Local sportswriting pioneer Cindy Luis died on Sunday in her Kailua home. She was 70.
A graduate of UCLA, Luis became the first woman sportswriter for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1981, moving to O‘ahu after a stint at the Pacific Daily News in Guam. In college, she was the first woman sports editor of the Daily Bruin.
In her time with both the Star-Bulletin and Star-Advertiser, which spanned over four decades, she covered a variety of beats. She is credited for advancing the coverage of volleyball, as well as women's sports as a whole, both locally and nationally. She briefly became the sports editor for the Star-Bulletin in 1999, becoming the first female to head a sports department in Hawai‘i.
Luis was also an adjunct professor at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where she taught a sports media course for multiple years.
Luis, who retired in 2023, was inducted into the UH Sports Circle of Honor in 2024. In recent years, Luis served as a docent at ‘Iolani Palace.
"She was a pioneer in the media industry, and we were honored to induct her into our Circle of Honor in 2024. It’s a sad day, but we're thankful for her spirit and professionalism. Rest in Aloha, Cindy. You will be greatly missed, and your impact will live on forever," tweeted the official Hawai‘i Athletics account on Sunday.
Luis is survived by her son Tiff Wells, who serves as the radio voice for both the University of Hawai‘i's men's and women's volleyball programs.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
