This oral history interview is a project of the Historical Committee of the Outrigger Canoe Club. The legal rights of this material remain with the Outrigger Canoe Club. Anyone wishing to reproduce it or quote at length from it should contact the Historical Committee of the Outrigger Canoe Club. The reader should be aware that an oral history document portrays information as recalled by the interviewee. Because of the spontaneous nature of this kind of document, it may contain statements and impressions that are not factual. A full transcript of the video may be found below.
November 11, 2021
By Danny Alvarez
DA: Today is Thursday, November 11, 2021. We are in the Board Room of the Outrigger Canoe Club. I’m Danny Alvarez, a member of the Outrigger Volleyball Committee. Today it is my pleasure to be talking to one of our most accomplished volleyball players Alika Williams. Howzit Alika?
AW: Good to be here.
DA: Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself, like where you’re born? Maybe a little bit about family.
AW: Kind of a long story. Born in Kauai (7/13/1975), just lived there for a little while for my dad’s job but raised on the Big Island for my childhood. Came over her. I was lucky enough to get into Punahou School for high school, my ninth grade year, so worked my way over here from the Big Island. And upon arrival came on to the Outrigger and Punahou and the whole volleyball scene and really changed my whole life, actually coming here and being able to get exposed to this whole volleyball scene here on Oahu at the Outrigger.
DA: Let’s talk a little bit about family and growing up in Hilo. Was there a lot of volleyball peppering with mom and dad or was volleyball something from here?
AW: Definitely something from here. My parents were more tennis players, so growing up in the Big Island I played a lot of tennis and a lot of soccer. My mom (Maile Williams) is a Crabb. Her brothers are Tony and Chris Crabb, who are obviously very well-known volleyball players for a number of years. And I always kind of got bits and pieces of what they had done and what they were doing with their volleyball careers, but being on the Big Island back in the 1980s didn’t really know the extent of it. So there wasn’t a whole lot of volleyball in our our household. Got exposed to it a little bit at the Hilo Yacht Club, which is kind of like the Outrigger of Hilo. They have a black sand court there. I was in seventh, eighth grade, 12, 13. So these men were playing volleyball in the black sand court there, and they knew my uncles and they knew a lot of the volleyball guys in the volleyball world. And they allowed me to come and jump in some games with them. I was playing tennis and soccer at the time, but once I got on the sand with those guys I had this feeling about volleyball. This is really cool.
And coincidentally, that’s when I got in Punahou and moved over here after my eighth grade year. So it’s here for the eighth grade summer. and it was like gangbusters once I got here and was living with my uncle, Chris Crabb and coming down here to the Outrigger every day that summer. I had already gotten this taste of volleyball on the Big Island and coming here the junior volleyball scene was so big. The Baby Court, which is what we’re going to talk about, was booming. There were all ages of kids up there and every day of the summer, rain or shine, games all day long. Getting out of the water, coming back in for more games. Go eat lunch, come back in for more games. So it was pretty cool to come in at that time. Like I said, everything just fell into place and there was a big volleyball scene here at the time, which is really cool, I got a piece of that.
DA: Was there a moment or maybe something that sticks out in that summer? You used to come back to see family. And you talked a little bit about JJ Riley before or was it that summer that was that inspiration.
AW: Backtracking a little bit to my sister (Heather). At that time was already here going to Punahou. And she was dating a guy named Kanoa Ostrem. And coincidentally, the state (high school) volleyball championship that fall of my eighth grade year was in Hilo. So she came to watch and that ’89 class at Punahou was really strong, and Kanoa was one of their better guys. He was always so nice to me. You know, the Ostrems are a big Outrigger family, and he was always so nice about welcoming me in and taking me in.
So I remember going to states in Hilo and they (Punahou) played Castle High School. Matsui Allen was on the team. And they won states. And again it was right when I was getting a taste of that yacht club volleyball, playing with the men. And another thing my uncle Tony Crabb was coaching UH men’s volleyball. So it was on TV back in Hilo. So we’d see Tony on TV and I started following UH volleyball. So that was back in the fall, probably in November, and then I got in Punahou and I showed up here in the spring or the beginning of summer which is in May. And Kanoa and that whole ’89 class was still here, they’re about to get ready to go off to college.
