HILO, Hawai'i – Some of the best athletes and coaches to ever grace the beautiful Island of Hawai'i will be enshrined in history forever this weekend. Max Unger (football), Sharon Peterson (volleyball), Joey Estrella (baseball) and Charles "Sparky" Kawamoto (swimming) will be inducted as the Big Island Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

The official induction ceremony will take place Aug. 30 at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel inside the Moku'ola Ballroom. The induction will last from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and will have a buffet, live music and a silent auction as part of the event.

For tickets and table sponsorship, information and donation of auction items, please visit BigIslandSports.org, call 286-0461 or stop by DeLuz Chevrolet.

This year's ceremony will be dedicated in the memory of former BISHOF directors Tony Misiazek and Wayne Subica.

Sharon Peterson

As the 1969 U.S. Women's Volleyball Player of the Year, current Parker School volleyball head coach Sharon Peterson was a two-time Olympian in 1964 (Tokyo) and 1967 (Mexico City). After her triumphs as a player, she became one of the best volleyball coaches in the state — leading the University of Hawai'i at Hilo women's program to six national championships from 1978–2002, including two national titles in the NAIA and AIAW in 1981. The other two titles came in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1988.

Before Peterson's time as an Olympian and coach, she played for Long Beach State from 1962-63 and was inducted to the school's hall of fame in 1986. Peterson is also a member of the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2021.

Joey Estrella

The first-ever UH Hilo baseball head coach, Joey Estrella is a St. Joseph's graduate and coaching legend. He coached 37 seasons at UH Hilo (1976–2013), posting 11 consecutive winning seasons from 1980–1990 with a 307-171 record. Rejoining UH Hilo in 2017 to be a softball assistant, Estrella holds the longest tenure of any Vulcan staff.

Estrella also led UH Hilo to three NAIA World Series appearances in 1986, 1987 and 1989. He also won five NAIA District II Championships. Estrella won the NAIA Area I Coach of the Year in 1986 and 1988, along with the 1986 NAIA District 29 Coach of the Year.

Prior to his decorated coaching career, Estrella played basketball as a student at UH Hilo, followed by three seasons of college baseball at UH Manoa under the iconic head coach Les Murakami. He received the inaugural Jack Bonham Award in 1974, which is given to the top senior student-athlete(s) at UH Manoa who exemplifies athletic and academic excellence.