Iolani Head Football Coach Wendell Look Retires After Nearly 4 Decades

Look led the Raiders to 14 league titles and 9 state championships during his 35-year tenure as head coach.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:24am

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A fractured, geometric painting in vibrant colors depicting the abstract shapes and planes of a high school football game, representing the multi-faceted legacy of Iolani's long-serving coach Wendell Look.A cubist interpretation of the legacy and impact of Iolani's legendary football coach Wendell Look, whose retirement marks the end of an era for the school's storied program.Honolulu Today

After nearly four decades of coaching, Wendell Look is retiring from his role as head football coach and athletic director at Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Look, a 1978 graduate of Iolani, has been associated with the school for most of his life and has spent the last 43 years in various roles, including 35 years as the head football coach.

Why it matters

Look's retirement marks the end of an era for Iolani football, as he has been a central figure in the program's success, leading the Raiders to 14 Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) titles and 9 state championships. His departure will leave a significant void in the school's athletic department and the broader Hawaii high school football community.

The details

Look took over as Iolani's head football coach in 1991, succeeding Eddie Hamada. During his tenure, he amassed nearly 400 wins and established the school's 'One Team' mentality, which was instilled by his predecessor. Look's coaching philosophy focused on developing well-rounded student-athletes who could apply the lessons they learned on the field to their lives after graduation.

  • Wendell Look announced his retirement on April 8, 2026.
  • Look has been the head football coach at Iolani School since 1991.

The players

Wendell Look

A 1978 graduate of Iolani School, Look has spent the last 43 years in various roles at the school, including 35 years as the head football coach. During his tenure, he led the Raiders to 14 ILH titles and 9 state championships.

Eddie Hamada

The previous head football coach at Iolani School, who instilled the 'One Team' mentality that Look continued during his tenure.

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What they’re saying

“My phone has been kind of blowing up, and it's been surprising, you know, it's been touching.”

— Wendell Look, Retiring Head Football Coach

“I feel it's the right time to let the school go and me step away.”

— Wendell Look, Retiring Head Football Coach

“Met my wife here, my kids went here, so this place took care of my family and took care of me, obviously, and it's given me everything. It's cliché, but you know, it's made me who I am.”

— Wendell Look, Retiring Head Football Coach

“He goes, 'I want you to be yourself, you can't be anybody else but yourself,' and shook my hand, turned around and walked away. That was it, that was the one and only piece of advice he gave me.”

— Wendell Look, Retiring Head Football Coach

“When you see a kid go off after playing here and coming to school here and become a doctor or a dentist, whatever it is, they're gonna be successful, and they're gonna be productive citizens, and for us, that's the satisfaction that we take.”

— Wendell Look, Retiring Head Football Coach

What’s next

Look will continue in his role as Iolani's athletic director until the end of the current school year.

The takeaway

Wendell Look's retirement marks the end of an era for Iolani football, as he has been a central figure in the program's sustained success over the past three and a half decades. His commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes and upholding the school's 'One Team' mentality has left a lasting impact on the Iolani community and Hawaii high school sports.