I was (Class of) ’93 so I was basically going into ninth grade that summer and they were about to go to college. It was like their last summer here. So it was Kanoa and Lee LeGrande and Wayne Seligson and Steve Corbelli and Brad Stewart. All these guys were here at the Outrigger. And then that trickles down to the next age group, you know, Rick Humphries, and then there is Stein Metzger and Brian Wells and my cousin Brant Chillingworth and I mean, every year was just loaded with these players down to my year and even younger.
I just kind of jumped right it between my uncles being here and Kanoa and that just whole scene. I was able to get my foot in the door, which is hard to do at a lot of these places, you know, they’re clique, and guys play these games. They see a new guy come along and they’re not real welcoming. But I was lucky I was able to get in with these guys. I had my sister here who was older and these guys I got to meet and again, that hierarchy just started and I have a bunch of cousins that play also so there is a whole bunch of us just kind of in different age groups playing here. I started doing indoor for the Outrigger and playing on the Baby Court. It was something so special only at the Outrigger, you know, that hierarchy of old guys all the way down to the Baby Court that everybody is a part of it. It’s a real family. You know, Ohana.
DA: I know we’ve talked about it before, but explain that Baby Court experience. It’s getting a lot of press now with so many Olympians coming from that, and it’s incredible. Explain that Baby Court experience to people that might not understand it.
AW: It’s basically a microcosm of the first and second court, right? There’s guys all playing. You call winners. Usually playing two on two, but depending on the day and the number of guys, it bumps up to three on three, or four on four. But again, you’re trying to stay on that court, you’re trying to win. If you lose you’re off. If you win, you stay on until you get that clear court rule. But on top of that, there’s wagering going on. You got your Snack Shop tab downstairs. It’s always fun to do the friendly wagers of milkshakes or cheeseburgers or play lunches or whatever, whatever you feel like eating. And guys are betting and you’re playing on that Baby Court and you’re looking over at that first court and the old guys are playing and they’re there at the top of their game and it works its way down to the Baby Court.
And that stepping stone, all you want to do is play good on that Baby Court and hope as you get older and more mature that those guys in that first court may need a fourth. They may need another body. You get that call to jump over there. And next thing you know, you’re moving up the ladder. You’re playing with these All-Americans or ex All-Americans or national champions. And again, everybody is bringing you in. They give you that chance. And it’s something that you just live for. Everybody’s battling on the Baby Court and then it transitions to the big court. You want to stay on that court, keep winning. Learn how to play. Learn how to grovel. Become a good volleyball player.
DA: Do you remember a person that you really wanted to play with, maybe a guy that you really wanted to beat on first Court or Baby Court? Or maybe the evolution of that pecking order?
AW: The thing I remember was being down here every day playing, and it always seemed like you knew who the big boys on that first court were. There’s Randy Shaw and there’s Chris Crabb and then the next day it’s like, oh, that’s Jon Andersen. And then the next thing, oh, that’s Marc Haine. Oh, the next day there’s Peter Ehrman. That pool of guys was just so deep. The Rigg brothers like, oh, there’s four Rigg brothers. They all won national championships, and then there’s Hugh Foster and there’s Trevor Schirman. Just that whole ladder and chain and pool of great players, and then it just continues on and on and on and just it’s pretty awesome. It just doesn’t seem to stop and you always want to get that call to be picked up.
And you know, the biggest guy when I was lucky enough to be here when Daddy Haine was still alive. And you know, everybody has that story of when Daddy Haine needs a body and you get called up from the Baby to the second court. And I was lucky enough to get to play with Daddy and experience that for the few years that we had that crossover before he passed away. All the the names on the list goes on and on. It’s all these guys you want to know their story. And you want to know what they’ve done and what their path was, where they went to college. And did they play in this tournament and did they win this tournament. You want to soak in all that knowledge and know what experiences they’ve had and the success they’ve had.
DA: I talked to Peter Balding Jr. about the generation before, which was a little less organized. Still very competitive here. They didn’t have club volleyball at the time. So did you feel like you had to live up to something? I know you well enough. You’re a very competitive human being but did you feel like, I have to be better than Matt (Rigg), or I have to strive to be Matt Rigg or what was that feeling like for you?
AW: Absolutely. My resume isn’t that deep compared to these guys. I don’t have any national championships. I was never an All-American, but that’s always what I strivs for. Like those guys instilled in Peter Balding, you know, he was a coach and you find out, oh, you won a national championship at Pepperdine. You know, all these guys have these accolades and these awards and these accomplishments, and that was what I always pushed for. I never got to that level of some of those guys, but you’re always pushing for that. You see those guys and what they’ve done and that’s the standard that has been set. And it just keeps going. You know, pass me now on the younger guys. And like you said, it just keeps moving and keeps moving down the line.
