Honolulu Hurricanes
Encyclopedia
This article is about the defunct Professional Indoor Football League
team, for the American basketball Association team, see Hawaii Hurricanes
The Honolulu Hurricanes was an Professional Indoor Football League
(PIFL) team that competed in the 1998 season based in Honolulu, Hawaii
. According to the team's media guide, the ownership partners - registered as Pro Sports Limited Liability Company - are Rev. John Frederick, the team's founder and co head coach ; Sig Schuster, the CEO; Dennis Enomoto; Neil Wiedemann; Louis "Sonny" Souza, the team's on-field coach; and James K. Wong. The team office was based in Honolulu. and played their home games at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center
, also in Honolulu. The team colors were red and gold. The Hurricanes were coached by Hawaii Police Department's Louis "Sonny" Souza.
The Hurricanes played two preseason PIFL games in '98. Both were victories at home:
†scheduled 1999 PIFL expansion team
All players on the Honolulu opening day roster played high school or college football in Hawaii. The list included: receivers Micah Matsuzaki and Dan Ahuna, running backs Tupu Alualu and Jerry Papalii, quarterback John Hao, offensive lineman Damon Kakalia, defensive back Niko Vitale, linebackers Manly Williams and George Noga and defensive linemen Kalei Cockett and Junior Tagoai.
The Hurricanes franchise drew about 5,500 for its first game (preseason), and 3,800 for the second, but averaged between 500 and 1,000 per game after that. Honolulu ended the 1998 PIFL season with a 6-8 record. However, the team nearly made the playoffs when commissioner Richard "Dick" Suess nearly expelled the Green Bay Bombers
, Madison Mad Dogs
, and Colorado Wildcats
after the announcement that they were leaving to start a rival league following the season.
After the season, the Hurricanes were sold. One reason, was due to the mounting financial burden of having to travel to the mainland for games. The new owners were Straub chief executive officer Dr. Blake Waterhouse, former Hawaii Winter Baseball League owner Duane Kurisu, insurance company executive Carl Hennrich, Borthwick Group owners John and Diane Farias Jr., Borthwick general manager Scott Sells, Robertson and Co. Jewelers owner Robert Wu and Regal Travel owner Ray Miyashiro. Along with ownership change, the Hurricanes were renamed to the Hawaii Hammerheads
for the 1999 IPFL season.
|1998 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 5th League || --
Professional Indoor Football League
The Professional Indoor Football League was the second league to successfully play indoor football as a paid pro-league sport, after the Arena Football League. Since the AFL had a patent given in 1990 on the gameplay of "Arena Football" , the PIFL played with mostly the same rules, but without the...
team, for the American basketball Association team, see Hawaii Hurricanes
Hawaii Hurricanes
The Hawaii Hurricanes were a proposed basketball team intended to be based in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. They were scheduled to begin play in the new American Basketball Association in 2007, but the team was confiscated by the league before the season due to suspicions of bad business practices on the...
The Honolulu Hurricanes was an Professional Indoor Football League
Professional Indoor Football League
The Professional Indoor Football League was the second league to successfully play indoor football as a paid pro-league sport, after the Arena Football League. Since the AFL had a patent given in 1990 on the gameplay of "Arena Football" , the PIFL played with mostly the same rules, but without the...
(PIFL) team that competed in the 1998 season based in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
. According to the team's media guide, the ownership partners - registered as Pro Sports Limited Liability Company - are Rev. John Frederick, the team's founder and co head coach ; Sig Schuster, the CEO; Dennis Enomoto; Neil Wiedemann; Louis "Sonny" Souza, the team's on-field coach; and James K. Wong. The team office was based in Honolulu. and played their home games at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center
Neal S. Blaisdell Center
The Neal S. Blaisdell Center in downtown Honolulu, Honolulu CDP is a community center for the City & County of Honolulu. Constructed in 1964 on the historic Ward Estate and originally called the Hawaii International Center, the center was renamed after Mayor of Honolulu Neal S. Blaisdell...
, also in Honolulu. The team colors were red and gold. The Hurricanes were coached by Hawaii Police Department's Louis "Sonny" Souza.
The Hurricanes played two preseason PIFL games in '98. Both were victories at home:
- February 28 - Las Vegas Outlaws† 14 at Honolulu Hurricanes 53
- March 27 - Tucson MirageTucson MirageThe Tucson Mirage played two exhibition games in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998, losing both. The Mirage was scheduled to join the league as a full-time team in 1999, but this never happened.-Mirage staff & team information:...
† 19 at Honolulu Hurricanes 25
†scheduled 1999 PIFL expansion team
The Hurricanes franchise drew about 5,500 for its first game (preseason), and 3,800 for the second, but averaged between 500 and 1,000 per game after that. Honolulu ended the 1998 PIFL season with a 6-8 record. However, the team nearly made the playoffs when commissioner Richard "Dick" Suess nearly expelled the Green Bay Bombers
Green Bay Bombers
The Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League in 1999 & 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office was based in Neenah, Wisconsin, and played their games at the Brown...
, Madison Mad Dogs
Madison Mad Dogs
The Madison Mad Dogs was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League in 1999 & 2000. The Mad Dogs franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office was based in Madison, Wisconsin, and played their games at the Dane...
