Any conversation with former Big Island Interscholastic Federation executive director Ken Yamase usually was not dull.

Friends and colleagues remember Yamase — who died last Thursday morning at age 58 after spear fishing in Puako on the South Kohala coast — as a man of strong convictions and passion. And that passion was centered around the student-athletes of Hawai'i.

"He wore his emotions on his sleeve, but to a man, anyone who dealt with him on a regular basis realized how much he was in it for the kids," said Tom Correa, who succeeded Yamase as Waiakea High School's athletic director in the summer of 2006. "You could see what passion he had for doing what was best for the kids."

After graduating from Maui High in 1967, Yamase earned a bachelor's degree and professional diploma from the University of Hawai'i before beginning a 36-year career in the Department of Education. He taught at Ilima Intermediate in 'Ewa Beach and coached baseball at Leilehua and Campbell before moving to Waiakea in 1982 to teach and coach baseball and girls basketball.

In 1989, Yamase became Waiakea's athletic director and eventually became known as a vocal advocate for Neighbor Island programs.

"He was a driving force in trying to get the Neighbor Islands fair representation," Correa said. "He wanted the Neighbor Islands to have a fair say in the policies and procedures that were voted on."

At Waiakea, Yamase worked to improve the athletic facilities, and projects for a new softball field and all-weather track came under his watch. He also started the Waiakea Athletic Wall of Fame, which permanently honors prominent Warriors from the past.

He became a mentor and leader among Big Island athletic directors, many of whom sought him out for advice or information.

"Even before he became executive director, most of the new ADs would call him to learn how to do things," Correa said. "On a daily basis, he was a sounding board for the Big Island ADs."

Although he already qualified for full retirement benefits from the DOE, Yamase decided to take on the BIIF executive director job in May 2006.

"He had ideas he thought would be good for the Big Island," said Bill O'Rear, the sports editor of the Hawai'i Tribune-Herald in Hilo. "He was a hands-on guy, a leader with a lot of energy and a lot of ideas. Some people talk about doing things, but once he got behind something he would push it and get the ball rolling. The (BIIF) needed that kind of guy."

The ideas included a BIIF awards luncheon and a sportsmanship summit that would invite one or two kids from every high school to learn about how to spread sportsmanship at their campuses.

"He always talked about how to leave a place better than it was when you came," Correa said.

A memorial service for Yamase will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo. Visitation is from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. He is survived by wife, Helene; son, Keith; daughter, Kaleen Martin; and two grandchildren.