Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
Under the it’s-about-time category, several prominent figures today announced the launching of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.
The first class will be selected this month. It will feature six players and one “contributor” to the sport. Preferred qualities are players born in the region known as Polynesia or of Polynesian ancestry. The class will be inducted in a ceremony Jan. 263 during Pro Bowl week.
The hall will be headquartered in Honolulu, although a site has not been selected yet.
The board includes: Jesse Sapolu, Maa Tanuvasa, Troy Polamalu, Vai Sikahema, June Jones and Reno Mahe.
The selection committee includes: Dick Tomey, LaVell Edwards, Ron McBride, Gil Brandt and Neil Everett.
There are 58 players of Polynesian ancestry on NFL rosters, and two college head coaches (Navy’s Kenny Niumatalolo and Norm Chow).
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There should be no doubt that wide receiver Keelan Ewaliko, a former rodeo champion, can block a defensive back. That was evident during yesterday’s “Oklahoma” drill.
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It appears that Matt “Meffy” Koloamatangi will remain at tight end for now. He was at defensive end for the first two practices of training camp before switching to offense on Sunday.
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Did we mention that quarterback coach Jordan Wynn actually has a year of NCAA eligibility remaining?
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Oh, yeah, one other thing: We welcome my second grand-daughter, who was born last night.
First row
Ewaliko is a beast!
Only me, ST? Chee!
Congrats, ST!
Congrats ST!!!
If Koloamatangi stays at TE, did he gain too much weight? Ideally he put on ‘good’ weight & retained his speed & agility.
Good morning everybody!
Top 10.
Congratulations to the Tsai Ohana!
When thinking about it, speed & agility might be more important at the DE position than at TE, so might be irrelevent.
Congrats ST and the parents of the grandchild.
Let’s hope the Noga brothers can get into this Hall.
ST–such a grand and long-awaited idea!!! Here are my own nominations for the inaugural class: Squirmin Herman Wedemeyer, Bob Apisa, Rockne Freitas, Russ Francis and Mosi Tatupu.
I believe Jesse Sapolu deserves consideration – Farrington – UH – 49ers (4 super bowl rings)
But for you real Hawaiian history buffs; who is Augie Cabrinha???? C’mon, put on your thinking cap, and don’t google his name.
Answer: Augie Cabrinha, born in Honolulu, who played 3 games for the Dayton Triangles and is the first person of Native Hawaiian descent to play professional football. So, perhaps, he should be on the “old, old timers HOF list”.
Hey, hey, hey! Welcome to our neighborhood, grandmaster’s grand daughter!
Congrats Grandpa Steven!
Local talent showing their skills, I wonder who would win in a foot race??
Ewaliko is a tough player.
Congratulations!
ST: Congratulations on being a Grandpa for the second time.
I have only have a Grand dog. Shucks.
GOOD MORNING HAWAII!
ST – Granddaughters are the best!
Keenan Ewaliko will be tough to bring down. After all, he rides one ton bulls.
ST..Grandfather, aka…chief spoiler and the sheriff of spare dollar bills.
Make sure you spoil your grandaughters now, ST…
Congratulations.
You will hear many words of wisdom from these babes…
Good morning Tsaikos!
Congrats to the Tsai ohana! August 6th is a very good day.
Will the PHOF feature only NFL players or college players as well?
GO BOWS!
GO WAHINE!
Hooray for the new baby! Countless years of blessings headed her way.
Looks like Greg Salas continues his very strong summer, with another effusive article, see: http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2013/08/greg_salas_continuing_to_impress_at_eagles_camp.html
congratulations!
welcome to the world little one!
In news related to another ex-warrior in the NFL, Alex Green on his diet, see: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/217872841.html
Ironically, I was in Portland, Alex’s hometown, where I own a couple places, and he was in the security line with me, at the airport, just a couple of weeks ago….and as they say in the hood, brother, did indeed looked “yoked out…”
haleakala…”little girls and puppy dog tails…”
i’m like you, only got the puppy.
Congrats to the blogmaster and all of the Tsai ‘ohana! Thank heaven for little girls!
Congrats ST & Wena on the newest addition to the Tsai Ohana.
