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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Takin' care of business..."}]

Smile 26 1 31

<title>Daily Smile: Saturday, January 31, 2026</title>

Takin' care of business...

Daily Smile: Saturday, January 31, 2026

Letters to the Editor

ASD reporting on the new Hawaiʻi law requiring mediation

 between renters and landlords before an eviction. 

I worked on the City and County of Honolulu's Covid-19 rent help program, and mediation played a major role in preventing hundreds, maybe thousands, of local families who were struggling because of the pandemic from losing their homes.

[{"type":"text","text":"Patrick Williams, Honolulu"}]

Kaahumanu Hale 16x9

<title>Letter to the Editor: Mediation plays a major role</title>

A reader shares a past example when mediation worked for evictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, renters unable to pay rent will have more resources to avoid eviction through the state's Pre-Eviction Mediation Filing Program.

Letter to the Editor: Mediation plays a major role

Arrasmith Portrait

Perry Arrasmith

Government & Politics

Columnists

The voting power of the average O‘ahu resident has declined in the past century. 

When elected government first took shape in 1905, the Islands were less populated than they are today. In June 1900, a census count estimated that 154,001 resided in the entire Territory of Hawai‘i, of which 58,504 people lived on O‘ahu. The island experienced a great deal of population growth over the next decade, reaching 81,993 persons by the next count on April 15, 1910. 

O‘ahu’s legislative body is always changing, if not to the detriment of the average resident’s voting power. At least one 

 of the Honolulu City Council outlines the history of the Council’s evolution, dating back to its early formation just a few years less than a decade after Hawai‘i’s annexation into the U.S.

As of 2020, approximately 1,016,508 people reside on O‘ahu. Each member of the Honolulu City Council represents more than 112,000. 

Given the island’s population expansion, it’s only natural. However, that shouldn’t have to mean that the voting power of an individual will shrink in perpetuity, subject only to the growth (or decline) of O‘ahu’s population. 

However, that’s the way the current system is evolving. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"THE TERRITORIAL ERA"}]

Population growth is not the only natural reason for the shrinking power of an O‘ahu voter. The composition of the island’s Legislature, known initially as the Board of Supervisors and now as the City Council, has shifted since that point, too. 

The size of O‘ahu has also expanded since 1905, the year counties were formally established across the U.S. Territory of Hawai‘i through Act 39 of the 1905 Territorial Legislature. 

Elections for the first Board of Supervisors were made in late 1906. Three of the supervisors would hail from the City of Honolulu, one from the district of ‘Ewa, one from the districts of Wai‘anae and Waialua, and one more from the districts of Ko‘olauloa and Ko‘olaupoko, and an at-large member. Other county officers to be elected would be a Sheriff, a County clerk, an Auditor, a County Attorney, a Treasurer, and a Deputy Sheriff for each district of O‘ahu.

Even with O‘ahu’s 1910 population, each member of the Honolulu City Council represented less than 14,000 constituents each. 

This framework, in the grand scheme of history, was nothing more than a brief aberration. More reform was on the horizon. 

In 1907, the Territorial Legislature once again modified the fabric of O‘ahu’s organization through Act 118. The measure, among other gambits, formally chartered the entire island as the City and County of Honolulu. Members of the Board would serve two-year terms, 

Before the end of the Territorial era, O‘ahu was already evolving from employing a Board of Supervisors to a formal City Council.

O‘ahu was also rapidly growing. Between April 1950 and April 1960, the island’s population grew from 353,020 to 500,409 people. While the populations of every other county were in sharp decline, the island was becoming the gathering place of an emerging U.S. State. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"AN ISLAND IN A NEW STATE"}]

The Board preceded the Honolulu City Council, which was not established until statehood in 1959. Honolulu, with statehood, was set to get a City Council. 

In 1955, the Territorial Legislature once again initiated reform through Act 225. A new Charter Commission was authorized, resulting in the expansion of the Council to nine members. Under this new scheme, the composition of the Council would be divided between three rural members and six members selected from the entire county. The influence of rural voters was weighed more heavily than the votes of urban residents. 

Each at-large councilmember now represented an average of approximately 83,400 residents. At this point, each councilmember now represented a constituency larger than the total size of the island at the time of the first council elections in 1906.  

The inequities of the new system inspired controversy in the 1966 county elections. Resolution 173 provided two options for the future composition of the Honolulu City Council to the resident’s voters. 

