Local fastpitch softball leader Warren Okinaka’s life to be celebrated

The life of Warren Okinaka, a leader in the fastpitch softball community, will be celebrated Sunday, July 21 at Pearl Harbor. He died July 7 of natural causes at age 71. Okinaka was a civil engineer at he Pearl Harbor Shipyard.

Okinaka was especially known as a coach, for organizing the Oahu Junior Olympic Softball Program in 1987 and also as an umpire and a mentor for many other umpires.

“He was even a one-man grounds crew, dragging the fields and lining them so the games can be played,” said John Park, a fellow umpire. “He was probably at the field before anyone and left after everyone. So dedicated.”

Okinaka also developed the local ASA/JO umpiring program, Park said.

“Warren mentored just about every softball umpire in Hawaii. He taught us well, giving many an opportunity to umpire in national tournaments on the mainland,” Park said.
Okinaka also led crews for high school and college games throughout Oahu.

He was also known as an outstanding cook, and regularly fed the umpiring crews.

“I think it was a great ploy to recruit umpires,” Park said.

He was also a husband (Lenora) and father (Wade, Lina, Loren) and had five grandchildren.
Next Sunday’s celebration will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Rainbow “A” Frame Pavilion, located Ewa of the Arizona Memorial. It is an informal gathering, Park said.