DA: So when you think about that, I feel like I’ve seen a lot of people on the first court, you’re one of the best, if not the best, on that first court. We had Tri (Bourne) in here and he goes. Well, I had a lot of big games and oh, maybe Manhattan Beach, but when I beat Alika in the 4-Man, that was the biggest win of his career. Well, how does that make you feel?
AW: Pretty good, actually got a little little chicken skin right now, that’s pretty awesome. I mean, these guys are playing at such a high level and you and I have had these discussions before. You tell me these guys are talking about you and it’s pretty awesome. Makes me feel pretty good. And you know, it’s my turn to give back. It’s awesome to see how well these guys have done and there are so many things they will probably still do . They probably weren’t big fans of the way I acted towards them. But you know, that’s like you said my competitive nature, and it’s just pretty cool to see that stuff continue on. These guys are all playing at such a high level and it’s pretty good, you know, to have a small part in the way they’re playing now or how they’ve become these great world-class volleyball players.
DA: Well, let’s talk a little bit about your career after leaving Hawaii. I know you looked at a couple of schools for college. You played some AVP, I think a fifth in Manhattan, a great run with Masui qualifying those years. Talk a little bit about going from the Outrigger to the rest of the world. How did you feel as an athlete coming from Hawaii? How about your volleyball compared to the rest of the country? What do you think about that?
AW: Playing against these guys, these future Olympians and ex Olympians who have played at the highest level gives you that confidence, right? I never won those big tournaments, but I beat a lot of guys that won big tournaments and that gives me a little assurance that I could hang with them. I owe it all to the Outrigger. You know what? Everything I did with everything I learned was here. I like to tell people that the seventies and eighties was kind of the peak of Outrigger volleyball. You know, the men’s teams.
These guys are all coming home from playing in college. The professional avenue wasn’t as great or the opportunity wasn’t as great. So a lot of these guys would just come home after playing college, winning their national championships, come home to Hawaii and start their nine to five job. But they’d come here and play on the weekends. They’d battle it out and have these tournaments just within the Outrigger and within Honolulu and just high, high level. But now these young guys who are grouped under now they’re playing professionally. They go to Europe, they play on the beach. They’re not coming home. So I think that’s kind of taken away from the Outrigger.
Back in the ’80s and ’70s Outrigger, all these men were playing on the beach. And they also created these great indoor teams and they are flying off to the national championships and winning. So it just showed how much volleyball was here at that time. And I don’t know if it’s still helping with the kids, I guess, but what a time to be here and learning. And again taking that up to the mainland and then you rub shoulders with all these guys and then you come to find out a lot of the other guys played against the guys that I played against here. They’re from that same time frame and you come to find out the guys on the mainland have this huge respect for the Outrigger guys here. They always have. They always will. So it’s just so helpful to take with you up there and help with your game and help with your confidence and help with all that stuff.
DA: So Peter (Balding), saying that he never really had a club experience at Outrigger. Outrigger wasn’t really very organized. Kamalii started. There wasn’t really, you know, they had some Pan Pacific, but no. So you had a little bit deeper kind of experience with Outrigger volleyball and going through the ranks, maybe playing 14, 16 , 18s. Did you have a or did you just play 16s and 18?
AW: That first year I showed up as a 14 year old, it was all the even years, it was 14, 16, 18. There was no 15 and 17. But. I was able to get on four indoor teams. My freshman year, sophomore year, junior and senior year, so I got to travel four years with the indoor teams for 16 and 18. And you know, again, those guys set the foundation Peter Balding and Peter Ehrman, two mentors of mine. They always talk about Outrigger’s first club team that traveled to Canada and traveled to Chicago back in the seventies. And they were the the guys that started it. I think my uncle Tony Crabb, coached them, took them up to the mainland. And then here I was 15 years later, 20 years later, it had evolved to where the Outrigger is winning national championships.
The guy’s two years ahead of me, the ’91 guys won a national championship. That was Stein (Metzger) leading the pack. They were in my opinion, that was the most decorated Outrigger team. These guys went on to become All-Americans and Olympians and national champions. So I think in that 20 year span, from Peter to me, it had grown and had become one of the top indoor programs in America. And considering the depth here and the amount of boys on this island and we’re able to put together these successful teams that win national championships.
