June Jones, the 20th head coach in University of Hawai`i history, has his run-and-shoot offense as the most potent in Warrior history and one of the most feared in the country to defend. Last season, UH totaled 46.9 points per game, 559.21 yards of total offense with 441.29 yards generated through the air to lead both the Western Athletic Conference and the nation in all three categories.

Since taking over the reins of the Warrior program, Jones' passing offense has led the WAC and been ranked in the top five nationally each season, including first in the country in 2006 after being ranked second the previous five years.

In December 1998, Jones took over a dwindling football program and turned it around in just one season. In 1999, Jones and the Warriors enjoyed a 9-4 campaign, the biggest turnaround in NCAA history.

That year, the Warriors also won a share of the WAC championship and were invited to the Jeep O`ahu Bowl where they defeated Oregon State, 23-17. It was the program's first bowl game since 1992. For his accomplishments, Jones was named WAC Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year by three different publications.

Warrior fever swept through the State of Hawai`i during the much anticipated 2007 season. Following their mantra of "We Believe", the Warriors overcame many close calls to finish the regular season undefeated (12-0). The first undefeated regular season in the program's history against an all Division I-A (FBS) schedule. The rewards of their magical season featured Quarterback Colt Brennan becoming the first Heisman Trophy Finalist from Hawai`i, clinching the program's first outright WAC Football Championship and earning the program's first berth in a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Game - the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day in New Orleans.

Prior to joining the Warriors in 1999, Jones enjoyed a 12-year coaching career in the NFL, including two head coaching jobs at Atlanta (1994-96) and San Diego (1998).

With the Falcons, Jones guided the team that he once played for to a playoff wild-card bid in 1995.

Jones is currently the Head Football Coach at Southern Methodist University

Although Jones is originally from Portland, Ore., his heart has been in Hawai`i since he left as a player in 1974.

Armed with a bachelor’s degree in personnel and industrial relations from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Allan K. Ikawa returned to his hometown of Hilo in 1971 without a clear career goal in mind. After working for a few years, Ikawa realized that he had to at least try to satisfy his entrepreneurial dream to create something on his own.

Ikawa founded Big Island Candies in 1977, equipped with little more than a chocolate melter and a shrink-wrap machine. With the support of his family, Ikawa acquired his capital through the sale of his house and small fishing boat. His father and brother led a small group of investors to help him renovate a modest space in Hilo’s industrial area.

Years of 17-hour work days and several significant setbacks followed, but today Ikawa’s Big Island Candies is internationally renowned for its premium, chocolate-dipped confections and cookies. Sales via the company's mail order catalog and Internet website make Big Island Candies' products accessible to people around the world – without sacrificing the exclusivity and quality control of limiting production to its single factory in Hilo town.

His success has not gone unnoticed. Ikawa has been recognized with numerous national and local distinctions, including the 2007 Retail Merchants of Hawaii E-Commerce Retail Business of the Year Award, June Jones Foundation Humanitarian Award, 2004 Hawaii Community Foundation National Philanthropy Award, 1997 Hawai‘i Entrepreneur of the Year, 1996 Rotary International Club's Employer of the Year, 1995 American Marketing Association-Big Island Chapter’s Marketer of the Year, 1994 Retail Merchants of Hawai‘i’s Retailer of the Year, 1993 Small Business Person of the Year for Hawai‘i County, Entrepreneur Magazine’s 51 American Success Stories in 1992, and the 1989 United States Senate Productivity Award. In 1995, Ikawa was also inducted into the prestigious Junior Achievement Hawai‘i Business Hall of Fame.

In 1998, Ikawa moved the entire operations of his company into a brand new, two-story, 40,000-square-foot retail center and factory. Here, visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour, watching skilled workers through large viewing windows as they deftly prepare popular specialty products such as his ever-popular line of diagonally Dipped Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies and creative Da Kine treats. Ikawa’s joy comes from creating and introducing several new items a year to an ever-expanding product line.

He keeps current with the latest in food trends with memberships in trade organizations, including the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Retail Confectioners International and Hawai‘i Food Manufacturers Association.

Involved in the local business community, Ikawa is a member of such organizations as Hawai‘i Employers Council; Hawai‘i Hotel Association; Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce; Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii; Aloha Section, PGA Advisory Committee; Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Director; Retail Merchants of Hawai‘i, CTAHR Board of Advisors; David Ishii Foundation; and June Jones Foundation, among others. He also supports non-profit organizations and awards academic scholarships to deserving junior golfers through the Big Island Candies Foundation.

Born and raised in Hilo, Ikawa received his bachelor’s degree in personnel and industrial relations from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa in 1971. Twenty-eight years after graduating from Hilo High School, he was named his alma mater’s Distinguished Alumnus in 1995. He received a similar honor from UH-Manoa, which bestowed its Distinguished Alumni award on Ikawa in 2003. From 1999 to 2003, he has also given his personal time and expertise as a member of the University of Hawai‘i's Board of Regents, including a term as chair.

Ikawa resides in Hilo with his wife, Irma. His daughter, Sherrie Ann Holi, is chief operating officer of Big Island Candies.

Larry Beil joined ABC7 as a weekend sports anchor in January 2001. He brings to the station nearly 20 years in sports broadcasting experience. Larry currently anchors sports coverage for the weekday ABC7 News at 11 p.m. and ABC7 News at 9 p.m. on Your TV20.

Prior to joining the ABC7 Sports team, Larry was a SportsCenter anchor at ESPN since 1995. He also hosted ESPN's college football scoreboard shows and halftime updates, provided play-by-play coverage on college football, men's college basketball and the Arena Football League.

From 1989-1995, Larry was a weekend sports anchor and sports reporter for KTVU in Oakland. While there he also covered Bay Area college basketball teams, including Cal and Stanford.

Before his first Bay Area stint, Larry worked in Honolulu at KGMB from 1982-1989, serving the last three years as sports director. From 1986 to 1989, he was the voice of the University of Hawaii football and basketball teams.

Larry grew up in the Bronx, NY before moving to Hawaii with his family at the age of 17. He's a graduate of the University of Hawaii-Manoa with a degree in journalism. Larry now resides in the Bay Area with his wife and two children.

Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu is a dynamic Hawaiian dance company based in San Francisco. The company features hula as a full theatrical experience that is visually captivating. Its performances are a rich blend of traditional and contemporary forms of hula.

The company's trademark hula mua style pays homage to tradition while bringing hula into a modern realm. This innovative approach showcases hula as a living and evolving art form.

Led by Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakane, Na Lei Hulu has enjoyed tremendous success in the Bay Area, garnering audience and critical acclaim with its theatrical hula shows. Na Lei Hulu presents its annual fall hula production at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco, and routinely sells out its five performances to a total of 5,000 audience members. The company has performed in locations throughout California, and in Las Vegas, New Orleans and Honolulu.