The first option proposed a new council of nine members elected at-large. The second option proposed an expanded council of 11 members. Six would be elected from at-large seats, while five would be selected from council districts. 

The gambit confused voters. Nearly two-thirds of the voters favored both the first and second propositions. However, an electorate divided in three roughly even ways both meant that neither vote received a majority of the electorate’s support. The Council’s traditional structure remained in place.

The 1972 Charter Commission marked a turning point in the history of the county. Reform approved by the voters established nine district-based councils. Honolulu no longer had at-large seats. 

By April 1970, O‘ahu’s population grew to 630,528 residents. As a result of the transition to geographically based districts aligned to the principle of “one-person one-vote,” each district now had approximately 70,000 constituents. 

Compared to the system established before statehood, this arguably widened the relative voting power of individual voters. Since 1970, O‘ahu’s population has increased by more than 350,000 residents. The number of councilmembers, in the meantime, has stayed the same. 

Since that point, Honolulu has enjoyed nine members, each representing a specific geographic district of the county. While O‘ahu’s population has exploded in the last 50 years, the composition and method of our Council’s shape has stayed static, while the voting power of the individual has declined. 

As of this writing, varied efforts are underway to re-imagine the ideal size and scope of the county’s councilmembers. Each proposal is geared towards increasing the voting power of the individual.

Many arguments for lowering the size of an individual council seat are inspired by the overwhelming size of a council seat relative to the size of a district in the State Legislature. In 2026, a member of the Hawai‘i State Senate – the upper chamber of our State Legislature, represents an average of fewer than 60,000 residents. 

, for example, entertains increasing the size of the Council, albeit without a clear eye towards an ideal number of members. 

, Trevor Nagamine wants to increase the size of the City Council to 81 members. “The large size of Council districts in both population and physical area limits the ability of Councilmembers to be responsive to community issues, especially since City matters tend to be highly local in nature,” Trevor explains. Tom Heinrich is a little more measured through 

, arguing that the Council would be better served with 13 councilmembers. 

, want to make each member of the Council a county-wide representative. 

Many of these proposals are contradictory. However, they are a clear and present reminder that the size and shape of the City Council has never been fixed. It is a fluid construction, one that we could easily change. 

Reform may come. The voting power of the individual may increase, if present reforms move against the trajectory of history. 

Oahu Districts 16x9

<title>The Incredible Shrinking Voter of Honolulu</title>

The voting power of the average O‘ahu resident has declined over the past century, to where each of the nine city council members now represent more than 112,000 people across multiple neighborhoods. That's twice as many people as a Hawai‘i state senator represents. There are some efforts underway to change that.

The Incredible Shrinking Voter of Honolulu

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

“Bakudan” means “bomb” in Japanese, and its explosive connotation was perfect in the culinary aspect, according to business owner Rheindell Alupay.

“It’s an explosion in your mouth,” Alupay explains, when referring to his poke.

 used to be located in Mapunapuna and regularly popped up at events across O

ahu. The business recently relocated and now operates out of La

akea Fish Company; it made so much sense because they’re one of the leading guys that provide fresh fish,” Alupay says. “La

akea has been here for almost two years; they provide me with the good fish.”

The menu at this new location is different because there’s a “different variety of poke,” according to Alupay. Customers can choose from one- ($16), two- ($18), or three-choice ($20) poke bowls. All bowls feature a base of your choice — sushi rice, nacho chips or garden salad — crab salad and toppings like tobiko, furikake and green onions.

Poke flavors range from spicy lomi ‘ahi and spicy ‘ahi avocado to crunchy garlic taegu ‘ahi, cold ginger scallion ‘ahi and wasabi masago ‘ahi.

“We use sashimi-grade cubes for our poke, which helps the quality,” says Alupay, who notes that popular flavors include crunchy garlic taegu poke, wasabi masago ‘ahi, lomi ‘ahi and cold ginger scallion.

Poke nachos feature your choice of poke topped with spicy mayo, unagi sauce and house crab salad. The biz also offers house chirashi ($25) — ‘ahi sashimi, your choice of rice or salad, and choice of poke — and torched ‘ahi donburi bowls ($18-$22).

Of course, the business’s signature Bakubombs are still available. Each pack contains four pieces of cone sushi stuffed with a torched crab filling ($14) or poke flavor of your choice (two-choice poke $16, poke sampler for $20).

