Punahou School linebacker Manti Te'o, who led the Buffanblu to their first state football title and earned the first Dick Butkus Award as the most outstanding high school linebacker in the nation, was named the outstanding Male Sportsperson of the Year for 2008 by the Honolulu Quarterback Club.

The award was announced at the club's 62nd annual Banquet of Champions last night.

Former University of Hawai'i baseball coach Les Murakami and the Eldredge coaching 'ohana also were recognized by the club as "Legends in Hawai'i Sports."

Te'o was a unanimous choice among the 12 Male Athletes of the Month announced by the Quarterback Club during 2008.

He beat such standouts as Olympic gold medalist Bryan Clay and baseball postseason and World Series standout Shane Victorino.

Te'o also was named the outstanding male Prep Athlete of the Year.

University of Hawai'i women's track and field coach Carmyn James was named outstanding Female Sportsperson of the Year, in recognition of her team's highest-ever placing in the NCAA Division I track and field championships.

James led her team to a 25th-place finish nationally, the highest ever for a UH team and ahead of such track and field powerhouses as UCLA, Washington State, BYU and Wisconsin.

Kale Ane, who coached Punahou to its first state football title, was named George Archer Coach of the Year.

Additional awards included:

Female Prep Athlete of the Year:

Sarah Palmer, Hawai'i Baptist Academy, named state player of the year in volleyball.

Adult Female Athlete of the Year

Jamie Houston, UH outside hitter, named All-American in volleyball.

Adult Male Athlete of the Year

Bryan Clay, 2008 Olympic decathlon champion, crowned "World's Greatest Athlete."

Senior Female Athlete of the Year

Linda Kaiser, 58, inducted into Hawai'i Swimming Hall of Fame in recognition of her accomplishments as a long-distance swimmer.

Senior Male Athlete of the Year

Vince Costello, 55, finished second in national USA Track & Field age-group decathlon championships.

Neal Shaw Blaisdell Award

Tom Holden, Punahou athletic director, in recognition of the school's No. 1 ranking by Sports Illustrated.

Scotty Schuman Award

Timo Donahue, Honolulu police officer and coach of the world champion Waipi'o Little League team.

Les Keiter Media Award

Ann Miller, Honolulu Advertiser sports reporter, who has covered UH and Hawai'i sports for three decades.

Earl Galdeira Officials Award

Gordon Scruton, veteran senior track and field official, and certification chair for Hawai'i track and field officials.

Paul Durham AD Award

Ralph Martinson, long-time Punahou athletic director who pioneered prep female athletics in Hawai'i .

Joe Reynolds Award

Clara and Ronald Nishimura, outstanding contributors to Honolulu Quarterback Club activities.