Mel Seki has retired for the second time.

After 15 seasons as Pearl City High School's baseball coach, Seki quietly followed through on something that he had been contemplating for a while.

Seki, 72, led the Chargers to two state runner-up finishes and two O'ahu Interscholastic Association championships, including an OIA title and state runner-up finish this season.

He informed the school and his team of his decision after the season ended, and Pearl City is currently searching for a replacement.

"The way things progressed this year, I thought it would be a good time," said Seki, who retired in 1990 after 15 years as principal at Moanalua Intermediate.

Seki came to Pearl City after leading Waipahu to the OIA junior varsity title in 1992, his only year there. Pearl City finished second in the state in his first year, and finishing second again this season was "almost a full circle," he said.

He cited that, health issues and being a grandfather for the first time as indicators that it was time to retire.

"My granddaughter lives in Everett, Washington," Seki said. "I've never been to Seattle before. We celebrated her first year last week. Within the year, I've been there four times."

Seki took a circuitous route to Pearl City. Pearl City principal Gerald Suyama, the band teacher at Moanalua Intermediate when Seki was principal there, called Seki for recommendations for the Chargers position.

"I hung up and then thought, 'Why didn't he ask me?' " Seki said. "I called him back and said, 'What about me?' He knew I was at Waipahu."

Early experiences working with students got Seki interested in becoming an educator. He started as a science teacher at Highlands Intermediate before becoming a vice principal at Leilehua.

"You got to be willing to work with kids, to relate to kids," Seki said.

Playing under the late, legendary coach Francis Funai at Saint Louis and at the University of Pennsylvania helped Seki believe he had the background to coach.

"I told my wife (Laura) I just wanted to see what coaching was like and get me a couple years," Seki said.

"I have to be grateful to her for supporting me all these years. I wouldn't have been able to do this."

NOTE

Pearl City High School is searching for a head boys soccer coach and baseball coach. Interested applicants can contact athletic director Reid Shigemasa at reid_shigemasa@notes.k12.hi.us by Tuesday.