UH’s Kema-Kaleiwahea up for national award
UH’s Kema-Kaleiwahea up for national award
Hawai’i’s Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea, a senior defensive lineman, has been nominated for the 2016 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award.
The annual award recognizes courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. The national award typically garners just 10 nominees per year.
Kema-Kaleiwahea, a 2012 Kamehameha-Kapalama graduate, grew up on Oahu as the oldest in an adoptive family of six kids. After receiving a football scholarship to the University of Arizona, his family followed him to Tucson, Ariz. Soon after, at the age of 18, he learned his five siblings were in an abusive environment and he became their caregiver, even though he was a full-time student-athlete.
After marrying in 2014, he and his wife, Brianna, found assistance from extended family members, who adopted three of the children. Makani and Brianna adopted his other two siblings. Kema-Kaleiwahea and his family returned home in 2015, as Makani transferred to Hawaii to bring the siblings and extended family closer together.
A 6-foot-3, 240-pound redshirt senior, Kema-Kaleiwahea leads all UH defensive lineman with 27 tackles this season.
HI Intensity Volleyball Club tryouts
HI Intensity Volleyball Club will hold tryouts for girls interested in playing club volleyball this 2016-2017 season. The club is looking for girls to play in the 18’s, 17’s, 16’s, 14’s and under divisions. Tryouts will be held on Monday, Oct. 30 at Waiakea Uka Gym from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with check-in at 8 a.m. and Monday, Oct. 31 at Waiakea Uka Gym from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with check-in at 5:30.
All girls must have waivers signed by parents prior to tryouts, this can be done at check-in. Contact club director, Carla Carpenter-Kabalis at 987-5679, for more information.
Vuls picked near bottom in coaches hoops poll
The UH-Hilo men’s basketball team was picked to finish 10th out of 14 teams in the preseason PacWest poll.
No Vul was named to the preseason team. UHH went 9-15 last season, losing its first nine games.
Cal Baptist was the favorite and Lancer guard Michael Smith was picked to repeat as the conference player of the year.