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News Release

July 30, 2011
Maui high school coaches attend HMSA Kaimana Coaches Clinic: Hot topics include student athlete drug use, concussions, and more

Moani Wright-Van Alst
(808) 952-7566

The Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) today brought together high school coaches from around Maui to attend their first-ever HMSA Kaimana Coaches Clinic. The clinic, part of the HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program, was held at Maui High School and offered a variety of presentations on some of the top challenges facing coaches.

“Coaching high school sports and working with student athletes is far more complicated these days,” said Elisa Yadao, HMSA vice president of community affairs, marketing, and communications. “Coaches must be knowledgeable about many important issues, from recognizing the signs of drug use, to preventing concussions, to working with officials and other coaches. At today’s clinic, coaches learned about these issues and networked with their peers and the experts.”

Speakers presented information on the following topics:

  • “Prescription Drug Epidemic” – by Gary Shimabukuro, Laulima Hawaii.
  • “Let’s Take a Timeout Coaches and Officials!” – by Francis Kau, Maui Association of Hawaii Basketball Officials.
  • “Sexual Harassment” – by Robert Rivera, Maui County.
  • “Current Drug Trends” – by Gary Shimabukuro, Laulima Hawaii.
  • “Concussions: What a Coach Should Know” – by Chris Pagdilao, Maui High School.

“We accomplished a lot at today’s Coaches Clinic,” said Shimabukuro. “The coaches now have a deeper understanding of drug trends among young people and how to help their student athletes avoid abusing drugs.” Shimabukuro spoke about legal, illegal, and designer drugs that have become part of the current drug culture.

The HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program recognizes and rewards student excellence in athletics, academics, sportsmanship, and community service. The program also supports coaches’ education. Today’s HMSA Kaimana Coaches Clinic in Kahului is part of a series of clinics being conducted this month across the state.

On June 25, the annual HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program ceremony was held at the Hawaii Prince Hotel on Oahu, where Hawaii’s top schools received awards and outstanding athletes from across the state were awarded scholarships.

About HMSA

HMSA is a nonprofit, mutual benefit association founded in Hawaii in 1938. It is governed by a community board of directors that includes representatives from health care, business, labor, government, education, clergy, and the community at large. HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Nationally, HMSA and 38 other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans provide worldwide coverage to more than 100 million members.

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