Good morning!
Welcome to the new Tsai-kette!
Whoo-hoo!!!
tommy kaulukukui
Ewaliko is “Da Bull in Da Ring” as we used to call the drill. Very appropriate for this Cowboy!
Congratulations ST and Welcome to the world Lily……….
Hey all,
Saw this video with Jordan Wynn on Hawaii Athletics…Seems pretty intelligent…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTUH6t8O5_0&feature=c4-overview&list=UUIdMh3LfMj9yEjM6t3B6m6A
How about Tommy Kaulukukui in the first class of PHOF. He was multisport athlete and an All-American at UH. Coached youth Pop Warner Football (great coach), coached at UH and served as AD, former US Marshall. And mostly AND always, a GREAT PERSON.
# 35–great call, Tommy certainly belongs in the first class…and thus, I revise my original submission, and bump Russ (who will no doubt eventually get in) and replace him with TK.
Good morning everyone!
Congrats to Jodie and the rest of the Tsai ohana!
ST, congratulations for the new granddaughter.
Maybe they should assign Ewaliko to cover Marquise Lee wherever he lines up. Ewaliko’s young but got the speed & most important, the mental toughness to never let his man beat him.
Congrats ST!! Time flies. One moment you are a young, strapping, lad. The next moment, you are taking metamucil and shopping for diapers. Ok, just joking. I have two grand kids too, so welcome to the club.
Glad to see Jessie and company start this up. Long time overdue. Malo, Jessie!
How we doing on the O? Anything look promising at this point?
Watching the video gave me fond memories of da bullring in HS…….
It is about time, Polynesian players deserve to be enshrined. I can think of so many worthy players.
UH should have something a little better than those plaques for the circle of honor or whatever we have. We need a proper place at Stan Sheriff for all the great coaches and players we have had.
and yes, chow is pau.
From the AP style book:
A comma splice is the attempt to join two independent clauses with a comma without a coordinating conjunction. For example, “She walked the dog last night, today she fed it.”
Name one other college football player, besides Keelan Ewaliko, that have ridden a bull. I don’t think so. That’s one for the Napa Ultimate Trivia Contest on ESPN 1420.
My first take on the Polynesian Hall of Fame first class: Junior Seau, Jesse Sapolu, Mark Tuinei, Troy Polamalu, somebody from BYU or Utah. The first 4 are Super Bowl Champions, NFL All-Pros, or NFL Hall of Fame. Not a bad first list.
Hawaii shouldn’t kick to Marquise Lee on kick offs.
Great list, Derek!
I add the following to your already good list:
– Marques Tuiasosopo
– Jack Thompson (Throwin Samoan)
– Chris Maafala
– Mosi Tatupu
– Lofa Tatupu
– Niko Noga
– Al Noga
– Star Lotulelei
– Haloti Nagata
– Maake Kemoeatu
Ngata
Derek #48:
You may be correct, but there are schools in the MWC, such as Boise St while in the WAC, had “bull riding” as a sport or was it rodeo and they gained additional points for the school of the year award in athletics.
Besides, this they had other sports which UH did not have and gained many points to outpace UH for the top award.
Conversely, UH had sports such as water polo that Boise St did not, but this was miniscule compared to the other “sports” WAC schools counted on to boost their total points.
Wonder is Wyoming and other MWC schools also have the same?
IT #47:
It would seem more appropriate to use a semi colon or a conjunction such as “and” rather than a ,.
Makes the sentence structure awkward sounding.
48—I gotcha…actually local boy, and Saint Louis great and alum, George Ornellas, his ohana is big with the horses and competitions, so I would venture to say he has been on the back of a bull. As for the Poly HOF, my first instinct is recognize all the folks who paved the way for the more contemporary players….but that said, there is no doubt that all the players you mentioned are imminently qualified.
53 and 47. There appears to be this literary zeitgeist in which writing to reflect relaxed speech is not only the norm, but the rave.For instance, peruse any NYT article, and one will find any number of no-nos, that I was previously taught. For instance, ending sentences in prepositions. In my day, it was universally thought to be a glaring grammatical error–no more.
