Posted on: Wednesday, December 22, 2004
ISLE FILE
Hawai'i team to play Samoa in football
Advertiser Staff
For the second consecutive year, Hawai'i is sending a delegation to Pago Pago, American Samoa, for the second annual Samoa Bowl on New Year's Day.
At least 27 Hawai'i high school senior football players will make the trip, according to Kahuku football coach Siuaki Livai, the committee chairman for the Hawai'i group. American Samoa Governor Togiola T.A. Tulafono is chairman for the Samoa committee.
Hawai'i will play a team of senior high school players from American Samoa.
"It's for anyone interested to going back to their roots," Livai said of the trip. "It's more like a field trip. The (Hawai'i players) learn about their culture."
Among the Hawai'i players attending are Kahuku receiver Spencer Hafoka and defensive linemen Tyson Alualu of Saint Louis, Rocky Savaiigaena of 'Aiea and John Fonoti of Farrington, Livai said.
Coaches making the trip are 'Aiea assistant Amosa Amosa, Kealakehe coach Sam Papali'i and Kalaheo coach Tony Tuioti.
The team had a workout yesterday and will have another today. The delegation leaves Monday and returns Jan. 3.
Last year, the Hawai'i team lost, 14-13. But the big news of that trip was the Hawai'i delegation getting stranded there for three extra days because of tropical cyclone Heta. Hawaiian and Aloha airlines canceled flights because of the storm.
"We just stayed at the hotel (during the cyclone)," Livai said. "Nothing went wrong at the hotel. They really took care of us."
BYUH men ranked No. 9 in national poll
The Brigham Young-Hawai'i men's basketball team moved up three spots to ninth place in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Poll released yesterday.
The ranking is BYUH's highest since moving to NCAA II. BYUH is 5-1 this season.
Virginia Union (5-0) is ranked No. 1.
Basketball