Again, my teams didn’t win national championships, but I think we were getting fifth and seven, in JOs (Junior Olympics), which is pretty commendable considering where we’re coming from. I think it just evolved, 20 years of great volleyball and the men here, and back to the Baby Court, kids playing, having a venue to play every day that they can access and learn how to fight, learn how to win, carried over to indoor. Take it to the mainland and have a lot of success. And here we are now. We’ve got a good handful of indoor teams that are pretty good. So it’s just been a great history to be a part of.
DA: Let’s let’s talk a little bit about the Daddy (Daddy Haine 4-Man Draw Volleyball Tournament), Both you and I have enjoyed playing in the Daddy, you for a little while, there dominated the Daddy. I love the Daddy, it’s kind of one of the great things about Outrigger, the idea of playing with a B, an open, a setter an A, not picking your team. Draw and kind of putting it together. Tell us your feeling about the format and why you had so much success in that format and why you liked it?
AW: It’s kind of like when I think of my junior and senior year of college, when I was up at Santa. Barbara, playing up there and then that first summer after I graduated I was home. With me, it’s always a chip on the shoulder. And at that time, there were a lot of good AB pros coming into town and the timing worked out where the tournaments were at a pretty high level at the end of the season. Guys were sneaking back here for whatever reason, whether there are some tournaments here. or they wanted to come in and end the year here. But it was pretty high level and the chip on the shoulder came out. You know, like, I can hang with these guys. I can beat ’em, I can play with them.
And coming into that cage up there of the Outrigger, it’s like they’re coming into my court. You know, I shouldn’t say it’s my court, it Daddy’s Court, but its the place where I train and I learned how to play and take no prisoners attitude. And like you said, that’s the format. It’s balls to the wall. You know, it’s like you’re on. It’s go time because you don’t know who you’re playing with. You don’t know what you got until until that draft happens. But a lot to be said about winning tournaments at the Outrigger, with the history and the whole lineage. And that’s all I wanted at those times is to win in the Baby Court, win the Daddy and win any tournament up there. You know, whether it was the first court, the second court, the baby court. I was in and I was ready to go.
DA: I remember the year you played Matt Rigg in the final. I don’t know if (Alan) Lau was your setter. . .
AW: I might have been in a two man with Matt Rigg But anyway.
DA: Against Matt, yeah.
AW: I mean, against them, against Matt.
DA: I think he was on the Bud Light tour at the time and you beat him. I think Mel Mulligan and I bought you for 70 bucks and we won about $3,600. It was one of the great wins of my entire life when I was eliminated in two. But I think that the most I won in a tournament. It was great and you and (Alan) Lau and I think (Jon) Stanley and Kaione Scott, it was just a cool mix of old timers, and I think Kaione was maybe 14 or 15. So fun.
AW: And that’s just what the Outrigger is to me. Lau might have been in his late thirties. Stanley’s in his 50. You were in your prime. And when you think about the Outrigger itself and what it’s meant to you and the beach volleyball courts and the guys, I mean, the guy is kind of are what it is like kind of proving yourself to the younger guys that you’re good, and the older guys to gain some respect. Talk a little bit about that.
AW: It’s like a fraternity, from the top to the bottom. You’re always trying to work your way up and get that notoriety and wanting to be included in it and wanting to be a part of it. And like you said, that Daddy Tournament was always a great way for you to play with that wide range of player skill level, as well as age where you guys you don’t normally play with. You’re getting to play with a little bit older kids you don’t normally play with so I think it just keeps going back to that lineage from top to bottom. The oldest guys all the way to the youngest. It started with Daddy for me. And now you got all these, these young boys that are playing for the Outrigger teams now and it just continues on. Pretty awesome.
DA: So when you think of your cousin Taylor (Crabb) being at the Olympics, Tri (Bourne) at the Olympics, Kawika Shoji, Erik Shoji, Micah Christianson. When I did a bunch of those interviews on the podcast, your name came up the most and we kind of really talked about it. How does that make you feel? I equate you as maybe a playground legend in basketball in a way where you guys are. He’ll have been, you know, 15 time All-Star and NBA. And what does that make you feel like, to see those guys in the Olympics? I mean, you consider in the Olympics, maybe the top defender in the world? I mean, how does that make you feel and how much influence you had? I mean, we’re talking a web of people that goes out to Russia, Micah Christianson is in Russia right now. So maybe talk a little bit about that.