“For the four Bakubombs with your choice poke, you can mix and match whatever (flavor) you want,” Alupay says.

akea Fish Company from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays. The business is still open for catering, though, Alupay notes.

[{"type":"text","text":"“We do sushi tables, sushi cakes and sashimi platters,” he confirms."}]

Limited customer parking is available in front of La

Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Bakudan's Poke business owner 020926

<title>Bakudan's Poke is now open in Kalihi</title>

The business, which used to be in Mapunapua, is known for its poke flavors and Bakubombs, which are cone sushi stuffed with a torched crab filling or poke. Bakudan's Poke has teamed up with Laʻakea Fish Company and operates out of the business’s store in Kalihi.

Bakudan's Poke is now open in Kalihi

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

The top four teams in collegiate men's volleyball were supposed to converge in Southern California from Feb. 19-20 as part of an NIL tournament at the Honda Center in Anaheim. No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 Long Beach State, No. 3 Hawai‘i and No. 4 USC were set to compete against each other in what would have served as a first in the sport. 

As the start date for the landmark event crept up, no tournament sponsor was announced. Then on Jan. 27, teams were notified that the event was being scrapped in 2026. That meant all four teams suddenly had gaps in their schedule. 

The University of Hawai‘i pivoted quickly, securing a home series against No. 7 BYU. Matches are set to be played on Feb. 25 and 27 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors, who originally 

did not have any home matches scheduled in February

, are set to host the Cougars for the first time since 2020. A thrilling five-set sellout victory over BYU on March 6, 2020 turned out to be the last time Hawai‘i played in front of fans until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Prior to their home series against BYU, the Rainbow Warriors will head to the Bay Area for a pair of road matches at No. 18 Stanford (3-6) on Friday and Saturday. First serve for both matches is set for 4 p.m. HST. While UH will not look past the Cardinal, who took a match off the Rainbow Warriors in a 2025 series at the Stan Sheriff Center, there certainly is a sense of relief that the 'Bows will have more competition to come home to.

"It was a lot of good work by a lot of people," Hawai‘i head coach Charlie Wade said of the scheduling pivot. "I think we were in contact with both UCLA and USC about dropping down from Stanford to play them. That would have required us to literally stay on the road for another week. There wasn't a lot of help financially for that. And then our administration started asking the idea about finding an opponent to come here. 

"We were able to do that, not only an opponent, but a really good one. A team that's played really well, and we have a long history and tradition with so I give a lot of credit to (UH athletics director) Matt Elliott and to Brian Santiago, the AD at BYU. ... Those guys were able to come up with an understanding it works well for both teams. And I think it just it speaks to the fact that you're talking about two schools where volleyball means a lot, that the ADs are willing to get in and do what's right for the program. And we're excited to have a couple quality matches against a great opponent here at home."

Part of the agreement in getting BYU to come to O‘ahu entails UH heading back to Provo in 2028 for a road series. The Rainbow Warriors most recently visited Provo in 2025, winning both matches. Additionally, in lieu of the NIL tournament cancellation, a portion of the ticket sales for the BYU series will go towards the Hawai‘i men's volleyball team's NIL fund. 

"Again, it speaks to just a level of commitment that our institution has to men's volleyball," Wade said. "They're willing to step up and do something great for our program and for our fans. We're pretty fortunate that volleyball is a big deal here."

As for the NIL tournament, Wade is hopeful it can come to fruition in the future. 

"Certainly a lot of promise, right? I know the people are putting the event on are looking at doing a women's (NIL tournament) in the fall, and we've 

," Wade said. "The devil's always in the details. What's the venue, and how many teams in the field are you trying to do? I know there's going to continue to be discussion of a men's volleyball event, and we'll see what happens in the future."

Hawaii mens volleyball 021126

<title>Hawai‘i men's volleyball continues to take on the best amidst scheduling pivot</title>

The Rainbow Warriors will travel to No. 18 Stanford before taking on a longtime rival at the end of the month thanks to a new scheduling change.

Hawai‘i men's volleyball continues to take on the best amidst scheduling pivot

 is more than just a café for business owner Marisa McKnight. It’s a way to connect people and “get in touch with the community,” she says.

“I did a career change; I always wanted to own something,” explains McKnight, who used to work as an accountant. “I needed to do something for myself and regain my purpose.

