By: Makayla Dilliner
Peering onto the court of the Kalāheo gym sits the name of the late Coach Pete Smith. Written in big blue letters, etched with his signature, it is a court with a familiar name for many parents, staff, students, and alumni. It is not hard to credit the Smith family for the peak of Kalāheo’s basketball success. Former Kalāheo Coach, Alika Smith (class of 1994) also the son of Pete Smith, gave insight on the success rooted in family and hard work.
While the court now serves as a piece of Kalāheo history within the legacy of the Smiths, it was not long ago that it showcased the efforts of Kalāheo basketball under the leadership of Alika Smith himself. Starting in 2010, Alika Smith, now living on the Big Island, led Kalāheo Boys Basketball to Division I state championships in 2013 and 2015 as well as a Division II title in 2012.
“As a coach, you're only as successful as the kids that played for you. When I coached, I had great kids, kids who knew the game of basketball, but we taught them the right way to play. Our success came from kids buying into your system, buying into what we were trying to do,” Smith explained.
He put into perspective that Kalāheo being a small public school came with the disadvantages of winning state titles. Despite the difficulties, Kalāheo was able to beat many private schools and make it to the top multiple times. “It's hard to win state championships in a small public school. But when you're beating the likes of Maryknoll, Iolani, Punahou, and all those guys, it's very gratifying for the team, and I was happy for them,” he said.
“The Stangs”, short for Mustangs, was an integral part of Alika Smithʻs coaching program at the school. Likewise, to college sports teams shortening their name, the nickname was used to empower Kalāheo Basketball. Now seen on Kalāheo athletic shirts and hoodies, Smith explained how it was his father who started the trend.
“In 2015 we wanted to do something different. We came up with ‘Stang Nation’, as my father always liked ‘The Stangs’. We ended up getting really nice orange jerseys sponsored and when we played in the state championship games, they even put our name on the scoreboard as The Stangs,” Smith recalled.
“And that's how it took off, yet the administration at the time did not want that. But it continues to hold a special place because of the success that the kids had. And it also served to honor my dad who couldn't see it because he passed away, but it was something he always wanted to do. “
Smith looked back on how the connection of family strengthened his love for coaching at Kalāheo. “Each and every kid had a specific moment that made me love coaching. But I had a friend of mine, George Gilmore who I knew from playing basketball at the University of Hawaii. My oldest son was playing with his son, Kaleb Gilmore at Kalāheo. Kaleb is the older brother of Jaron Gilmore (class of ‘26). So it was special because not only were the four of us able to play together at one point, I was able to coach both of our sons. The fact that they played a part in us winning states is something I will always hold on to.“
Before being both a player and coach for Kalāheo Basketball, Smith recounted what it was like as a young child to watch his father coach the team. “I grew up in a gym because my father coached. And I think that was always what I wanted to do, but seeing my father do it, and how much fun it was, how much impact it had on not only the community but the kids in general, it was gratifying. Because you see kids grow, you see them compete, and you see them getting ready for adulthood.”
As Alika Smith followed in his father's footsteps the same came for his son Peyton Smith. “Peyton would do the same thing I did when I coached Kalāheo. He would come, he would sleep in the bleachers, sleep on the ground while we were practicing, because he didn't want to miss a second,” he recalled.
Smith, who now runs Hawaii Select, a basketball club on the Big Island, shared how they help young athletes further their career in the sport. “My father started Hawaii Select in 1991 and it's been about 14 years since I restarted it. Our club is developmental, and we play at the high school level and we get kids from all across each island. We get kids to travel and play in front of college coaches, and overall help them have the opportunity to pursue their basketball careers. Whether it may be junior college, division 3, division 2, or division 1. We get them ready, and we play against some of the top competition in the United States every summer.
Smith gave more insight into the community leader his father was. Not only was his father Pete Smith a coach, but also a teacher at Kalāheo. “He took on so many kids' lives on and off the court, that they didn't even have to play basketball because he cared about these individuals that were going through hard times. I think that made him the person he was, and the respect that he got, not only on the court as a coach, but as a teacher and as a mentor, and what comes with those titles.”
“I was a lucky human being to have Pete Smith as my father. He was a huge influence on what I wanted to give back to the next generation and the generation after. And if I could fill half his shoes, that would be a successful life, I'll tell you that.”