Ceremony marks renaming of Wai‘anae District Park Boxing Gym in honor of Fred Fernandez Pereira, Sr.

By Nathan Serota
April 12, 2025
City News, DPR News

Known as “Pops”, Pereira founded Wai‘anae Boxing Club, mentored Leeward youth

Fred Fernandez Pereira, Sr., also known as “Pops.”

O‘AHU – On a trade wind day, westside O‘ahu is where we stay, to mark the official renaming of the boxing gym at Wai‘anae District Park in honor of Fred Fernandez Pereira, Sr., also known as “Pops.”

“Pops was a cherished leader in the Wai’anae community and the world of boxing from April 12, 1934, until his passing on April 25, 2024,” said Councilmember Andria Tupola. “In 1972, he founded the Wai‘anae Boxing Club, which became a beacon of hope for local youth, addressing issues like drug abuse and juvenile delinquency. Under his mentorship, the club produced numerous champions and taught important life lessons such as hard work and respect. This renaming honors his profound impact, ensuring his legacy is remembered for generations to come.”

Family of Fred ‘Pops’ Pereira and Leeward lawmakers during the renaming ceremony at Wai‘anae District Park on April 12, 2025

Commemorated on his 91^st birthday, the event emblazons Pops’ legacy onto the iconic boxing gym, following the passage of Honolulu City Council Resolution 24-222 introduced and shepherded by Councilmember Tupola.

The event also included memories of Pops shared by Senator Samantha DeCorte, scores of boxing enthusiasts influenced by Pops dedication, and his proud family. “My dad made a huge difference, and you see that with the people here today, his ʻohana,” said Lena Marie Silva, Pop’s Daughter. “Now the world‘s going to know about my papa and his legacy. It’s going to live on forever.”

A sign bearing Pop’s name now marks the entrance to the boxing gym, while inside the gym countless pictures, memorabilia, and awards line the walls surrounding the training equipment and boxing ring. Many of the accolades stem from Pops hard work and dedication to the ‘sweet science,’ as a fighter in his own right, coach, and mentor for over 50 years. Just a couple of his more notable accomplishments include: being inducted into the Golden Gloves of America Coaches Hall of Fame in 2019, making history that same year coaching the Hawai‘i National Golden Gloves team (which won three gold and one silver medal, with the first Hawai‘i boxer to claim a national Golden Gloves championship), and leading local boxers to scores of state titles.

The Fred ‘Pops’ Fernandez Pereira, Sr., Wai‘anae District Park Boxing Gym now joins the Shinyei Nakamine Gymnasium Complex as part of the nearly 23-acre Leeward park. Currently the recreation building within the complex is undergoing renovations and upgrades to its roof, flooring, lighting, bathrooms, and other amenities. Once finished, the project will then shift to the gymnasium and Pop’s boxing gym. Previous repairs to this Leeward gymnasium were last tasked in Summer 2018. We hope these repairs help keep these facilities open and usable, so the next generation of Pops-inspired fighters can flourish.

If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please contact the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 768-3003 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email parks@honolulu.gov at least three business days before the scheduled event. Without sufficient advanced notice, it may not be possible to fulfill requests.