By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
It was a warm family gathering at Panaewa Park for one of their own, and Ka‘ilikea Kekuawela was the latest to make the community proud.
The Kamehameha senior recently signed to play football at Southern Oregon University, following in the footsteps of Ethanjames Ramos, who did the same last year.
The two Warriors will be teammates again for the Raiders, who lost to Reinhardt (Georgia) 37-34 in overtime in the NAIA semifinals.
Ramos, a 2017 Kamehameha graduate and linebacker, took a redshirt season. Ramos and Kekuawela are the only BIIF players on the roster, which includes nine from Hawaii.
Kekuawela and Ramos were on the Panaewa Alii team that made it to the Pop Warner Super Bowl in 2013. That gridiron connection and their deep appreciation for Panaewa bind them together.
The national letter intent signing turned into a reunion. Sergio Mamone, the Alii coach at the time, and Maui Ramos, an assistant, told stories about Kekuawela, who took Mamone’s humorous haymakers in stride.
“My uncle Serge and uncle Maui always push me to be the best person I can be and helped me become the football player I am today,” Kekuawela said. “My parents (Kawika and Tiffany) set me up for success in everything I do, whether it be sports or school.
“I’m so blessed to have parents who surround me with unconditional love and support.”
Like Ramos, Kekuawela wanted to shine a light on Panaewa, so he held his signing ceremony in the gym, where a half-dozen keiki sat on the floor.
“Panaewa is a special place for me,” Kekuawela said. “This is where I discovered my passion for football and spent most of my childhood making memories I’ll remember forever.”
Kekuawela, at 6 feet and 185 pounds, is projected to play either strong safety or outside linebacker.
“We didn’t discuss it much, but they told me they liked my explosiveness, aggression, and versatile skill-set,” he said.
Kekuawela was sold on the Raiders after Ramos’ scouting report. Southern Oregon saw his film, and it was mutual affection.
“Ethan and I are basically brothers, so when he told me how great their football program and coaching staff was I immediately became interested,” Kekuawela said. “Having my best friend in college and playing the sport I love was too much to pass up.”
He plans to major in kinesiology and become a teacher in the medical field.
Kekuawela had two scoops of postseason honors for his two sports. He was named to the All-BIIF Division II first team at linebacker and defender for soccer.
Back in February, the Warriors defeated Kapaa 3-2 for the HHSAA state championship, another shout-out opportunity for Kekuawela.
His hobbies are camping at Pohoiki with family, listening to his cousins play kanikapila, and hooping at Malama Park with his buddies.
But his most instinctive skill is to dish praise on others, especially his coaches.
“The greatest moment of my high school career was winning a state title with my soccer team,” he said. “We had the greatest soccer coach in all of Hawaii, in coach Kevin Waltjen, who led us to the school’s first boys state championship.”
Then the guy with the warm heart thought about all the little ones at his signing ceremony, watching one of their own become the latest Panaewa role model.
“I hope to bring the attitude of hard work and dedication to Southern Oregon,” said Kekuawela, who prefers bear hugs over handshakes. “It was something that was preached to us from a young age at Panaewa.
“I feel most proud to be representing the Big Island. I want to set the tone for all the athletes that come out of this island.”
