Former president and Punahou graduate Barack Obama gives a special shoutout to his former coach, Chris McLachlin, on being inducted into the University of Hawaii’s Circle of Honor. (Hawaii Athletics on YouTube)
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MANOA, Hawaii — It’s no secret that Hawaii loves sports.
The University of Hawaii is the only NCAA Division I program in the entire state, and fans constantly are wearing the green and tapa trim around every corner, myself included.
One fan in particular, however, held the highest office in the country and still proudly bleeds that green to this day.
That would be former President Barack Obama, a graduate of Punahou School, mere minutes from the University of Hawaii campus. The former president was an athlete himself at Punahou, playing basketball under head coach Chris McLachlin.
McLachlin, now an analyst for men’s and women’s volleyball broadcasts on Spectrum Sports, found out recently that he would be part of the university’s Circle of Honor class of 2025. And it was only fitting Obama gave him the surprise of the night.
You can watch the entire surprise unfold, capped off by Obama’s shoutout, here:
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