After 11 years, the show "Hawaii's Super Kids," faded into fond memories, but the children that were featured then, didn't just dissappear. Malika Dudley has been tracking down former Super Kids and scouting our islands for new, fresh faces. Over 200 kids and 6 groups were featured during those 11 years. Let's re-visit those memories, and catch up with one Super Kid who still packs a punch.

"My name is George Seishi Kotaka. I'm 11 years old, and I'm in sixth grade. I'm a black belt and my rank is 1st dan," Kotaka said.

In 1989, he introduced himself on KGMB9. Kotaka was already making an impact. He led karate classes, trained 6 days a week, and competed in national competitions. All of that dedication, definitely paid off. He was the only competitor at the Junior Olympics to receive nothing but gold.

"I took first place in kata, sparring and weapons," he explains.

His teacher, John Limcaco, knew Kotaka had the right stuff to be a world champion.

In 1989 Limacaco spoke with KGMB9, "George is one of those, you should say, exceptional students. I guess he started at a young age so he grasps and understands more than other kids. If there should be an Olympics in the future, George should be in one of them."

Fast-forward to the present day, the little boy who was the star student of his class, now leads classes of his own at his father's dojo.

He's 30, and has a number of major accomplishments under his black belt, including a distinction that he dreamed of as a kid.

In 1989, this is what he had to say, "I'll be doing this the rest of my life. I want to be rated number 1."

And after a lot of hard work, the goals he set back then, became reality, when in 2002, he did it.

"I made the national team. It took me about 6 years till I finally won my world title," said Kotaka.

Although he's graced the cover of magazines, has two world titles, and of course the important distinction of being one of "Hawaii's Super Kids," he's still humble and insists he couldn't have done it alone.

If you ask him, his teacher, John Limcaco, had a lot to do with his success.

"He took me on the side and taught me all the little things to make me a champion. John has been a huge inspiration. Ever since I was small I wanted to be as good, or just as good, or even greater than him and that really really kept me motivated," Kotaka said.

Now, Kotaka is an inspiration himself.

One of his students, 12-year-old Milan Twining, who is eager to follow in his Sensei's footsteps.

"He's been my role model since I was 5 when I started karate. He's really strong and he's really fair to everybody," said Twining.

And Kotaka is up to the challenge.

"I like to take that responsibility and role as a mentor. I see these kids, they look up to me," Kotaka said. 

Kotaka now measures his success, in a different way.

"One or two kids here and there, if I can affect them, motivate them, or inspire them to become better people. You know, I think that's my job and I will have fulfilled my requirements as a teacher," he explains.

But the true test is not in a trophy or belt color. The true judges are his students. So, what do they think? Twining has an answer to that, "Yeah, he's super all right. he's really super."

---