This Issue

Spring 2009

Life was different back then. George Ariyoshi presided as Governor. Kalapana recently released Many Classic Moments. Bobby McGee’s was Waikiki’s hot spot. And ‘Iolani was a school for boys.
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Spring 2009 - Department | Pictures from the Past

‘Iolani’s First Girls Sports Teams

Girls competed on ‘Iolani sports teams for the first time during the 1979 – 1980 school year. Ann Goldenson (who married and changed her name to Ann Kang) paved the way as the first ‘Iolani girls volleyball and basketball coach.  After Ann was diagnosed in 2002 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, early alumnae, along with the entire community, rallied to support their former coach. She died a year later. The girls volleyball tournament she founded was renamed in her honor.


Left: Ann Goldenson (later known as Ann Kang) was the first girls volleyball and basketball coach at ‘Iolani. Right: Being the first girls at the previously all boys ‘Iolani didn’t deter these girls from joining the first girls volleyball team. The following girls were listed on the intermediate volleyball team in 1979 – 80, as pictured in the 1980 Ka Mo‘olelo O ‘Iolani yearbook: top row, Kim Inouye ’83, Beverly Pai ’83; third row, Elizabeth Atofau ’83, Kristin Meyer ’83, Frances Zepeda ’83; second row, Kelly Swartman ’83, Darrien Thornley ’83, Sheila Hoke ’83; bottom row, Virna Schubert ’83, Sherri Masada ’85 and Nadine Wasada ’85.