Here’s an example of a sentence that can end with a preposition: What did you step on? A key point is that the sentence doesn’t work if you leave off the preposition. You can’t say, “What did you step?” You need to say, “What did you step on?” to make a grammatical sentence.
For you purist,, who may think, “What about saying, ‘On what did you step?’” But really, have you ever heard anyone talk that way? There are long, contorted arguments from noted grammarians about why it’s OK to end sentences with prepositions when the preposition isn’t extraneous (1), but the driving point still seems to be, “Nobody in their right mind talks this way.” Yes, you could say, “On what did you step?” but not even grammarians think you should. It sounds pedantic.
Still, if I can’t use these archaic rules, why did I spend all this money on fancy degrees, and moreover, how the hell am I going show-off in front of my relatives???!
derek…mike andrade
boolakanaka:
Mrs A-House is the English grammar guru in our house and used to constantly correct me is the use of “her” and “she” and “amount” and “number” and many, many, many others.
She’s not a teacher, but a retired Fed.
hey, al:
how’s life treating you now-a-days?
getting ready for tailgating?
collecting info on 2014 and 2015 recruits? keeping track on those who went on “missions”?
still going to Maui? jeez, last time we were there they still had tht old airport where a passenger walks down the steps, into the brilliant sunshine, and then the lobby/waiting area
Good Morning Folks!
New Baby Girl Blessings for Tsai Ohana!
Best Wishes to Popo Wena & Kung Kung St 🙂
My wife who was a school teacher is always correcting me on my grammar. I also get corrected on the pronunciation of Hawaiian words. I also hear it when I grunt in response. I’m supposed to speak in complete sentences.
That’s why it is easier to keep my mouth shut. Then I get scolded for not saying something.
I’m glad that my fellow gents on the board share some of my same experiences with the grammar police, e.g. (my mom also ex-fed, my wife, and the many many other folks at the shi-shi University, in which I am employed). I am a big fan of that wise piece of advice old bruddha honest Abe provided:Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
WarriorNY: Thanks for the video of Jordan Wynn. He is an up and coming coach. When asked what the main attributes are of a successful quarterback, he said that that would be accuracy and leadership. TG has both attributes plus a powerful arm.
boolakanaka: That is great advice. “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
Everyone should heed that saying. Some need it more than others.
Re AP style: I was just sharing information is all i was doing, and nothing more. That is what we tend to do here, last time i checked. Write as you please, i say. As long as you understand what you wrote, then great. Easy to be misunderstood here i have found.
Grammar wot dat? No can hear wot I stay telling you, so den goin rite it down foah you, so wot now you undahstand>>>>>
Jordan Wynn another year eligibity and knows Chow’s system…is that a possibility if Graham should go down ST or what???? I guess anything is possible.
Those en da spelling guys drive me nuts… who cares except teachers and lawyers well maybe reporters…..can you usnersatnd this? If can no worrys….
63–Haleakala…the unfortunate truth about the keen insight you just provided, is that there is a direct nexus between those who should most follow this adage, and those folks who cannot, for the life of them, keep their mouth shut. And they say God doesn’t have a sense of humor….??!!
Welcome, baby Lily!
Love the good news about the Poly HOF!
Happy Granddading ST.
Use of correct words like you’re, your, their, there, they’re, to, too, affect, effect, its, it’s, then, and than. No matter, I know what you mean. 😉
Like the video!
Great problems altogether, simply acquired a brand new visitor. What would you propose in relation to your send that you simply produced some days earlier? Any constructive?
Jim Nicholson
Part Samoan, Kalaipohaku Grad, Atlanta Falcons TE.
That teen who lost on Jeopardy now cares a bit more about spelling.
HNN story on Ewalikoma couple years ago:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j3-GPtsHCDw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dj3-GPtsHCDw
Herman Wedemeyer
Sometimes, in the course of human events, people feel the need to “hang together” when they feel threatened, forcing out the perceived invader by any means necessary.
On blogs, the tool often employed to accomplish this end is the ubiquitous snide remark. When this occurs, as it oftentimes occurs here, I am reminded of Ben Franklin when he said:
“We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
Interesting how this dynamic — the snide remark (1) aimed at a person you feel threatened by and (2) for the purpose of creating a “we” vs. “them” division — is both cyclical and predictable on any blog or in any community where diversity of opinion exists.
