in the National Guard and is a helicopter mechanic, was selected from a field of over 2,000 nominations that was whittled down to 143. From there, he was chosen as one of the 50 national winners.
On Wednesday at The Pacific Club on Oahu, Lum Ho will be honored by the PCA Hawaii chapter and, along with PCA-Hawaii coach of the year David Ishii and Hawaii national finalist Kyle Smith, hold a forum, including sharing life lessons on and off the field.
Lum Ho attended the national PCA awards dinner on April 24 in California, where the formal affair is a major fundraiser and featured former UCLA basketball coach Steve Lavin.
“To actually be one of the 50 winners, I thought it was a great opportunity to represent Keaau and the high school,” he said. “It was amazing. It was a formal suit and tie. I’m a guy who wears shorts and a T-shirt every day.
“There were four coaches on stage with Steve Lavin, and there was a Q&A with a slide show. The main focus is teaching life skills. It was pretty emotional, and I’m glad I went.”
Ruby Galapon, a Cougar senior who ran cross country, nominated Lum Ho. She got recommendations from coaches, parents, and teachers.
In February, Lum Ho got an email that he passed the background check. He was later interviewed over the phone, and a few days later the finalist list was released.
“I was not so happy for myself but maybe to get the Keaau community and athletic program into the limelight,” Lum Ho said. “The recognition was not so much about me. I’m fortunate, but any of the other coaches could have won it. Hopefully, this puts Keaau on the map that we’re doing good things out here.”
There are some Cougar stories that stick to his heart.
After practice, Lum Ho makes it a policy to talk about things other than sports. He also assigns homework, like writing about Lauren Hill, the inspirational college basketball player who died from brain cancer.
“I coached Daizha Gomes since the sixth grade, and her dad passed away from cancer. That’s what she wrote,” Lum Ho said. “She said she could look up to me because her dad is not there. She got into Baylor. She told me her happiest moment was when she played in the past year (2016).”
Then there’s Keaau senior Narizza Saladino, who ran cross country and played basketball. Her academics eclipsed her sports skills, but when she needed a positive push Lum Ho was right there. She played four years of hoops but only varsity her senior year.
“She’d play one minute a game. I told her I’m proud of you to stick it out. She came out her senior year for basketball,” he said. “She didn’t get a lot of playing time, but she made the team. After a game, she would be crying and I would tell her, ‘I’m proud of you and no tears.’
“We’d give each other a hug instead. She got into Columbia (the Ivy School in New York), and the first person she wanted to tell was me. That makes you feel good. It’s that little something you did to help them get there.”
