Photo collage courtesy of Coach Sol Batoon
(Adds Kale Ane's thoughts, 3:50 p.m.)
(Adds Nate Dudoit and George Wolfe response, 6:15 p.m.)
(Adds Bill O’Rear, 5/2, 6 a.m.)
(Adds Curtis Murayama, 5/3, 8:25 a.m.)
(Adds Kalei Emeliano, 5/3, 8:45 a.m.)
(Adds Kehau Enos, 5/3, 2:45 p.m.)
There are few names from the history of Hawaii high school sports lore with more recognitiona and prestige than Kaipo Spencer.
The multi-sport star at Saint Louis, who later coached the Crusaders basketball team to a state title in 1986, died on Thursday.
Spencer was an ILH all-star in 1970, named Back of the Year while his coach, Ron Marciel, was selected Coach of the Year. Jim Easterwood of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin wrote: “Spencer, a 6-0, 190-pounder, is probably the top passer of the decade — certainly his aerial wizardry will get him at least a second-team berth in the national pickings.”
Spencer went on to play at Santa Clara.
The outpouring of love from friends, former teammates and the sports community has flooded social media.
“Kaipo, you will always be my idol,” Saint Louis passing guru and longtime football and baseball assistant coach Vince Passas wrote. “You were the quarterback and athlete I always wanted to be growing up, from the time I met you at Liliuokalani Elementary to Saint Louis School. I always fought to wear No. 17 because I wanted to be like you.”
Longtime coach Sol Batoon posted about the passing of Coach Spencer on Facebook early Friday morning.
"We go back over 30 years of friendship. In 1978, Kaipo Spencer, Mufi Hannemann and I were all hired at the same time to coach in the ILH. I was at Damien, Mufi with ‘Iolani and Kaipo Spencer with Saint Louis," Batoon recalled. "Kaipo also coached with me when we had only two club teams in the state, Hawaii Select with Pete Smith and Chico (Furtado), and Hawaii All-Stars (Batoon and Spencer). Great athletes. Kaipo was always working with young athletes who loved basketball."
Batoon's second son, Kaipo, is named after Spencer.
"His competitiveness. Not only was he a great athlete, but he was a smart athlete. That made him special," Batoon added.
As of noon, Friday, 120 people had responded to Batoon's post, including former Saint Louis great Jim Nicholson.
One of Spencer's neighbors was Kale Ane, who went on to star at Punahou before playing at Michigan State and in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ane is a longtime football coach and athletic director at his alma mater.
"He lived right down our street. We both lived on 16th Ave, hanging out and playing basketball at the courts at Waialae School and Kapaolono (District Park)," Ane said.
Ane spent plenty of time and energy chasing Spencer during their high school careers.
"I played both (offensive and defensive line), more defense. They always had a lot of good quarterbacks. I think he started junior year. We were super young that year, a lot of sophomores starting. It was really frustrating. He was running all over the place. He’d throw the ball away or to a receiver. Very athletic. Never got rattled, just very poised. A great competitor," Ane recalled. "I want to say I did sack him, but I probably didn’t. I think they won as many as we did. He was the focal point of our defense and we still couldn’t stop him. He just had a way of being clutch in both basketball and football."
Ane also recalled meeting a teammate who had played with Spencer at Santa Clara.
"Santa Clara gave up football. I think he was the last quarterback. There’s a player who went to Santa Clara that played with us at the Kansas City Chiefs that Kaipo beat out (at Santa Clara). That’s how good Kaipo was," he said.
Over the years, while he wasn't coaching, Spencer was a regular at games across the island.
"We always saw each other in the offseason playing pickup ball or hanging out at the beach, running into each other. The last few years, I’d always see him at the girls state softball tournament. We’d sit together and chat, watch all the games. He was a great sports fan," Ane said.
The news of Spencer's passing brings it home for many of his former teammates and opposing players.
"It’s so sad for me to hear. He was a great athlete and a great guy. You’ll hear that from other people from that time. If you said his name, Kaipo, he’s a first-name guy. There’s no mistaking who you’re talking about. Even now. He just stood out. A quarterback. A point guard. Nobody hated him. He was just fun to be around. He could compete, but after the game, we’re all just boys," Ane said.
George Wolfe also grew up in the neighborhood. The former Hawaii women’s basketball assistant coach shared vivid memories of the era and his Pop Warner teammate.
Others who replied included graduates of other schools who watched Spencer from across the way.
“Very sorry to hear this,” wrote Chris Townsley, a former Punahou student. “He was probably one of the best ILH quarterbacks of my era (Jimmy Lota was our quarterback) and he single-handedly tore up the hearts of my Punahou Buff N Blue when we played St. Louis at the Old Termite Palace in those days. Blessings to Kaipo, his family and ohana.”
Left to right: Dyrbe Enos, Nate Ilaoa, Nate Dudoit and son Manti, Jason Rivers and Jason Jr, Kaipo Spencer. Photo courtesy of Nate Dudoit.
Former Saint Louis multi-sport athlete Nate Dudoit has fond memories of Coach Spencer.
“Kaipo used to pick me up and talk offensive plays when it came to football. That’s when he finished at Santa Clara and coached his first year with Ron Marciel. I was a down lineman on offense and defense,” Dudoit said. “He related to us young, kolohe kids. He was my idol growing up when he played quarterback and guard for the basketball team. I will miss him.”
Longtime Vulcan Basketball Camp coach and sportswriter Bill O'Rear recalled his experiences on the hardwood with Coach Spencer.
"Kaipo was a good guy with a soft heart and an elite athlete competitiveness. He was always helpful to others, and will be missed," he said.
"I remember Kaipo, Gary Campbell and Abe Lota being these great athletes while we were 7th graders at Kaimuki Intermediate. The next year, they were all gone — to private schools," he wrote.
Former Kohala basketball standout Kalei Emeliano recalled playing against Spencer in a tournament back in the 1990s.
"Kaipo was a solid bruddah," Emeliano said.
Spencer was a JV coach at Kamehameha when Kehau Enos played.
"I love Coach, mostly called him Uncle, but always Coach on the basketball court. He was more than a coach for me. He was a mentor. As a coach, he was amazing, disciplined, instructive and full of knowledge. Never condescending. A player's coach," Enos said.
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