All this jibber jabber about people who need to shut up lest others know he/she is stupid is making me hungry. Time to get some lunch.
Now, back to football. Still wondering, of course, about the progress our O is making.
congrats on the new baby tsai-kette
Congrats! Gung Gung.
#48 Walt Garrison, Oklahoma State/Dallas Cowboys
Congrats Grand-papa ST!
Congratulations Grandpa!
79–good one! Also add….Jared Allen, see: http://beforeitsnews.com/sports/2013/07/vikings-jared-allen-really-getting-into-bull-riding-2516586.html
Congratulations Grandpa ST…Another circle of life begins…
Merv Lopes, UH WR (80-81) Started as a walkon. Worked his way into the starting lineup. He later became a Paniolo on the Big Island, I believe.
Great to see Al Noga involved with the program at practice and in the weight room.
ahouse…still going.
i’ll be in maui tomw. going to lunch with duffer.
mr. whitey has gameday thursday.
that airport you descibe…is it the current kona airport?
#85 Absolutely!
Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Noga brothers were recognized in the Polynesian Hall before UH? That honor is so long overdue.
Congrats ST….Welcome to the newest TSAI-KO…. 🙂
Congrats ST!!!!!
Just watched Greg Salas go against the patriots dbs. In the red zone drills he went 2 for 2. 2 receptions for TDS!!!!
First, There are 74 current Pacific Islanders active in the NFL, only one is a Torres Strait Islander. Second, I have mixed feelings about this hall of fame, and all the comments above are valid and sum up the way I feel about this topic.
There is a new blog that was started that has some very good insight and information of Polynesian/Pacific Islander football players in the NFL and NCAA. Here it is…
http://southpacificgridiron.com/
*Check it out!*
84–Kimo Lopes, Merv’s younger brother was also a walk-on, and a helluva fisherman.
90–that is a real nice website…wow, Utah has a grip of Samoan and Tongan players!!
It’s getting close to being that time.
Let’s go Rainbow Warriors!!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ehBlRiAGso
#73 – Wow laulau you goin pay me da big bucks for good spellin….. 🙂
Is Kurt Gouveia part poly?
I think Olin Kreutz is part Hawaiian but not certain.
Pomai . . .
Wat, stilyet tryin fo take advatage of teechas?
Shud get hazzahd pay fo teechin u.
Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
99
Whoo-hoo!
2nd century.
NFL Hall of Fame, shame, shame, shame! Showing my age but … Yes, they finally put Curly Culp in HOF and I am so happy about that, but still no explanation why there is not enough love for Atlanta Falcons’ Tommy Nobis. He was feared more than Culp, Nitzschke, and Butkis, and at the time, he was only the second linebacker to be drafted #1 overall and the first-ever player on the Falcons Roster earning him the nickname “Mr. Falcon” Houston Oilers (AFL) and Atlanta (NFL) both drafted Nobis #1. This was quite a controversy: “Which team and league would he pick?” His 294 tackles in his rookie NFL season is a feat that has never been duplicated by anyone at any position in any season. Let it begin: We Want Tommy! We Want Tommy! And many congrats to Curly!
afternoon gang!
congratulations to the Tsai ohana
Any practice updates?
I am amazed Tommy Nobis is not in the Hall. I still have Butkis ahead. I have it Butkis, Huff, Nobis, Lambert and Lanier.
Congrats G-Pa
On the subject of HOF slights, and not only one of my fav players of the 70s and 80s, but Ken Riley not being nominated is a huge slight. Ken has 65 career interceptions, 65!!!!! If I am not mistaken, there are 15-16 current in the HOF dbs who have less interceptions…..child please, my man needs and deserves to be in the hall.
Independant Thought, when offered constructively and respectfully should be encouraged in a blog format. Rebuttals to the same, should also be equally handled. The reason this blog and this country for that matter, are so strong is because we allow for all voices to be heard. The world and this blog would be a boring place if we all thought the same way.
OK I Pau Talk……Let’s Go Bows!
