By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

Chad Rowan, front right, and Fiamalu Penitani, behind Rowan, made a grand entrance at the Blaisdell Arena. “When Chad (retires), it is going to be strange,” says Penitani, who will be Hawai‘i’s lone remaining sumotori. Advertiser library photo • June 1993

Hawai'i sumotori, once one of the state's thriving exports, have become an endangered species. Chad Rowan's retirement ceremony from the ring as Akebono Saturday (Hawai'i time) will officially leave Fiamalu Penitani as the only active sumotori from Hawai'i and there are no other prospects in immediate sight, sumo officials say.

"It will be lonely," said Penitani, who wrestles as Musashimaru. "There used to be plenty of boys from back home. When Chad leaves, it is really going to be strange.

"When there were plenty of us, we used to get together after tournaments and party, but the last couple of years there was hardly anybody left."

Since Maui's Jesse Kuhaulua blazed the trail to Japan in 1964 as the first sumotori from the state, Hawai'i has always had a representative in Japan's national sport. More than 30 wrestlers from Hawai'i followed Kuhaulua, who is now a stablemaster, into professional sumo.

At the height of their success, three Hawai'i sumotori — Akebono, Musashimaru and Konishiki — accounted for 20 championships, a third of all the titles won between Nov. 1991 and Nov. 2000.

Hawai‘i’s Jesse Kuhaulua, who wrestled as Takamiyama, was a big hit among fans when he visited here. Advertiser library photo • June 1974

In 1996, there were four sumotori — Akebono, Musashimaru, Konishiki and Yamato — in the top division and 10 in the sport overall. Meanwhile, some of Japan's most populous areas had less representation in the makuuchi division.

Less than a decade after newspapers in Japan heralded the "Hawai'i Invasion" of sumo, the sport's restrictions on the importation of foreigners have left the pipeline dry.

According to sumo officials, there is an overall 40-man cap on the number of foreigners permitted in the sport at any one time. In addition, no stable may have more than two.

To gain entry, a prospect must spend 4-6 months in the stable that recruited him learning the language, customs and sport. If the stable agrees to accept him as an apprentice, he must pass an oral examination given by the Japan Sumo Association.

Prior to 1992, there was no restriction on foreigners, and stables were free to recruit whom and how many they wanted.

Most foreigners now in sumo are Mongolian. With three in the top division, it is being called the "Mongolian Boom."