| Overall UK Wins: 1 | Overall UK Losses: 0 | Win % 100 |
Date of Death: August 3, 2024
Alma Mater: Iolani School [1957]
For a generalized listing of officials, please consult this page.
| Date | Matchup | W/L | Score | UK Fouls | Opp Fouls | UK FTA | Opp FTA | UK DQ | Opp DQ | Technicals | Officiating Crew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/27/1985 | Kentucky at Hawaii | W | 98 - 65 | 26 | 28 | 34 | 29 | 1 | 0 | None | Pat Tanibe, Bill McCabe and Craig Peterson |
Obituary - Spectrum News (August 17, 2024)
Pat Tanibe remembered for passion for officiating, basketball in Hawaii
by Brian McInnis (Honolulu)
Before Pat Tanibe would give you the hook, he'd administer the look.
It was an expression that generations of basketball players in Hawaii would come to know well from the official over his close to 50 years of work.
"You wouldn't go across that line because then he'd give you that stern look and that'd be a warning, and if you didn't heed to it, you'd get a technical," said Artie Wilson, a member of the University of Hawaii's Fabulous Five teams of the early 1970s, with a knowing chuckle.
But that was a measure of last resort for Tanibe, who, over the decades, eased into the role of elder sage for the hoops community in the Islands - a warm and familiar presence for players, coaches, and officials alike. He "devoted his entire life to helping others," said Tom Yoshida, a veteran official who was among the many guided by Tanibe in his youth.
Tanibe, 85, was a member of the Hawaii Sports Officials Hall of Fame and the longtime director of the Hawaii College Summer League in Manoa. He died on Aug. 3 of health issues.
The Iolani School graduate from the Kapahulu area got into officiating his favorite sport at age 21 as a means of supplemental income while stationed at Misawa Air Force Base in Japan.
He left the service in the mid-1960s and worked in sales for the Gas Company, Panasonic, and Jockey. During this time, though, he kept up his passion for officiating and hoops.
Tanibe become one of the go-tos for local crews for high school, collegiate - including the Western Athletic Conference, Big West and NAIA - and military leagues. His lengthy list of meaningful games worked included Chaminade's upset of top-ranked Virginia at the Blaisdell Arena in 1982, and he was a regular at the Rainbow Classic in its heyday.
"Who would have thought Chaminade, coached by Merv Lopes, would beat Virginia, ranked No. 1 in the nation? But they did," Tanibe would say years later.
He later worked for the Pacific West Conference as its assignor of basketball officials and was still involved with officiating into his 70s.
At his induction into the Hawaii Sports Officials Hall of Fame in 2018, Tanibe thanked his mentor and fellow inductee, Jimmy Aiona, for letting him tag along to games at Kalakaua Gym.
"He would pass on information to me on what to call and what not to call. He was the most knowledgeable..." Tanibe said.
Later, he was instrumental in starting the College Summer League (some refer to him as the founder) and maintaining it over close to 40 years. There, he could give opportunities to many up-and-coming officials.
"He was truly an icon when it comes to Hawaii basketball officiating," Yoshida said. "When I was trying out to become a college official, all the mainland refs asked me, 'How is Pat doing?' He was the first person everyone thought of when it came to Hawaii officials."
Tanibe wrangled the teams, jerseys, entry fees, officials and sites for the summer league every year.
"He made sure it was NCAA sanctioned, all the I's were dotted and T's were crossed and nothing was done that would jeopardize anyone's eligibility for UH or any of the small colleges in town," Wilson said.
Whether it was his interactions with Tanibe as a player, or later as a coach, Wilson will remember that you could always have a conversation with him. "He was always a man of integrity, and character."
The summer league has effectively been on hiatus since 2019, soon after Tanibe stepped down as director.
"I'd love to bring it back and call it the Pat Tanibe Summer League," Wilson said.
Pat Tanibe is survived by his son Craig, grandsons Daniel and Adam Tanibe, and three great-granddaughters. He was predeceased by his son, Carl Tanibe.
Services are pending.
