Equipment Room / Shannon Smith
Locker Room
The University of Hawai‘i men’s athletic equipment
room is situated on the ground level of the UH Athletics Complex,
between the Shannon Smith Football Locker Room and the men’s
training room.
At the helm of the equipment room is men’s equipment
manager Ken Fujimura, his assistant Al Ginoza and their staff
of full-time and student workers. The crew is relied upon
for laundry, preparing uniforms for games and practices, and
keeping the equipment room organized and well-stocked with
helmets, bats, balls, and shoes for the athletes.
Football demands the most out of Fujimura and his staff
on a daily basis during the season because of the number of
athletes, the amount of equipment and time it takes to prepare
for games and practices.
The equipment room personnel are present at every Warrior
practice and game to fix even the most minor equipment problems
to help prevent injuries. Because of their demanding schedule
during the football season, the equipment room crew adopted
the slogan, “First to arrive, last to leave.”
Besides football, Fujimura and his staff take care of six
other men’s sports that include basketball, volleyball,
baseball, golf, tennis, and swimming.
The Shannon Shea Smith football locker room is located next
to the men’s equipment room and covers nearly 8,000
square feet.
The air-conditioned facility is equipped with five meeting
rooms, a trophy room, lounge, lobby, built-in display case,
five additional showers and a fiberglass skylight roof. It
houses 126 professional-style lockers, giving each player
38.5 cubic feet of personal storage.
The Shannon Shea Smith locker room was officially named
Aug. 29, 1999, after the valiant former Warrior who gave his
life to save the life of young Cody vonAppen, son of former
Warrior head coach Fred vonAppen. The heroic deed occurred
March 29, 1997, at the Waipahe‘e Slippery Slide on Kauai.
The NCAA acknowledged Smith’s bravery and courage
by awarding him with the NCAA Award of Valor Jan. 11, 1998,
in Atlanta. Smith was only the seventh individual to ever
receive the prestigious distinction.
Smith’s locker remains adorned with a lei and decorated
with football gear to remind each player of the unselfish
sacrifice and courage of their fellow comrade.
The women’s equipment room is on the ground floor
of the Athletics Complex, across from the five-story parking
garage.
Women’s equipment manager Sis Finau handles all responsibilities
for the women’s sports programs, which include volleyball,
soccer, softball, golf, water polo, tennis, sailing, track,
and cross country.
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