Hawaii | Coupeville Sports

Posts Tagged ‘Hawaii’

Former Coupeville Supe expands Hawaii gig

Posted in Administration, tagged Hawaii, Kulanihako'i, new job, Steve King, vice principal on August 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Steve King

Steve King continues to expand his horizons.

Since moving to Hawaii last year, the former Coupeville Schools Superintendent has added to his duties several times.

Hired by Kūlanihākoʻi High School as a PE and health teacher, the longtime duffer later returned to his coaching roots to run the girls and boys golf teams as well.

Now, he’s transitioning back into administration — at least for a bit — having accepted a role as the school’s temporary Vice Principal.

“Wasn’t my plan, but I’m thankful; life is full of surprises,” King posted on LinkedIn earlier this summer.

Before moving to Maui, he had a 27-year run in Washington state schools, including serving as Coupeville Superintendent from 2018-2024.

During his time on Whidbey, King was a big advocate for student health and was instrumental in Coupeville launching its successful Connected Food Program.

Read Full Post »

King bids aloha

Posted in Administration, Everything changes, tagged Coupeville School District, farewell, Hawaii, Steve King, superintendent on June 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Steve King

He’s off to the lands of the pineapple and never-ending sunset.

Coupeville School District Superintendent Steve King ends his six-year tenure in Central Whidbey this week, with a teaching job in Hawaii next on the docket.

As he prepares to depart, he issued the following farewell:

Hello Coupeville Community!

I hope this message finds you well.

Tonight’s School District board meeting will be my final meeting and the end of my tenure as your Superintendent.

As I leave Coupeville to relocate closer to family and return to the classroom, I want to express my gratitude for your support and kindness over the past six years.

Becoming your Superintendent in 2018 was an absolute honor and a career dream come true.

While many unforeseen challenges during my time here took their toll, there is no place I would have rather been than in this incredible Coupeville community.

I have had the honor and privilege of serving in the most supportive community I have ever been a part of.

It is a career highlight to have been able to serve those who serve us over the past decade in both Oak Harbor and Coupeville.

It was an incredible honor being a part of our hardworking and dedicated staff, who are committed to serving Coupeville students.

Most importantly, I have loved being a part of the lives of our students!

I have been able to serve thousands of students in my career in multiple school districts, and the Coupeville students are second to no one.

Thank you all for your continued support and ongoing efforts to support our schools and students.

I have learned so much from so many wonderful people in Coupeville, and many of you have inspired me more than you’ll ever know.

I wish everyone in Coupeville, especially the students, the very best, and I am truly grateful for the time I was able to serve in this beautiful and amazing place.

With respect and gratitude!

Steve King

Read Full Post »

Departing superintendent headed to Hawaii

Posted in Administration, tagged Coupeville School District, Hawaii, PE, Steve King, superintendent on May 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Steve King, enjoying island life with his wife and grandson.

He’s island hopping.

When Coupeville Schools Superintendent Steve King departs at the end of this school year, he and his wife are moving to Hawaii, and he’s returning to his roots as a teacher.

The 2024-2025 school year will see King teach PE and health at Kulanihako’i High School in Kehei on Maui.

That’s a new school, constructed and opened just last year.

It’ll be a fairly quick turnaround for King, as he begins his new gig July 31, with the Hawaiian school year kicking off Aug. 1.

That brings to an end a 27-year run in Washington state schools.

Six of those were as a teacher, 11 as a principal, and ten as a superintendent, with his Coupeville run covering 2018-2024.

He tendered his resignation in January and will be replaced by Shannon Leatherwood.

A huge part of the lure of Hawaii, other than the chance to bring his golf game to the sun-drenched links, is family.

King’s daughter and grandson, who is 18 months old, reside on Maui.

“We want to be able to spend more time with them,” he said. “The additional benefit is being able to enjoy outdoor activities that I enjoy every month of the year.”

While he will look back on his time in administration with pride, burnout is a concern.