Not pompous……hehe
Wait a minute, is this the real IT? I can never tell who’s who anymore.
derek, a-house, boolakanaka…
several years ago, a de or lb was hurt during the season from riding a bull. this was when jj was still here. may have been victor clore, not sure, ST probably can remember who the player was.
charlie ane
nfl’s interception leaders, career.
1 Paul Krause 81
2 Emlen Tunnell 79
3 Rod Woodson 71
4 Dick Lane 68
5 Ken Riley 65
6 Darren Sharper 63
Ronnie Lott 63
8 Dave Brown 62
Dick LeBeau 62
10 ED REED 61
19 CHARLES WOODSON 55
Great Afternoon All!
Congratulations to Grandma and Grandpa…and the newest Big Sister on da block!
Any reports from practice today?
Any reports from practice today?
k. mark takai running for U.S. House.
I knew this was gonna happen when he dropped the sneak attack on Ben Jay – open letter about the rainbow warrior nickname.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/20130807_State_Rep_Takai_running_for_Hanabusas_seat_in_Congress.html?id=218767761
lgbt RAINBOW warrior,
did you make a post saying so way back when then?
why would someone make a post then make another claiming it wasnt their post to begin with?
Congrats ST and Ohana! Papahoodz is a good thing from what I hear. I’m still firmly entrenched in da fadahood.
BIK
Cheeeehoooo! Congrats ST!!
BEAT USC!!!
more bull riders
victor clore was the player reported injured from riding a bull. so i guess you can add to the list of bull riders: brad and chad kalilimoku.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Dec/18/sp/hawaii712180364.html
is the stalker 120 or 127? its confusing.
boolakanaka-I was honored and humbled to read your post about my grandfather, Augie Cabrinha. Although he was born in Honmu he was not of Hawaiian ancestry. His parents were immigrants from the Azores. The distinction of the first native Hawaiian to play pro football should go to his St. Louis HS, University of Dayton, and Dayton Triangles teammate Sam K. Hipa. I have been a silent stalker of this fabulous blog for a couple of years now. I have enjoyed the majority of the posts on the blog. Thank you to all of you that make this blog informative and interesting. Oh yeah go bows.
Cool!
This is a copy of the email I sent to the Star-advertiser, I would encourage all of the readers of the blog to do the same, maybe that will make them fix it.
webmasters@staradvertiser.com;
Scott I would like to take this time to ask you to please stop the spam on “The Warrior Beat Blog”, it is becoming rather ridiculous that we paid subscribers can’t even read the blog due to the amount of spam that is continuously posted on the blog. It would be a shame that one of the, if not the most popular blogs on the Star-Advertiser was lost due to the amount of spam that it gets. By this email I am urging all of the TSAIKOS and blog readers to send a like email to you.
[yawn]
g’nite everyone!
Cabby74–Then it is an honor to meet you. Much kudos to your gramps!! On a somewhat related note, my mom’s side of the family grew up in Honomu, north of Hilo, and she always mentioned that their were several Portuguese neighbors….well, fast forward 30 year or so, and I just came home from Brazil, as I use to work for the State Department, anyway my elderly mom asked me about my recent stay in Brazil, and then in a very kolohe way asked if any girls had asked me the following question: Vem para a cama? (translation–come to my bed) Obviously startled, I asked….how do you know portuguese? She replied with a smile of a time gone….our neighbors in Honomu.
Good morning, again!
Seems the guys with the power and ability to do something about the spam are not willing or are unable to stop it.
Yeah, I know they can — if they want to.
So, that leaves the other option. They do not care to do so. That makes it scary. That raises another
con’t . . .
question. Why?
Naim mustafaa to Miami!! Indecisive that one.
I wonder if Naim ever made it to the campus at least lol!
Good morning, gang!
Congrats, Tsai ‘ohana, on the new granddaughter!
What?? Da bugga wen dig?
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1731611-miami-hurricanes-snag-former-3-star-oklahoma-state-dl-naim-mustafaa
Funny for Hawaii, Naim was referred to as a 4* recruit but for Miami he’s just a 3* recruit!
Naim….papa was a rolling stone…..
snap & clear – Aloha if true