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Michael Torres Photography

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Coach Dennis Agena was born and raised in Honolulu. At the age of 7, his mother passed away. Coach came from a family of 5 children. After his mom passed away, all of the 5 siblings were separated, going to live with different relatives.

Coach Agena went to Kauilani Elementary, Central Middle, Dole Middle, and then graduated from Farrington High School. While at Farrington, Coach Agena competed in basketball, volleyball, and track. His team won the ILH Intermediate Basketball Championship during his freshman year, being the only public school to compete in the ILH at that time. Coach won the ILH Junior Varsity Basketball Championship as a 10th grader. He also won the ILH Varsity Volleyball Championship as a sophomore and junior.

Some of the schools that Coach Agena has coached at have been Iolani, Punahou, Kamehameha, and the University Lab School. He has also coached for the University of Hawaii Women’s Basketball team.

Coach Agena loves teaching the "fundamental skills" of basketball. This led him down the career coaching path that started way back in 1966 at the old Kalakaua Recreation Center. He first worked with kids from broken homes and poverty. Many of the kids were often high on drugs. But Coach continued to persevere and help any kid who was willing to work hard on and off the court.

Coach Agena has worked at numerous basketball camps around the United States. In addition to the camps in Hawaii, coach has traveled to Washington, California, and Utah. He has also worked the Gonzaga University Basketball Camp.

Coach Agena is married to Aunty Lani, who handles all of the clinic logistics and off-court planning and organization for Kalakaua Basketball.