, and Colorado Wildcats
Colorado Wildcats
The Colorado Wildcats was a team in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998. The Wildcats franchise was owned by Gary Kozacek, who also was head coach/owner of the same Wildcats team for the previous 9 years, as they competed in semi-pro football in and around Colorado...
after the announcement that they were leaving to start a rival league following the season.
Hawaii Hammerheads
The Hawaii Hammerheads was an indoor football team in the Indoor Professional Football League during the 1999 season. The Hammerheads were owned by George Heatherington and played their home games at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The team's official colors were: Aqua, Silver...
for the 1999 IPFL season.
Season-By-Season
|-|1998 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 5th League || --
Honolulu Hurricanes 1998 schedule
- April 11 - Honolulu Hurricanes 37, at Colorado WildcatsColorado WildcatsThe Colorado Wildcats was a team in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998. The Wildcats franchise was owned by Gary Kozacek, who also was head coach/owner of the same Wildcats team for the previous 9 years, as they competed in semi-pro football in and around Colorado...
48 - April 25 - Honolulu Hurricanes 46, at Texas BulletsTexas BulletsThe Texas Bullets were a team in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998. The Bullets franchise was owned by Wayne Stigler, who also was the team's head coach. The Bullets played their home games at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton, TX., with the team offices located in Temple, TX....
40 - May 9 - Green Bay BombersGreen Bay BombersThe Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League in 1999 & 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office was based in Neenah, Wisconsin, and played their games at the Brown...
46, at Honolulu Hurricanes 45 - May 16 - Madison Mad DogsMadison Mad DogsThe Madison Mad Dogs was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League in 1999 & 2000. The Mad Dogs franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office was based in Madison, Wisconsin, and played their games at the Dane...
24, at Honolulu Hurricanes 33 - May 22 - Minnesota MonstersMinnesota MonstersThe Minnesota Monsters was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998. The Monsters franchise was owned by Robert and Joann Edwards. The team office was based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, and played their games at Warner Coliseum on the Minnesota...
42, at Honolulu Hurricanes 20 - Minnesota forfeits - May 30 - Colorado WildcatsColorado WildcatsThe Colorado Wildcats was a team in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998. The Wildcats franchise was owned by Gary Kozacek, who also was head coach/owner of the same Wildcats team for the previous 9 years, as they competed in semi-pro football in and around Colorado...
42, at Honolulu Hurricanes 34 - June 6 - Honolulu Hurricanes 59, at Louisiana Bayou BeastLouisiana Bayou BeastThe Louisiana Bayou Beast was a team in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998, in the Indoor Professional Football League in 1999, and reincarated in 2001 in the National Indoor Football League . The Bayou Beast franchise was owned by James and Carolyn Shiver, who currently own and...
69 - June 20 - Honolulu Hurricanes 36, at Madison Mad DogsMadison Mad DogsThe Madison Mad Dogs was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League in 1999 & 2000. The Mad Dogs franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office was based in Madison, Wisconsin, and played their games at the Dane...
64 - June 27 - Honolulu Hurricanes 50, at Utah CatzzUtah CatzzThe Utah Catzz was a team in the United States Professional Indoor Football League in 1998. The Catzz franchise was owned by Michael & Carla Curran, who also started a farm club for the Catzz, the Salt Lake Lions . The Catzz played their home games at the David O. McKay Events Center in Orem, UT.,...
52 - July 4 - Texas BulletsTexas BulletsThe Texas Bullets were a team in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998. The Bullets franchise was owned by Wayne Stigler, who also was the team's head coach. The Bullets played their home games at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton, TX., with the team offices located in Temple, TX....
at Honolulu Hurricanes - Texas forfeits - July 11 - Honolulu Hurricanes at Minnesota MonstersMinnesota MonstersThe Minnesota Monsters was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998. The Monsters franchise was owned by Robert and Joann Edwards. The team office was based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, and played their games at Warner Coliseum on the Minnesota...
- Minnesota forfeits - July 18 - Honolulu Hurricanes 18, at Green Bay BombersGreen Bay BombersThe Green Bay Bombers was an indoor football team that played in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998, and in the Indoor Football League in 1999 & 2000. The Bombers franchise was owned by Keary Ecklund. The team office was based in Neenah, Wisconsin, and played their games at the Brown...
46 - July 25 - Utah CatzzUtah CatzzThe Utah Catzz was a team in the United States Professional Indoor Football League in 1998. The Catzz franchise was owned by Michael & Carla Curran, who also started a farm club for the Catzz, the Salt Lake Lions . The Catzz played their home games at the David O. McKay Events Center in Orem, UT.,...
12, at Honolulu Hurricanes 42 - August 2 - Louisiana Bayou BeastLouisiana Bayou BeastThe Louisiana Bayou Beast was a team in the Professional Indoor Football League in 1998, in the Indoor Professional Football League in 1999, and reincarated in 2001 in the National Indoor Football League . The Bayou Beast franchise was owned by James and Carolyn Shiver, who currently own and...
52, at Honolulu Hurricanes 29