Even in the best of times, being a superintendent in a 24-7-365 plugged-in world is taxing, but add in the pandemic and budget cut battles, and King has seen the need for a change,

“Since March of 2020 this job has been extremely stressful and to be completely honest, I am tired,” he said.

“For my own health and well-being, I need to step away from administration for a while and return to the classroom.”

Doing so as a health and PE teacher, jobs he began his education career in, offers a way to recharge and revitalize.

“The best part of my job this year has been opening the gym before school on Wednesday’s and working out with students,” King said.

“I look forward to being able to do that on a daily basis.”

Coupeville’s superintendent has been very open about his desire to promote health, and the benefits of quality eating habits and exercise.

His new job is perfectly in line with that.

“This will be returning to my teaching roots and something that I am passionate about,” King said.

“Hawaii is sort of a dream place to do this work as we can enjoy year-round local produce and outdoor activities throughout the year.

“The lifestyle there is also much more relaxed, which is something that is appealing right now.”

While teaching is in his immediate future, beyond that the horizon is wide open.

“I am considering options beyond teaching in the future,” King said. “It is possible that I will return to coaching athletics as I did before I became a principal.

I was a golf coach at Mount Baker High School, where we often had to pick range balls out of the frozen mud,” he added with a laugh. “No frozen mud in Maui…”

A return at some point to administration is a possibility, but only if he believes he is able to deliver at a high level.

“To be fair to myself and whoever my employer would be, I need to make sure that I have the energy and enthusiasm for the job,” King said.

“One other passion of mine is to eventually become a Functional Health Coach. I may pursue this while I am teaching, or it may be something I do in my retirement.”

King remains proud of the work accomplished in Coupeville during his time here.

In particular, he points to “the growth of our student services program, including regular resource fairs,” and “establishing a strong Special Programs department providing services in areas such as special education, highly capable, and migrant programs.”

Guiding the district through the pandemic while projecting optimism, especially during a time when state officials seemingly changed rules hour by hour, was incredibly draining but rewarding.

Also, a major point of pride for King is the district’s Connected Food Program, “which has doubled our daily meal participation and shown that real food cooked with love is something our students want and deserve.”

As he departs, the superintendent who walked to work every day and “loved Coupeville and was thankful to live in such a beautiful place,” hopes to be remembered as someone who deeply cared.

“I loved (my) students,” King said.

“I stood my ground when it came to my strong convictions,” he added, “(But) hopefully people will remember that I took the time to listen and showed kindness.

“Finally, hopefully they will remember that I realized when it was time for the district to bring in new leadership and have a fresh start after some very difficult years.”

Read Full Post »

Aloha, Lanie

Posted in In memory, tagged cancer, CHS Wolves, Hawaii, in memory, Lanie Kiel, volleyball on March 31, 2022| 1 Comment »

Lanie Kiel, queen of the CHS gym. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

She could have been mean, but she wasn’t.

She could have been angry, but, if she was, she didn’t show it.

She could have been sad, but the smile, even when fighting through great tiredness and pain, never wavered.

Lanie Kiel, the ultimate Wolf Nation volleyball and basketball fan — a loving mother to her own two brilliant daughters, Katie and Kacie, and also every other young woman who shared the court with them — was joy, and happiness, and grace, and kindness, wrapped up into one transcendent soul.

A long, brutal battle with cancer weakened her body, and Tuesday she passed away in her sleep.

But I will not say she lost her fight, because Lanie will always be a winner in my eyes.

In good times and bad, her heart, her smile, the love radiating from every pore in her body, never wavered, never changed.

I knew Lanie and her husband Steve from back before I launched this blog, crossing paths with them during my time at other jobs, and then I came around to write about their daughters, sharing hard wooden bleachers with the parents during big wins and agonizing losses.

Even after the girls graduated, the Kiel family, exuding Hawaii-style laidback charm and love, were frequent fliers at Coupeville athletic events.