AW: They talk about the ratio of number of Hawaii kids on these teams compared to the whole world, the whole population of the United States. There’s three guys in the mix for the beach, for four spots and four to five guys in the mix for twelve spots on the Indoor team, and they’re all right here. They didn’t all grow up down here, but they became a part of it. They either grew up here or the guys that grew up here were able to bring in these guys to make a part of it. And just to be able to bring that success and those components together and they’re still all teammates, right?
They played on the Baby Court and now they’re going to Tokyo and they’re going to Brazil and they’re going to Russia. And it’s just like they just carry on. And it’s interesting to see them on social media. They’re all so tight. They talk about each other and they wish each other happy birthday. And there they see their kids on there and they, you know, they’re all chiming in and that bond is just like it’s hard to explain, right, just the numbers. And again, I’ll take a little credit for lighting the fire a little bit.
DA: Do you see something special about Hawaii volleyball that makes it different?
AW: I just really think right up here, it’s just the Outrigger. If you’re in that circle that fraternity. I mean, most of the guys that have played are Outrigger guys that have gone on to do all these things, they’ve all been a part of that. And there is a few guys that weren’t a part of it that have done well, of course, but it’s just amazing. The small circle of guys that have all carried on this success at that highest level are all associated with the Outrigger and the list goes on and on. I’m going to forget guys, but there’s so many guys that I had that I looked up to, the way they’re talking about me. Another guy that comes to mind is Billy Berger.
So Billy Berger had gone off to the mainland by the time I showed up here, but I’d always heard his name. And then, sure enough, every once in a while he’d sneak back into town. And he was a guy who knew how to light the fire under the younger guys. He would just get under people’s skin and know how to work the system and win milkshakes and take advantage of these young guys. But there’s something to be said about that. I mean, Billy got guys fired up. Guys shifted their opinion of him. Initially, they couldn’t stand him, but came to respect the guy. Those are the kind of guys that were important to creating what we’ve created up here.
DA: So I remember him standing in the doorway and he goes, Daddy, I got Anderson who you got, and then you walked up and I’ll never forget that game, but he got under my skin right away. But it was great. I mean where else will you get that game? Where else will you get that game on at 3:30 in the afternoon on a Wednesday? I mean, unbelievable.
AW: There are so many guys that have been an influence on me and it sounds like I’m a means of influencing these young guys, so it’s like, pay it forward, right? So it’s the baby court and that hierarchy and that fraternity you just can’t say enough about it.
DA: So let’s flash forward to 2021. This is your third year coaching at Outrigger. You started with 11s. So now you see the next generation. Are they getting the same experience? Are they up here screwing around on the baby court. Are we doing enough to get them that experience?
AW: I think, yes, because they’re so lucky to be members here and they can come down here and experience it. But I think at the same time, things have changed. You know, junior sports have really taken over, whether they’re playing soccer or basketball or they’re doing other sports, even just volleyball itself, indoor volleyball. I think it’s taking up a lot of time. And we don’t have that hierarchy we had when Outrigger was in its prime. All these older guys were here. So it kind of sucks for the younger guys because they’re not seeing them here every day playing after work. But you’ll see Tri, see Trevor and they don’t see Taylor. Imagine when all these guys are home, the Riggs are home and the Germans and Jon Andersen, and they’re all playing up there. Randy Shaw. They’re playing. That’s their livelihood is just play games.
I think these younger guys are missing out on that. But then you go back to the history and you see all these guys that have gone away and they’re playing at a high level. So I think from a volleyball standpoint these guys are all going to be great players. I think you’re going to keep falling into that Outrigger theme of becoming great players on the mainland. And if it’s up in college, if it’s at the next level in pro indoor or pro beach. So I think that’s going to continue on. I was just so lucky to be a part of that group of older guys that we’re all here working and playing.
DA: Do you think today it’s too organized and there’s not enough spontaneity? I’m down there and oh boy is there and he sees McInerny and they’re like, Oh, let’s go. Is there enough of that where they have their time? I’m talking to Kawika and Balding and they both say, you need to be able to experience, I mean, experiment, and not have parents watching and to do stuff. I see today there’s so much organization which I understand. But are they missing out on that kind of ad lib?
