New Gymnasium A Milestone In Le Jardin Sports History
By Jack Danilewicz
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In the life of Le Jardin Academy, Aug. 22, 2009 will forever hold special significance. On that date its girls varsity volleyball team played its first match ever in the new gymnasium, where they defeated Christian Academy.
With its new facility and its affiliation with the ILH, the Kailua private school is increasingly becoming part of the conversation in local prep sports. Athletic director Reed Olaso took time from his busy schedule to talk with MidWeek last week. A former football player at both Punahou and Pacific University in Oregon, Olaso also enters his fourth season as LJA head boys basketball coach.
How did you find your way to athletics at LJA? When I started working here nine years ago as a part-time P.E. teacher, (head master) Mr. (Adrian) Allan encouraged us to get involved with coaching our sports teams.We only had fourth- through sixth-grade basketball and volleyball then. I started to coach and grow with the kids, and when the job opened up, I was asked to step in as interim director before getting (officially) hired.
How has the state-of-theart gymnasium impacted the Le Jardin community so far? After years of taking the bus to practice, now the kids have a sense of pride in having a place to call their own. Spirit is high this fall, and the kids are excited.
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What are the most immediate challenges facing prep athletics today? For us, it’s been retention among our student body. Now with a gym and our growth, that’s a challenge that we’ll be able to overcome.
If you only had one channel on your television, what would it be and why? I enjoy OC-16 because it gives me a chance to see the ILH and OIA teams and other teams throughout the state.
Who has had the biggest impact on you in your life? My high school football coach at Punahou, Charles Ane. He was a huge, huge fixture in my life. He has since passed away, but he remains a huge mentor. I think about the talks I used to have with him, and I treasure them.
How do you spend your down time? I like to golf, although I’m not very good at it. I also like to barbecue with family and friends, shoot baskets, and occasionally I’ll go for a bike ride. My wife is an avid reader, and I’ve started to pick that up from her. I’m reading a book about Michael J. Fox now.
What is the one thing you cannot live without in your daily life and why? My wife (Suzanne) and kids (Nikki and Kea). I recently became a new grandparent. Nikki just gave birth to a baby girl (Tanae).”
And now the most important question: Will Le Jardin add a football team? Right now, looking into the next five years, probably not. I think we’re going to be strong in soccer. Maybe (football will come to LJA) way after my time.”
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