This year Katie stepped up and became a middle school volleyball coach, helping close the circle, while I probably drove Kacie quietly crazy by constantly asking if she might join her sister on the bench, teaching lessons to a new generation of Wolf female athletic stars.

Kacie’s basketball Senior Night brought out ma, pa, and big sis Katie.

Through it all, Lanie, her pride in her family shining brightly, even when we had to hide our faces behind masks, was there to light up the gym, night after night.

Having witnessed up close an aunt endure a similar journey with cancer as a constant companion, there were times when you could tell it was harder for her.

Times where she couldn’t make it through the entire night and had to leave a game early.

But there were other times when the pain seemed to melt away, and those nights gave me hope she would continue to grace the CHS gym for years to come.

Whether she was chuckling over Steve’s antics with the flag as he called lines at volleyball matches or giving hugs to everyone who asked — and everyone who knew Lanie was a Lanie fan — Mrs. Kiel was a burst of love in her actions and words, a balm for hurt feelings in a troubled world.

Lanie and Sylvia Arnold, enjoying life.

We spoke many times over the years, and it was always remarkable how kind she was, how genuinely caring she was.

As we camped at the top of the bleachers, leaning against the gym wall in a futile effort to make our seats feel at least slightly comfortable, she was a most-pleasant companion.

She would want to know how I was doing, if I was still enjoying writing about sports, and they weren’t just casual conversation questions.

Lanie always made you feel she cared and was really listening to your answers.

I’ve been on this beat — writing about sports in Coupeville — for 32 years now.

Sometimes on a daily basis. Sometimes in a more infrequent fashion.

Thousands upon millions of words, in newspapers — some still in business, others not — magazines, and blogs.

Athletes come and go, and now their kids are showing up to play the same sports as their parents once did.

Fans, parents, bystanders, and participants. I’ve crossed paths with a lot of people while documenting the exploits of Wolf Nation, and Lanie will always be one of the ones who endure.

She was kind and caring and she made my day better every time our paths crossed.

When I look at Katie and Kacie, I see their dad — his competitiveness, his deep love and appreciation of sports, his McConaughey-style laidback charm — but I also, very much, see their mom.

I see Lanie’s love, her kindness, her embrace of life and everyone livin’ it, and I see it reflected every time her daughters smile, every time they laugh, and in the grace with which they carry themselves.

She was so proud of them, and for good reason.

With spring sports in full stride, we’re outside now.

But there will be a moment down the road when we return to the CHS and CMS gyms, and Lanie’s memory will be there waiting for us.

The first time will undoubtedly be sad.

But, as we remember her joy, her kindness, her love and toughness and resiliency, it will be easier. Because she will never fully leave us.

Lanie Kiel will always be the best of what Wolf Nation is, and I am thankful her path crossed mine.

Read Full Post »

Our friend, forever

Posted in In memory, tagged bible study, Coupeville High School, Dave Engle, Dolores Engle, grandchildren, Hawaii, Living Hope Foursquare Church on February 10, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Dolores and Dave Engle. (All photos courtesy Engle family)

Dolores Engle was my friend.

And, if she knew you, she was your friend, too, because she had the kind of heart and soul where she made friends fast and kept them forever.

She and her husband Dave, who’s pretty darn friendly himself, have had an immeasurable impact on our community over the years.

When I inducted the duo into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, they went in as the “Mom and Dad of Wolf Nation,” and the description fits perfectly.

Dolores will be greatly missed, but her deeds, her rock-solid belief in her faith, and her enduring kindness remain.

She was our friend, and will always be.

From her family:

Dolores Leilani (Harper) Engle of Coupeville passed away in Bothell, WA on February 5, 2021, surrounded by her family.

Dolores was born on December 18, 1938 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

As the oldest child of a Navy family, she moved many times in her early life — including Texas, Virginia, Rhode Island, Florida, and California — before moving to Coupeville in 1951.

She was part of the high school drill team, as well as many other clubs.