“I thought, ‘I love cafes;’ I thought of multiple things that I could do with a space,” she adds. “I’ve been building this (concept) since last year.”

Lil T Cup Café officially opened toward the end of last December in ‘Aiea Town Square, in the former space of Hughley’s Southern Cuisine.

“My mom’s name is Lily, so the ‘Lil’ is for Lily,” McKnight says, of the business’s name. “The ‘T’ is for my auntie Thelma. I put the two women who made me who I am in the name. It came out to be ‘Lil T Cup’ … they both love tea.”

The café offers a variety of coffees and teas, housemade baked goods, sandwiches and plates. Besides its food and drinks, though, McKnight wanted the space to be known for its welcoming atmosphere.

“It’s known for the vibe — when you come in, how you feel, how we greet people,” she says.

[{"type":"text","text":"The business prides itself on sourcing locally when possible."}]

“Our coffee and tea are from the Big Island,” McKnight says. “We try to support local; we’re using 100% Kaʻu coffee.”

Popular drinks so far include the cookie milk latte ($8-$8.75) and Ha-Y-an (Hawaiian … get it?) latte ($7.50-$8.25). The cookie milk latte is like a cookies and cream latte; it comprises vanilla, honey, cookies and cream and vanilla cold foam.

[{"type":"text","text":"Meanwhile, the Ha-Y-an latte features a mix of taro and coconut."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The biz also offers specialty cold brews."}]

“Our cold brews are good because they’re made with Mānoa chocolate,” McKnight says. “It’s not bitter; there’s a good hint of chocolate in them.”

Dishes range from salads and sandwiches to heartier plates. If you’re craving breakfast, opt for da fried rice plate ($13) — two scoops of fried rice, two eggs and four pieces of bacon — or ube avocado toast ($10; add bacon and an egg for an additional $2 each).

Da “make your own musubi” plate ($15) features deconstructed musubi. The plate includes four pieces of marinated teriyaki Spam served over furikake sushi rice with six pieces of nori and pickled vegetables.

“We also have banana bread French toast,” McKnight says. “We make our banana bread in house; we make a lot of our desserts in house.”

The tonkatsu pork plate — featuring crispy, panko-crusted pork cutlet drizzled with tonkatsu sauce — is another customer favorite. Be on the lookout for any featured specials; if specials — like the fried rice — sell well, they’ll be added to the café’s regular menu.

The business is celebrating its grand opening this Saturday, Feb. 14. The first 10 customers at the grand opening will get a free 10-ounce cold brew. Every customer who makes a purchase will get a chance to spin a wheel to win free samples and prizes. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing this place thrive, and being able to grow and expand,” McKnight says. “I want to continue to show other women out there that you can do what you put your mind to.”

Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays

Lil T Cup Cafe business owner 020926

<title>Lil T Cup Café is now open in ‘Aiea</title>

The new café is celebrating its grand opening this Saturday, Feb. 14. The community is invited to check out the café for free samples and prizes.

Lil T Cup Café is now open in ‘Aiea

Winter break is ending soon. In a few days, Sean Yamaguchi is flying back to frigid Reno, where the star University of Nevada sophomore will continue his collegiate baseball career. Other college students Yamaguchi's age spending the holidays at home are likely to be enjoying an afternoon of frivolity at the beach or a related activity, basking in the relative warmth of the Islands. But on this day, Yamaguchi is partaking in a sacred family tradition. 

Mike Yamaguchi, his wife Leina and their two sons, Michael and Sean, have spent countless hours over the years at a park near the family's ‘Aiea home, where the sessions double as hitting training and family time. Michael and Sean take turns swinging, then the entire family would pick up baseballs in the outfield. Sometimes, the family dog would come. When others came to join, Leina would bring snacks. 

Each park session brought Michael and Sean closer to their baseball dreams. Michael went on to play collegiately at Saint Martin's University, a Division II school in Washington, from 2021 to 2023. Sean Yamaguchi's baseball story is still being written, though his resume boasts Little League World Series star, state Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Saint Louis in 2024 and Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2025. 

Add legitimate MLB Draft prospect twice to the list, where Yamaguchi turned down interest after high school in order to go to college. In 2026, he'll be a draft-eligible sophomore. Yamaguchi is a prime candidate to hear his name called somewhere in July's 20 rounds, where he could then sign with the team that picks him and officially start his professional career. 

