Community left reeling after beloved coach dies in crash

EWA Beach front (HawaiiNewsNow) – Group members turned out for in an impromptu gathering Wednesday night time to mourn the reduction of a longtime mentor killed in a crash.

Todd Takahama, 58, coached Very little League baseball and Pop Warner soccer for a number of a long time.

Adhering to his dying in a crash Monday night time, HNN asked a several spouse and children users and mates to communicate about him and to share their recollections.

What we acquired as a substitute was extra than 50 men and women who showed up at Ewa Mahiko Park — on limited detect — to share their reminiscences and aid his grieving household, who were being taken by surprise by the turnout.

“When I initial came in this article I was shocked since I pictured, like, 3 folks. And I observed everyone and I’m just pretty grateful that he touched everyone’s lifetime,” explained Takahama’s spouse, Dina.

The collecting included many of his former gamers and their households.

Takahama died soon after his little truck crashed into a light-weight pole on Renton Street, not much from the park.

“In honor of our coach, we wanted to dress in our jerseys tonight to clearly show that we did recognize him in every single single way. Every single year. And just each individual working day for the life that we were being with him,” said Bresen Chang, one particular of Takahama’s former Ewa Beach Minimal League players.

Lots of of Chang’s crew users came.

They had been the boys of Chang’s last baseball workforce ahead of he retired in 2017, soon after 13 yrs of coaching. That was the yr he led the Ewa Seashore workforce to be the Hawaii Junior League champions.

Several gamers had him as a coach for eight to 10 many years.

“He would usually give it to you straight. He would never ever conquer all over the bush,” stated previous player Caleb Lomavita, who went on to be part of Saint Louis School’s state championship baseball workforce.

He’s now a catcher with the California Golden Bears.

“I know the boys can back me up on this, he would generally want the greatest out of you.”

Takahama was also recognised for expecting the most from his players.

“He desired my son to play baseball for him. And at the I time, I mentioned no. I never want that mentor. He’s a signify coach,” claimed Corinna Tadeo.

Her son ended up taking part in for Coach Todd. What changed her thoughts?

“I see his training, what he desired. He desired to see boys play baseball. Very good baseball.”

“He was often just mean to us, but that grew on us,” mentioned Lomavita. “And as the years went on, we just uncovered to just like that and adapt from that. And that is what introduced out the very best in us.”

They remembered matters like his most loved song, “Brick House” by the Commodores, which he performed following every single victory. They played that music Wednesday night time.

The outpouring overwhelmed his spouse, who shared what a person of the dad and mom experienced explained to her.

“She was expressing, Dina, the impression Todd had on the boys and the family members and a good deal of lives, I didn’t know that. He was just a mentor. A husband. A father. That was it,” she explained.

She then looked about at people who experienced collected all around her.

“I take pleasure in all you men,” she mentioned, ahead of tearing up and leaning her head on her younger son’s arm.

Honolulu law enforcement have not established a lead to for the crash, though investigators ruled out pace as a factor.

Companies are pending.

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