She graduated from Coupeville High School in 1956 and moved to help on her parents’ farm in Eltopia, WA, where she also attended business college and worked at the Water District Farm Bureau Office.

Dolores and David Engle were married in Coupeville on June 20th, 1959.

They began married life in Puyallup, WA, where Dolores worked for a car dealership and school district, the first of many bookkeeping and office manager jobs throughout her career.

In 1968, Dolores and Dave moved back to Coupeville, where she worked at Dean’s Chevrolet, right across from Prairie Center.

In 1976 they moved to Anaheim, CA, where she entered full-time ministry as a pastor’s wife and church secretary at Plaza Bible Church.

In 1992, they moved back to Coupeville, where they have lived ever since.

Wherever she lived, Dolores was always very involved with the church — teaching Sunday school and Bible study, organizing children’s church and church bulletin boards, running the snack distribution at Vacation Bible School, as well as singing in various choirs, including the Billy Graham crusade choirs.

Dolores was known for her gentleness and big hugs, and her signature greeting, “Good Morning,” regardless of the time of day.

She was an accomplished and creative seamstress who was able to create made to order wedding, prom, homecoming and other formal dresses.

Not only could she sew, but she also crocheted intricate patterns into doilies, cross-stitched tapestries, knitted baby blankets and sweaters, and could make any costume requested out of home-goods on hand.

Dolores made these vintage cheerleader skirts for athletes coached by her daughter Sylvia.

Dolores was a voting poll site coordinator/registrar and loved volunteering her time to help secure voting booths.

She made family dinners and church potlucks festive with pies, banana and zucchini breads, snickerdoodles, casseroles, and her signature blackberry jam for rolls, along with her gigantic, yummy salads.

She loved reading, puzzles, crosswords, and word searches.

Dolores was quite mechanically-minded and able to fix or build most projects. The kids all knew to ask Mom — not Dad — for help when building all things!

Dolores enjoyed traveling to see family each summer — to take care of new-born grandchildren, see the Holy Lands in Israel, explore the state of Alaska, have tea in London and see the crown jewels; and to Disneyland (countless times) with all of her grandkids, where she patiently volunteered to take the youngest (whomever it was at that time) on their favorite ride over and over while the older children raced around.

Grandma always had time for her grandbabies.

Retirement was not in her vocabulary as she kept busy making breakfast for the worship team (French toast casserole, anyone?), last minute alterations for anyone in sewing distress, caring for grandchildren by babysitting or driving them to and from activities, taking lead on Dave’s recoveries from various surgeries, maintaining household chores, attending Coupeville and Orange Lutheran High School events, cheering on grandkids at little league games in Bothell, donating/volunteering/supporting at local theater events, and also keeping up with friends from near and far through phone calls, letters, or notes.

Even as dementia progressed, and Alzheimer’s took hold, Dolores’s delight in being around her family and interacting with her grandchildren created bright and lasting memories in her final days.

Dolores’s life was defined by a deep faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and she shared his love with everyone she met.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Jewel (Johnston) Harper and her brothers, Curtis and Charles.

Dolores is survived by her husband, David Engle; daughters, Sylvia (Engle) Arnold, Shannon (Engle) Arnold, Stephanie (Engle) Penrod and Sarah (Engle) Viers; sons-in-law, Garrett Arnold, Lance Arnold, Isaiah Penrod, and Tim Viers; ten grandchildren, Scott Arnold, Courtney (Arnold) Sleister, Brett Arnold, Luke Arnold, Jacob Arnold, Victoria Penrod, Andrew Penrod, Noelle Viers, Lyal Viers, and Reagan Viers; two great-grandchildren, Maddison Arnold and Maximus Sleister (and another baby girl expected in April); sister, Pamela Blevins; and sister-in-law, Charlotte Harper; and numerous nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held privately due to pandemic restrictions.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project: woundedwarriorproject.org or The Gideons International: gideons.org.