There's a lot for Yamaguchi to consider as he embarks on the most important year of his baseball career to date, which is why days at the park are vital. The weather is picture perfect on this day. Nobody else is waiting around the baseball diamond, a rarity at this park, where the only noise disturbing the peace is the sound emanating from Yamaguchi's metal bat, with big brother throwing the pitches. 

"It is exciting," Yamaguchi told Aloha State Daily of the potential start to his pro career. "Once the summer hits, it's going to start to feel a lot more real. But right now, I can only focus on just getting better every day. I honestly believe hard work pays off, and I think if you just keep doing that and keep stacking the good days and treat every day like day one, I think I'll be in a good spot."

[{"type":"text","text":"Built in the backyard"}]

Sean Yamaguchi's rise to baseball prominence didn't begin at the Little League World Series. It began in the backyard, where his tools were discovered and harnessed. 

To an outsider, the most distinct part of the Yamaguchi home, which looks more like a compound, is the outdoor batting cage. Built by Leina's father, the cage is where Michael and Sean spent hours on end perfecting their swings. With built-in lights, the boys could be in there well into the night.

"They would be there every night, as long as they did their homework. Sean would lie," said Mike Yamaguchi with a chuckle. Mike also recalled how neighbors could certainly hear the echoes but would hardly complain. 

Before Sean Yamaguchi looked up to the pros, he looked up to Michael. He'd sit in the stands, cheering big brother on, hoping to hit home runs in the same leagues one day. With Michael showing Sean the way, little brother excelled in the sport. It wasn't long until Sean was playing above his age group and playing on the same teams as Michael. 

Hitting dingers was fun, and there were a lot of them, but Mike Yamaguchi says his boys also spent a large portion of time working on fielding in the cage at home. Hitting at the park also became routine, because the boys also had to learn how to hit in all areas of the field and weren't able to see the ball travel as well in the cage. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Little League dreams "}]

 hadn't met Sean Yamaguchi yet, but he had certainly heard of his 10U team's prowess. In addition to Yamaguchi, his team featured players such as future Little League World Series standouts Jace Souza, Mana Lau Kong, Aukai Kea, and even current Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola. The following year, when Yamaguchi was playing in a tournament with ‘Iolani's 11U team, Oda was impressed by a pair of extra base hits he belted to right center — kids that age tend to pull the ball. 

"He wasn't the fastest guy, he obviously wasn't the biggest guy, but he just had a good nose to the ball and he could hit," Oda recalled. 

Yamaguchi and Oda still had't met until Yamaguchi introduced himself unprompted after the game. 

"This kid gets it. He's only 11 years old, but what impressed me the most, the fact that he went out of his way to talk to me," Oda said. "That tells you what kind of kid this kid is, and of course, the parents. It very, very rarely happens where a kid will just walk up to me and just shake my hand. That's not normal for a kid that young to do that. And then we had an opportunity to pick him up later on."

Yamaguchi was perhaps the face of a Honolulu Little League team that went all the way to the 2018 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. and won. His charisma was displayed during off the field moments on ESPN, endearing the team to the world and providing hope for a state that was preparing for a potentially catastrophic hurricane. He also happened to be one of the star players, batting .400 with a grand slam while serving as the team's 3-hole hitter. He even pitched, refusing to give up a run in his two relief appearances. 

While the Little League World Series gains massive popularity in Hawai‘i when a team from the Islands makes it to Williamsport, the event is not without its detractors. For decades, the argument has been made against having 11- and 12-year-old kids play in a 

 in front of a network that televises it to millions of viewers worldwide. All the while, since the event runs in late August, the kids are missing school. 

"Once in a while, you look up and you see all those people, and you're like, 'Dude, this is kind of crazy.' And then you look back down at your shoes and at the dirt, and it's just baseball," Yamaguchi said. "We're just gonna go out there and have fun. And that's the best advice I ever got from Coach Gerald and them, is go out there, take a deep breath, look around and just feel like this is why you play baseball. You didn't play baseball for the cameras, for the fans, you came here to play baseball because you love the game.

"I was just living in the moment. I had a blast. I didn't go out there trying to be the funny guy or anything, that's just me. I showed me, and I just had a lot of fun doing it."

