Hawaii was once a prime recruiting ground for professional sumo. The pioneer was Jesse Kuhaulua from Oahu's Happy Valley, who entered the sport in 1964 and rose to the third-highest rank of sekiwake (under the sumo name Takamiyama), while becoming the first foreigner to win a top division title, in 1972.
After retiring in 1984, he opened Azumazeki Stable and recruited fellow Hawaiian Chad Rowan, who as Akebono ascended to sumo's summit of yokozuna in 1993 — another foreigner first.
Akebono's success, as well as that of Salevaa Atisanoe (Konishiki), who held the second-highest rank of ozeki, and Fiamalu Penitani (Musashimaru), who was Akebono's rival as yokozuna, encouraged other young Hawaiians to try sumo.
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