Alexander G. Thompson, Jr., "Alika", of Honolulu died peacefully on June 1st, 2022. He was born in Honolulu and grew up on Paoakalani Avenue in Waikiki in the 1930's and 40's where he surfed and fished in a place that had not yet grown to what it is today.He attended St. Augustine Elementary and Intermediate School just as WWII started and experienced the fear and seriousness of the threat that the Pearl Harbor attack brought to the people of Hawaii. He graduated from St Louis High School in 1952 and UH in 1957, where he played football, was a member of Hui Lokahi Fraternity, met and married Katherine "Kitty" Groves, and together raised three children, Kyle, Kathy and Kent.
Alika was a lobbyist for Ewa Sugar Plantation, HSPA, Aloha Airlines, Hawaiian Electric, and Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, served as a member of the Hawaii Convention Center Authority Board while the Convention Center was being built, and served with the Hawaii Air National Guard for 15 years as a Safety Specialist with the 154th Fighter Group.
He was considered one of the top softball pitchers in Hawaii in the 60's and 70's, pitched for the Midas Muffler Softball Team under coach Les Murakami, and participated in the Honolulu Softball League at Cartwright Park and the Hawaii Armed Services League which played at various military bases around the island.
He started his softball coaching career at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama from 1978-1985, and worked with the Hawaii State Legislature to solicit funds to build a wahine softball stadium at University of Hawaii allowing UH wahine to compete with other collegiate teams. The stadium was completed in 1985 and Alika was the first head coach for UH's Rainbow Women's Softball Team from 1985-1989. He subsequently coached at HPU for one year under athletic director Tony Selito and Mid Pacific Institute in 2011 as a pitching coach when the team won the HHSAA State Championship. Alika continued to volunteer as a pitching coach at various high schools and softball teams.
In 2013 he was recognized for his contributions to softball by the Hawaii Softball Foundation as a member of the Hawaii Softball Hall of Honor. His vision for the sport especially for our wahine players and teams has truly evolved locally and nationally.
He is survived by his wife Kitty and sons Kyle and Kent (Anna), 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by daughter Kathy Smith.
Services will be held at Diamond Head Memorial Park Chapel 11:15 am, August 1st.
Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC
