Thomas Yoshida
Occupation: Media research analyst at Kamehameha Schools
What school you grad? Leilehua High School ‘81
College: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Location: Kaimukī, HI
When he’s not at his day job at Kamehameha Schools, Tom Yoshida is either officiating a high school basketball game, serving as a rules analyst for a Spectrum OC16 sports broadcast or compiling stats for the official Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association football and basketball record books.
As a kid, the Wahiawā native grew up watching University of Hawaiʻi basketball games on TV and was most intrigued with the referees. So much so that when he was in third grade at Ka‘ala Elementary, he got a whistle and would officiate games during recess. It became his goal to one day become a referee. At the age of 19, he officiated his first high school basketball game. For 42 years, he has been officiating high school basketball, including 13 state championship games and 31 O‘ahu Interscholastic Association championships. He also has over 20 years of experience officiating NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 games.
He began his statistician career as a student at Leilehua High School under football coach Hugh Yoshida (no relation) in 1979. He went on to study journalism at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and worked in the sports information office as the first student statistician and was hired as a full-time assistant sports information director after graduation. He later worked in the school’s university relations office and as a statistician with HHSAA.
In 2020 Yoshida won the National Federation of State High School Associations Citation Award, which recognizes individuals whose contributions have impacted high school activity programs through their association. Last September Yoshida was inducted into the Hawai‘i Sports Officials Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.
Q: What are you up to these days?
A: Always extremely busy. Officiated high school basketball since 1983 for my 42nd season. I retired from college officiating. I've been a statistician for OC16 Sports since 2011 and serve as statistician for HHSAA events.
Q: Why did you choose this career path and what do you enjoy most about it?
A: I worked as the first student statistician for UH Mānoa Sports information in 1983 and became a full-time assistant sports information director. Decided to pursue a degree in that field.
Q: What makes you #PublicSchoolProud?
A: Despite the opportunities that private school can provide, the public school experience is what you put into it. I was part of student government, lettered in two sports, participated in speech/debate and made the honor roll. I'm extremely proud of the experiences and memories I created at Leilehua.
Q: What type of extracurricular activities were you involved in?
A: I spent four years with the speech/debate team, served as president of the Business Club, and was a student government officer. I also lettered in golf and football statistics in my junior and senior years.
Q: Name of a teacher or mentor you’d like to thank?
A: Myrna Ishimoto (speech) and Guy Farrell (business teacher). They were both very influential and memorable teachers as they cared for their students.
Q: Favorite subject in school?
A: Business and speech classes.
Q: What advice do you have for students?
A: Participation and engagement. Whether you're attending a pep rally, sporting event or extracurricular activity, dive into your work with passion and experience all the benefits and friendships you make. Don't worry about being judged as you will look back and not regret your decisions. High school is a short and memorable experience.
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