Longtime Sportscaster Robert Kekaula Dies

The voice of University of Hawai‘i Football has died.

Robert Kekaula, a longtime journalist and sportscaster in Hawaii, passed away Saturday, June 19, morning surrounded by his family, according to a report from Hawai‘i News Now.

Family told media outlets Kekaula died at 8:25 a.m. The ‘ohana released the following statement:

“We have heavy hearts this morning as our ‘ohana has lost its mighty wings. He lived his life his own way and was so much to so many people. His heart was full of love for his family, sports and most of all music. Our wings are broken but we will fly again one day. And Robert will fly beside us and continue to guide us along the way. Mahalo to everyone who touched his life along this journey. Aloha ‘Oe to our father, partner, brother, uncle and friend. We ask for privacy as we get through this difficult time.”

The exact cause of his death is unknown at this time.

HNN reported Kekaula started his first job in broadcast journalism at KGMB as a weekend sports producer.

In 1989, he joined KITV as a weekend sports anchor and reporter. He later left the station for KHNL in 1994 and returned to KITV in 1997 to work as sports director.

Kekaula most recently worked as a Managing Editor at KITV. The station’s news director Janice Gin said, “He leaves a legacy of being a great communicator, one who understood people of all walks. He appreciated the human spirit and human potential. He loved Hawai‘i, and the culture that made him proud to be a native son of the Islands.”

Following the news of Kekaula’s death, social media was flooded with love and condolences for the loss of the sportscaster.

Among them was Congressman Kai Kahele.

“It is with a heavy heart that I learned of Robert’s passing – a man with a larger than life personality, abounding talent and pure aloha,” Kahele posted on Twitter. “He touched many lives with his spirit of aloha. Thank you Robert for your immeasurable contributions to Hawaiʻi. You will be forever missed.”

https://twitter.com/kaikahele/status/1406410832708128771

Statement from UH Athletics on the passing of longtime sportscaster and @HawaiiFootball announcer Robert Kekaula.

Rest in Aloha, Robert. pic.twitter.com/BKLajMrueb

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— Hawaii Athletics (@HawaiiAthletics) June 19, 2021