AW: For sure. I think there’s so much to be said about that right there. They’re going off to club practice or going to get their private training, or they’re going to do their fitness class. Those times for us, we’d be on the baby court. So I guess we’ll still have to see how they all turn out. I think they’re still going to be able to compete because they keep doing it, but there’s so much to be said about sitting up there and the Randy Shaw’s bring you over to the first court and the Daddy Haines. That’s gone away and maybe it’s gone forever. I don’t know, I hope not, but it’s definitely not the level that it used to be. And I think just the way the world has changed with junior sports and schedules and time you got to put in. The ad lib exactly is spontaneous. It’s go to the Outrigger and play a game and next thing you know you’re playing with Daddy Haine on the first court, and you won’t get that at junior athletics in the gym. It’s kind of sad to see that go away. I don’t know if it’ll have that foothold again.
DA: So as you see yourself as a coach at Outrigger, what’s the one mission statement that you have that would perpetuate Outrigger’s kind of family atmosphere and volleyball? Do you have a feeling about that?
AW: I’m just a big proponent of that legacy and the history. We had practice last week. We’re practicing right now for Boys 13 and Tri (Bourne) happened to be in town. I reached out to him and said Tri can you come introduce yourself to the boys? So he came by our practice last week. And I think that kind of stuff is so important for these boys to see. He’s standing up there talking, saying, Oh, I was right here where you guys are, playing for the and or playing down at the beach, and I paddled for the Outrigger too. And you can’t make that stuff up. This Olympian walks in the door and beach champion, all these accolades, you’re not going to get that anywhere else in the world, in my opinion, maybe in Brazil somewhere or something, but not in America. Maybe a few players, maybe Balboa Bay Club, but those are all different animals. They don’t have this club with these courts and it’s very unique.
DA: It’s more of a machine.
AW: We just chug along and guys just get exposed to it. And they just keep on going, and that’s the exposure, right? How many 13 year old boys get introduced to a guy who was on their team 20 years ago, who’s able to share his experiences and what he’s done. That’s not the only one in the list goes on and on. These guys can all come in and share these experiences and their success and what they’ve done, and I think it’s just something that really needs to be stressed and put out there to these kids. I think they can do and what’s out there for them. And it’s kind of a parallel to the paddling program. The paddling program down here has done so well in the past and very important to carry that legacy onto the young paddlers. There are two special things here at the Outrigger, volleyball and the paddling program.
DA: Yeah, and then Cubans have done like three exposes. Riley, being bowlegged, couldn’t even walk was the third string setter. Taylor was too small, you know, Tri never past played middle, then went to SC. But it just seemed like because they were in the mix down here, their volleyball was good enough.
AW: It’s like these guys get recruited, these big dudes on the mainland, they’re getting recruited, they’re getting everything served up for them on a silver platter. And the Outrigger guys are just fighting and groveling and that. You know, groveling up here in the courts correlates to groveling when you get up to the mainland and the guy next to you has got a full ride and he’s he’s got everything taken care of and you get on the court with them and you see him play and you’re going this guy’s not that good. Next thing you know, you’re battling past him and finding your way and beating these guys out. Happens all the time with the Outrigger walk ons.
These guys are all walk ons in these men’s programs. Look at them all now. They’re all playing in the Olympics and winning championships and it’s crazy. I come from a big family, we have all these within this Outrigger circle. There’s a lot of cousins of mine that have all played volleyball because we’ve all grown up down here and been exposed to it. So, you know, you see all these parallels. All my cousins doing well and all these Outrigger guys doing well, and it just shows what this place does and how it’s a machine that creates these players. I keep tabs on all these kids and see where they are and social media now, it’s like you can see everything. I think I saw the McKibbin brothers had some four man tournament and its Team Hawaii, and they won, right? Did you see that? And there’s one guy. I think, who’s not from Hawaii, but the rest of them were on and they won, right?
DA: I think I think Taylor Sanders’ mom’s from Hawaii.
AW: The fourth guy?
DA: The fourth guy was Taylor Sanders. These guys are winning right now. It’s amazing to me. They’re beating California and Texas and whoever else. It’s something right up here. To close it up, what has Outrigger and Outrigger volleyball meant to you?
AW: I coach now. I have my business that’s become very successful. And none of that, you know, my business, my wife, I met my wife because I played volleyball. I met her in New York City when I was playing on the beach. My whole life has been because of Outrigger volleyball. I hate to sound cliche or boast about it, but it’s just something that I wouldn’t be where I am without it. That’s the bottom line. Some of my oldest, best friends, are all from volleyball. The list just goes on and on of guys that I have these special connections with and it’s all created right here. It’s pretty amazing that I was able to come here. Kind of behind everyone else and show up here and just become a part of it and I think about always wanting to play up here and just battle and just want to play and win. And being taught that and seeing all these guys, I just can’t stop talking about it because it’s been such a special part of me and that’s the message I’d like to tell them is everything I have has been because of this.
