By: Makayla Dilliner
Life after high school can be one of the most difficult decisions a Kalāheo student can make. From college to employment to even self-employment there are many paths that may overwhelm a young adult. On top of post-high school decisions still comes the commitment of academics and for many, sports. But for one 2004 Kalāheo grad, Sam Wilhoite brings many experiences of high achievements in Kalāheo basketball, college, entrepreneurship, and even reality TV. Taking a look in the Kalāheo gym, you may recognize the last name “Wilhoite”, on a University of Hilo jersey that has hung on the walls for many years. For Wilhoite in high school, basketball was the way to ensure scholarships at D1 or D2 colleges and continue his path to success.
“It was my years [at Kalāheo], for our basketball team, when we won championships and were one of the top 2 in the State for that time. On top of that, we were just very high-performing academically. Our starting 5 were all in AP (advanced placement) classes, and sat in the front of the class. Overall, they did their best on the court and in the classroom.
Kalāheo college counselor, Ms. Inouye has a long record of helping students achieve their dreams post high school. For Wilhoite, he saw her assistance as a major opportunity to achieve the goals of college and scholarship money. And while many of us schedule meetings with Ms. Inouye, on an annual basis, for then student-athlete Wilhoite, it was a common occurrence with him and the rest of the basketball team.
“Half the time like we would have our lunch and recess in Ms. Inouyeʻs room. Not just me, but others like my friends, Neil and Matt. And some of these guys, I mean, had amazing scholarships. There was this kid, Patrick Nakagawa, who was a valedictorian and a track athlete. He got like a $ 90,000-a-year scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
in New York. “As for Wilhoite, he was able to use scholarships and grants to pay the most he could for his college expenses.
“The amount got bigger and bigger just by being in her room. I applied to so many schools. I was applying to schools and scholarships in eleventh grade as soon as they became available. I had a scholarship that was $750. I had a scholarship that was $2,000. I had a scholarship that was $750 a semester for 4 years. For some of them, you had to show receipts and they could only be used for books. On top of just my scholarships from already free College, and my Pell grants was already free money. I walked out with another $1012.00 of scholarships of one-time stuff and other stuff that went on for maybe 2 or 3 years and just straight up.”
Community College
Despite being financially covered and able to play for Hawaii schools like Chaminade and HPU, Wilhoite attended both community college on the mainland and at University of Hawaii at Hilo. As for many students, Wilhoite stated that ending up at community college wasnʻt what he aimed for.
“I spent my first 2 years in Junior college before I went to UH Hilo. That was not the goal for me. I was always just kinda like, you know what I mean like. That's not my dream to go to a junior college. Right? You know what I mean. I could have gone to Division 2. So I didn't want to go to Junior college, but I had the opportunity. Looking back, Wilhoite explained community college actually enlightened him in the way he thought about junior college athletics.
“I went to a junior college in Waco, Texas, in the middle of Texas. That was my first time living outside of my house outside of Kailua, and it was a culture shock. Being from Hawaii, I was a big fish in a small pond at the time, because I was one of the best players in Hawaii.
But I found out instantly that I'm a small fish in a big pond now playing against other mainland kids. And to this day that's the best team I've ever played on, with a junior college team in Texas.
Even in Hawaii, Wilhoite made it clear that community college brings a lot to the table. “But some of the most amazing programs in the world are at community colleges. Like the University of Hawaii system, you're gonna get the same or better education. It's just the same system. There are things on campus at Windward Community College that are not anywhere else on earth. Or things that would be very rare for a community college campus to have like they've got an auditorium and astronomy tools. The value is definitely there, and sometimes more. In certain cases it just depends. Not to mention you've got the benefit of cost savings like, for example, at WCC, the first year is free. “
Despite many Hawaii athletes looking to play at universities, Wilhoite wants student-athletes to keep their doors open. “I tell athletes, especially from Hawaii, like you probably never thought about junior college. But consider it because it's amazing. It'll help you, especially being maybe a big fish from a small pond. You didn't really come up in the competitive environment that all these other kids did.”
UH HILO
Even while playing for UH Hilo, Wilhoite admitted that staying in Hawaii was again something he did not want to do. “I wanted to go away from home. But when I got there [UH Hilo], I enjoyed my time there. I think some kids really want to go to university and use Hawaii as a backup. But it can be more than that. I look back at my time at UH Hilo as something that was so valuable to me. A noncollege, country town. It is a unique institution. “
Although UH Hilo is located in a country town, compared to the typical college experience,
Wilhoite learned that the school had something much more than meets the eye.
“When I was there, the only university in the country where you could get a bachelor's degree in an indigenous language. So, leading the way on indigenous studies and language in general, one of the best places on earth for astronomy. Because they have access to that mountain and everything the system has access to one of the best places in the world for marine science, oceanography, and marine biology and one of the best places in the world for tropical forestry and agriculture. One of the best places in the world for volcanology and geology. like one of the best places in the world for earth sciences. “
Wilhoite also pointed out the potential worth of what you want out of college, something that's not always money.
“Unless you're a person wanting to live on campus, wanting to get the college experience and live away from home. Okay. There's more value again than just dollars. Right?
Maybe going to college for a person isn't the best financial decision. But it's not all about money. Maybe you're not trying to go there for money. You want to go there and have that experience because it was an amazing experience for me. Think about these things and have honest conversations with yourself and your family.”
He went out to acknowledge the stigma that comes with talking about both money and college with family. “ ʻDon't talk about money, it can be a source of shame or pride or all kinds of different things. Right? But we need to be able to talk about those things right? Because that's like the most important thing. And I think that's a big thing that is lacking. It's just our education system in general. We should be getting more of this education. “