Orange Coast players never feel they're far from home

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Marukai is a mile away. L & L Drive-Inn is down the road. There are barbecues with rice, and a hanai aunty.

HIGA

LATU

"It's a good feeling because it is just like being at home," sophomore linebacker Dallas DeFries said. "We're surrounded by so many people who are like us."

DeFries, who lives with Trevor Meyers (freshman defensive back, Kamehameha '01), Jon Villanueva (freshman wide receiver, Kamehameha), Justin Humalon (freshman wideout, Saint Louis '02) and Ikaika Medrano (freshman defensive lineman, Kamehameha), said that he and his roommates came to Orange Coast because there were no opportunities to play at a junior college in Hawai'i.

"We knew a couple of guys from last year's team," said DeFries, a 2001 Kamehameha Schools graduate from Honolulu. "They told us it was really good and it is a really good program, that the coach works really hard at getting the players scholarships."

In 2002, Keola Loo, a 1999 Saint Louis School graduate from Kane'ohe, became the first Hawai'i player to play for coach Mike Taylor.

Taylor said that Loo — who is now playing for Washington State — had a family friend, wide receivers coach Junior Tagaloa, who brought him into the program.

After that, through word of mouth, more players began showing interest.

At first, DeFries said having so many Hawai'i players made other players think they were being distant.

"We all hang out together," he said of his Hawai'i teammates. "They take that like they think we think we are better. They look at that negatively, like we are unsociable, but it is really a comfort thing.

"But it was only like that in the beginning. Once we started to get to know each other, it all worked out."

Taylor, whose wife Jo Ann, or "Aunty Jo," said that he hosted several of his players during the year.

"I bought a couple rice cookers," Taylor said. "I joke that there were so many Spam cans that the cats in the neighborhood were wearing lava lavas."

Defensive lineman Jesse Mahelona (Kealakehe 2001 of Kailua, Kona) is one of the players Taylor hosted.

"It feels family-oriented," said Mahelona, who will sign a letter of intent to play for Tennessee next month. "There are people you can depend on and people you can look up to. Coming from Hawai'i, we understand each other."

Even the end-of-the-year party last season was catered by L & L Drive-Inn — complete with chicken katsu.

"It's kind of like a bonus to have foods from back home," sophomore quarterback Kelika Higa said. "Cause you know how we like to eat."

Higa, a 2001 Saint Louis graduate from Kailua, said that it also helps having a lot of players from Hawai'i because he thinks their style of play is different.

"Honestly, I think we play harder, and I like having guys around who are used to playing that style of football," Higa said.

Three Hawai'i players were named to the All-Mission Conference American Division second team: strong safety Una Latu (Saint Louis), tight end Jon Garcia (Saint Louis) and Humalon.

The Pirates ended the season at 4-6 overall and 1-4 in the conference, after starting out 4-2 and 1-0.

"I'm not used to losing, except to Saint Louis," DeFries said. "Losing six games in one season ... I don't know. I thought we had a good chance."

As for having teammates whom he used to consider rivals?

"It is good to have them on our side. They always tease us (about beating us). They all still live in high school. We have that ILH (Interscholastic League of Honolulu) bond, I guess."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.

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