DA: Do you think it’s going to mean to you to see your sons up there and your daughter? What do you think that’s going to mean?
AW: They’re finding their way. I’m trying to be a little hands off, to be honest. Like I said, I have come from a huge volleyball family. If they go that route, more power to them. This place is family and this place has done so much for me. Hopefully they’ll be right up in there, and if not, no big deal. They keep hearing about their dad, so they’re asking about me and my antics and my behavior. I am who I am. I just wanted all these guys, Lee LeGrand and Stein (Metzger), my cousin Brant Chillingsworth, and all the Riggs. Scott Rigg was my coach, I’m not going to name everybody because I’m going to forget, but all these guys had so much influence, my cousin, JJ Riley and Kanoa and all these guys, they keep coming to mind. And when we do these things, I’ve got to think about it because they’re also influential on everything. Randy Shaw, who just passed, I mean, what a mentor. He’s just so great about bringing people in, and I know one of the fan favorites, Stevie Li. I played in a lot of tournaments with him. You know, my uncles and my cousins. And anyway. Good stuff, man, it’s the special place. Hopefully it continues on, and thanks to you, you’re helping with the program and everything seems to be in a pretty good place right now. .
DA: Well, that was awesome, and maybe we’ll get one more chance to see Alika on court one.
AW: I was thinking about the last time I played in the Daddy.
DA: You got to give it a shot.
AW: Oh man, you got to have that mindset for that. With me, I get that mindset. Well, you guys go all in and I got to get in shape.
DA: You and (Cole) were a crowd favorite.
AW: Could have been in much better shape. That’s right.
DA: Well, we might. We might still do worlds. I mean, if they ever had one, yeah.
AW: That’d be awesome. That that’s one thing that’s gone away. At the Outrigger, like I said, these men’s teams have kind of gone by the wayside. It was such a tradition sending these men’s teams to the Nationals. But again, the men now are playing professionally. If you could imagine all these guys being home and they had an Outrigger open team right now with Tri and Taylor and Trevor and the Shojis and Micah and I mean that open men’s team for the Outrigger would be pretty legit. So the McKibbin’s. It would be pretty awesome, but like we talked about, the world has changed and. Hopefully, we can continue on the junior side of it and the baby court to keep those two venues going to keep sending those guys to those top places and play at the highest level.
DA: Awesome. Thanks Alika.
Service to the Outrigger Canoe Club
Volleyball Coaching
2001 2nd Place, OCC Boys 18, USAV Junior National Championship
2019 OCC Boys 12
2020 OCC Boys 12
2021 OCC Boys 13
Athletic Achievements
Volleyball
1990 12th Place, OCC Boys 16 USAV Junior National Championships
1991 OCC Boys 16, USAV Junior National Championships
1994 4th Place, OCC Men’s A, Haili Volleyball Tournament
1995 2nd Place, Men’s Open, Haili Volleyball Tournament, All-Tournament
1995 7th Place, OCC Open Men, USAV National Championships
1997 1st Place, Duke State Sand Doubles Championship with Stevie Li
1997 1st Place, Daddy Haine 4-Man Tournament, with Alan Lau, Kaione Scott and Jon Stanley
1998 1st Place, Duke State Sand Doubles Championship with Stevie Li
1998 1st Place, Daddy Haine 4-Man Tournament, with Jimmy Kalaukoa, Tom Madison, Rod Muller and Nate Smith
1999 1st Place, Daddy Haine 4-Man Tournament, with Chris Crabb, David Horner, Doug Johnstone
2004 1st Place, Daddy Haine 4-Man Tournament, with Diana McKibbin, Kaione Scott, Ralph Smith
Paddling, Regattas
1992 1st Place, OCC Boys 16, Leeward Kai Regatta
1992 1st Place, OCC Boys 16, Clem Paiaina Regatta
2005 1st Place, OCC Freshmen Men, Father’s Day Regatta
2005 1st Place, OCC Freshmen Men, OHCRA Championships
Molokai Hoe
2006 1st Place Koa
2007 3rd Place Koa
2008 23rd Place Overall
2011 7th Place Overall
Softball
1995 2nd Place, Surveyor’s League