Get your tickets early for the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame’s 2017 induction ceremony at the Polynesian Culture Center.
The day is a big ticket every year, but this might be the biggest. Two former Kahuku standouts, Chris Naeole and Junior Ah You, will take the short drive to be inducted.
Mililani standout Ma’a Tanuvasa will be joining them along with Riki Ellison of USC fame and contributor John Manumaleuna.
Naeole is currently an assistant coach at Hawaii and was an All-State lineman for both Honolulu newspapers following his senior season in 1991. He was also selected the OIA Lineman of the Year for the Red Raiders, who went 9-2 but lost to Leilehua in the OIA playoffs to end their season. He played his college ball at Colorado before going to the NFL.
Ah You was one of Kahuku’s first defensive forces, being named first team defensive end in the Rural OIA in 1967. His Red Raiders went 8-3 with four shutouts in his senior year and beat OIA champion Waianae 7-6 the day before Turkey Day at Honolulu Stadium but the Seariders are recognized as the champions because it was an exhibition game and they beat Famika Anae‘s crew 27-13 during the regular season. Ah You went on to play at Arizona State before embarking on a legendary career in the CFL for the British Columbia Lions.
Tanuvasa was a force for the Trojans in his senior year, making the All-State first team list for both newspapers after being named the OIA West defensive player of the year over standouts like Chad Lopati of Radford and Waialua’s Joel Kawachi despite the Trojans going 2-7. The record didn’t matter, though, Tanuvasa played his college ball at Hawaii before going to the NFL.
See polynesianfootballhof.org for more information.
Why is it only now they are getting inducted? Ma’a Tanuvasa and Chris Naeole were standout players who each had long NFL careers. Ma’a Tanuvasa was a Prop 48 casualty. That’s how UH got him. UH got many top players that way. Mika Liilii and Taase Faumui too. I don’t know what happened to that loophole.
Kids rather go the jr college route instead of sitting out now days with prop 48, they can play right away and get noticed by top 10 schools. The Ufiufi kid (DT) from Halawa same year as Tanuvasa was a “beast” and should have been D player of year!
CONGRATULATIONS!! All well deserved!!
Why the hate? Just be happy for the guys that made it!
???- If Ufiufi kid was better then Maa then he would’ve been the Defensive player of the year. Don’t think Maa would’ve cared anyways if he didn’t get it.
Mahatma G- Why bring up the Prop 48 casualty? Does it matter how UH got Tanuvasa and all the other players? You can go to any school and still be on Prop 48.