Added Oda: "What you saw on TV, for sure that's Seanie in real life. I think what makes Seanie very special was you see the good players, but the great players make everyone else around them better. And that's what Seanie did."

[{"type":"text","text":"Just the beginning"}]

Prior to the Little League World Series, Sean Yamaguchi startled his parents by telling them he wanted to transfer from ‘Iolani to Saint Louis. 

"He told me and my wife that he wanted to go to Saint Louis, and we had a long discussion, and I explained to him that Saint Louis is a boys' school," Mike Yamaguchi said. "It's a tough school, it's a very competitive school, and he said that's why he wants to go there."

Since Michael still attended ‘Iolani, the commute for the Yamaguchi boys was about to get extended by a few miles. Sean Yamaguchi knew leaving the nurturing nature of ‘Iolani in favor of the Saint Louis slopes was a sacrifice worth making. 

Sean Yamaguchi began to get recognized in public after returning home from Williamsport, but he'd be damned if that's where the list of his baseball accolades came to an end. 

"He knows he's blessed with a skill," Mike Yamaguchi said. "He's a very hard worker."

He returned motivated to ascend even further in the sport and created a plan for himself. Sessions in the cage and at the park would be supplemented by rigorous weight room sessions and disciplined eating. He quickly made friends with his Saint Louis teammates, inviting them over for some extra work. Names such as Aiva Arquette, the seventh overall selection of the 2025 MLB Draft, as well as Caleb Lomavita, the 39th overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, were some of the names that came through. 

"It got me mentally tough. It's a tough school. It's an all-boys school," Yamaguchi said. "If you're not ready to compete at anything you do, in the classroom, on the field, then Saint Louis is not the school for you."

During his senior year at Saint Louis, Yamaguchi hit .403 while manning shortstop for the Crusaders, winning ILH and Hawai‘i Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Saint Louis was eliminated in the HHSAA semifinals, leaving Yamaguchi without a state title. It's the rare goal that has eluded him. 

While racking up the individual honors, Yamaguchi spent much of his senior year filling out questionnaires for MLB scouts. More than a dozen teams inquired, wanting to learn what it would take to get him to skip his commitment to the University of Nevada and turn pro immediately. Yamaguchi ultimately decided college was the best route for his development. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Standing out of the pack"}]

One of the first things asked of Yamaguchi upon arriving to Reno was to put on the catcher's gear. Sure, he was a middle infielder his whole childhood, but Nevada's coaches were skeptical he could stick at an infield position at this level. Yamaguchi was told he'd start off as the bullpen catcher, and after that, maybe he could work his way up to backup catcher. 

"I said, OK, yes, coach, I'm going to go out there and prove to you guys that I'm going to do anything for this team, and I'm going to do anything to win," Yamaguchi recalled. In his heart, he knew he belonged at one of the other infield positions. And in his belly, a fire burned. Each morning, he'd wake up early to lift weights. He'd also show up early to practice to get extra swings in. With a strong showing in the fall, highlighted by a towering home run in a scrimmage against Vanderbilt, he knew his coaches couldn't deny him a spot in the starting nine. 

Yamaguchi won the starting third base job by opening day and never relinquished it, committing just four errors all year at the hot corner. At the plate, he hit 13 home runs while maintaining a .324 batting average, driving in 50 runs. He was named the Mountain West Conference's Freshman of the Year. The Wolf Pack went 34-23, winning the Mountain West regular season title before falling short of an NCAA Regional appearance by getting eliminated in the conference tournament. 

When a freshman like Yamaguchi puts up the numbers that he did, other schools notice. After Nevada's season ended, Yamaguchi became an attractive commodity, even though he did not announce plans to enter the transfer portal. 

Left and right, power conference schools were approaching Yamaguchi. One particular school, a College World Series regular, had hundreds of thousands of dollars at the ready for one season of Yamaguchi's services. All he had to do was enter the portal and it was his.

"As a 20-year-old, that's very intriguing. That kind of money that they were throwing out is like, wow," Yamaguchi said. "But the biggest thing for me is Jake (McKinley) gave me that opportunity. Nevada gave me that opportunity. So, I wanted to stay as loyal as I can. ... I think that offseason last year, it was pretty crazy. But I wanted to show my loyalty to Nevada and what they did for me."

