The ex-Moanalua High School girl’s wrestling coach who led the program to four state titles has been arrested by the FBI and charged with possession and receipt of child pornography.
The FBI’s Honolulu Field Office is seeking to “identify potential victims of Sean Sakaida.” who was recently charged with possession and receipt of child pornography. Sakaida was arrested by FBI agents and is in custody at the Federal Detention Center, Honolulu.
Sakaida was the 2025 National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Hawaii coach of the year. He was put on leave by the school in the fall of 2025 after being accused of dating a player.
“The FBI believes he primarily targeted female wrestlers who were minors between the timeframe of 2012-2026,” said the FBI.
The FBI is asking anyone who was “victimized by Sean Sakaida or have information relevant to this investigation,” please fill out this short form. “If you know of someone else who has possibly been victimized by Sean Sakaida, please encourage them to complete the form themselves,” the FBI urged. All identities of victims will be kept confidential.
In 2012, as the head coach of Roosevelt High School’s wrestling team, Sakaida told the Star-Advertiser he was was “flabbergasted” when he learned that a parent accused him of kissing a female student wrestler.
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“I was kind of shocked to hear any of it,” he said told the Star-Advertiser in April 2012. “I’m just finding out more information as I go along. I’m pretty lost as well.”
Sakaida, who was 30 in 2012, was placed on leave after school officials told him that a parent alleged he had inappropriate contact with at least two female wrestlers through text messages as late as 3 a.m. and kissing a 13-year-old female wrestler.
“I was kind of flabbergasted,” he said at the time of the 2012 allegations. “That’s totally false….Nothing like that happened. I never ever came on to any of my students.”
Sakaida coached the boys and girls wrestling teams at Roosevelt for at least seven years.
Sakaida started the Moanalua girls wrestling run of five straight state titles in 2021.
Sakaida presided over the first four state titles but was placed on leave in the fall of 2025 after allegations surfaced that he was having a relationship with one of his star players. Reggie Torres replaced Sakaida and won the school’s fifth straight in March.
The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law. Victim responses “are voluntary but may be useful in the federal investigation and to identify you as a potential victim. Based on the responses provided, you may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information.