Shelley Nakasone, a Waiakea graduate and a WNBA and college basketball official, is returning home to hold the inaugural Hawaii Officials Camp from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Panaewa Gym.
All 20 slots are filled, but there will be four games that day, three boys varsity games, and one girls varsity game. The day includes officials’ training, classroom discussion, and the officiating of games.
Nakasone, who lives in Orange County in California, grew up in Kohala before starting as an official in California. She has spent nine years in the WNBA and works in six Division I conferences.
“I’ve always wanted to come home and do a camp,” said Nakasone, who’ll fly home on Thursday. “My goal was work in the WNBA and I made it. Everybody, from my parents to my friends, were so happy and excited. If somebody from the Big Island can take a little bit away from this then it’ll all be worthwhile.”
Nakasone is working the camp with Esther Hsu, who has worked in five Division I conferences on the West Coast and several Division II conferences. She lives in Los Angeles.
Being an official changed Nakasone’s life, especially her personality.
“Growing up I was a pretty shy person,” she said. “It helped me come out of my shell and seeing things as fairness. Players, coaches, fans are all watching. It’s challenging, but I’ve become addicted to it. I love it.”
Of course, it takes a certain type of personality to become a referee. You can’t have rabbit ears and thin skin or walk toward a barking fan with your arms extended like a Gorilla. Referees must also have a professional approach, so no distinctive signal calls on fouls to draw attention to yourself.
“I was officiating volleyball games, and one of my friends told me to do basketball,” Nakasone said. “After one year, I was hired for Division I. Nowadays, you’d have to work high school or Division II or III games for two, three or five years. It moved pretty quickly for me. That’s how I started.
“I got to see the country. During the summer time, I’d go surfing. It’s a heavy schedule. From October to April is college. May to October is pro. It’s all year round, 4 miles running per game.”
Nakasone works in the Big West, Big Sky, Mountain West, Pac-12, Western Athletic Conference, and the West Coast Conference. Referees get a flat fee for travel.
The Pac-12 pays $3,000 per game, the WNBA about $2,000, and the Big West $1,500. The only drawback is there’s no retirement system in place.
But memories are priceless, and Nakasone has a pair that stick out.
“Two moments stood out for me, my first game in Hawaii at UH. My family (dad Stanley, mom Harriet, brother Chad Nakasone) was sitting there,” she said.” My career had come full circle. I had come home. I didn’t start my career in Hawaii, but it was a really emotional time. When they started playing Hawaii Ponoi, I thought I was going to lose it.
“My second is my first game in the WNBA at Madison Square Garden. Looking at all the banners, looking at the gym, it’s an amazing experience.”
Madison Square Garden carries a lot of history, but it’s not like the Stan Sheriff Center, which still carries the scent of freshness since opening in 1994.
“Because of the traffic, everything is by public transportation,” Nakasone said. “You take the train from the hotel and get dropped off and walk in through the side door. It’s an older building. It’s dark in there. UH-Manoa has a grander feel. But when you go in the hallways, you’ll see the posters like Janet Jackson and players. It’s old school.”
When Nakasone arrives home on Thursday, you’ll find her at Kawamoto’s grabbing a plate lunch or Big Island Candies getting something sweet. But what she misses most is what makes Hawaii so special.
“I miss the Aloha spirit, the people, the easiness of it all, the simplicity,” she said. “I try to come home once or twice a year if I can.”
For the Kohala girl, there’s no place like home.