Nevada's 2026 season, which starts on Friday with a three-game series at Ole Miss, is packed with promise. High expectations are placed towards the Wolf Pack despite losing McKinley to a coaching role with the Seattle Mariners in December. Under new head coach Jordan Getzelman, the Pack were picked to finish first in the preseason Mountain West poll, voted on by the conference's coaches. Yamaguchi was also five Nevada players on the preseason All-Conference team. Additionally, D1Baseball recently named Yamaguchi its preseason Mountain West Player of the Year. 

"Nevada's in the right spot," Yamaguchi said. "We're returning eight of our nine starters from last year. We're going to be really good. ... It was the best decision I made. Even looking back at high school, like trying to go out of high school to the draft, I think college was the best decision I've ever made, and hopefully it all works out."

[{"type":"text","text":"A big league future? "}]

A standout flag football quarterback and receiver, Yamaguchi made the conscious decision to focus on baseball around the time he became a Little League star. He's honed in on a singular goal since then: A long career in the Major Leagues. 

"I finally realized, bad days in baseball and good days, I still love the sport. I can have a terrible day, go 0-for-4, and I would still look forward to the next practice," he said. "You got to love the sport, and you got to make sure that you dedicate everything to the sport. I've sacrificed a lot, not going to the beach every day and stuff. It's just the sacrifices that I really put into this game and just making sure that I dedicate my craft to it. And I think that's when it really started to pick up. Like, I got a real shot at this sport, so might as well live it out, go all out for it and try to make it to the show."

Bring Yamaguchi's name up in front of pro scouts, and they say a variation of the same thing: The kid can 

. He's produced, on offense and defense, at every level he's been a part of. 

Because he will be 21 by the time the 2026 MLB Draft arrives in July, Yamaguchi will be eligible to get selected. Other players at four-year schools have to wait until their junior year. Yamaguchi can either start his professional career this summer or play another season of college baseball, where as a junior in 2027, he’ll still have the leverage to command a sizable pro payday.

The higher Yamaguchi climbs in the sport, the more responsible he feels for representing where he comes from. During his free time back home over winter break, he volunteered at a youth camp, offering pointers to those who aim to follow in his footsteps. 

"Something I can take on throughout my whole journey is to always represent Hawai‘i and always be humble," Yamaguchi says. "They love the local boys. They love the local sports. They love to back kids up. So, the biggest thing for me is understanding that if I do well and I put Hawai‘i on the map, Hawai‘i got my back. And I would never do anything to give Hawai‘i a bad rep. I would love to go out there with the aloha spirit and make sure that I put Hawai‘i on the map."

Yamaguchi has already played in games in front of thousands that were repurposed for millions to see. He's hoping he gets to do that more consistently and for a living within a couple of years. His childhood passion has turned into a business in real time, and he has the numbers to prove it. One of the few constants left in the mad dash to his dreams is his support system, especially those precious days at the park. They remind him he may be away, but he's not alone. 

"All I want to do is make them proud," Yamaguchi says of his family. "I can hang up the cleats right now, and I know they'll be proud of me. That kind of stuff will stick with me. Not all the achievements, it will be those moments where I'm hitting at the field with my brother and my dad and my mom coming out to the games, and them flying up to Reno and my grandma coming out. They've been supportive since day one. 

"If I can keep going and accomplish that goal of getting drafted and make it to the show one day, all the credit will go to them. They know how hard I work, and they know what I've sacrificed. But at the end of the day, they've sacrificed way more. I just want to give back to them and give back to the state and give back to everybody that's helped me out."

Both of Mike Yamaguchi’s sons are grown now, and days at the park are few and far between. When Michael was away at college, Mike says Sean would always say he wishes he was there. Now that Michael's playing career is over, he's the one throwing to Sean during batting practice. 

As the boys patrol the outfield to recollect the balls Sean just swatted all over the yard, Mike gets emotional when he explains how much he treasures times like this. On days he comes to the park with his boys, it's like they're his keiki all over again. 

"All the memories, it don't beat this," Mike Yamaguchi says as he wipes his tears away. "My boys are my life. This is the kind of stuff I remember the most. Just us coming out here and having fun."

Sean Yamaguchi 021026

<title>Sean Yamaguchi isn't done living out his baseball dreams</title>

Yamaguchi, the former Honolulu Little League star, is on the verge of starting his professional career, where he hopes to live out a goal of making the Major Leagues.

Daily Smile: Saturday, January 31, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Saturday, January 31, 2026

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