Raiders ceremony all about commitment

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kahuku High School football player Paea Vaimoui kisses his mom, Kalolina Vaimoui, after he signed a letter of intent to attend Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn. Photos by Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Jenna Reff, 4, watched from the stands as her uncle, Jeremy Perry, signed a letter of intent to attend UH. Behind Jenna is Perry's sister, Iolanda Waa, with baby Kalehua and husband Harrington.

At the last minute, Kalolina Vaimoui slipped in, just in time to catch the important moment in the life of her only son, Paea Vaimoui.

Yesterday marked a turning point for Paea and his seven teammates, all seniors. Some had chosen teams and colleges in Hawai'i or on the Mainland to move toward a pro career, some to pay for advanced education. Families and friends were there to witness it all.

In Kahuku, football is king, and the signing ceremony has come to represent tremendous community pride. It's further validation for a football program that has been winning championships and sending players to college with hefty scholarships. Kahuku may not have the money and resources of its competitor schools, but the signing ceremony tells the world it can hold its own.

Kahuku's annual letter-of-intent ceremony took place on the first day of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I signing period for football prospects. Paea prepared to sign with Tusculum College in Tennessee, a Division II school.

Family members stood behind the athletes, facing an audience of nearly 100 friends and supporters. The athletes began to pen their names on the letters of intent.

Kalolina Vaimoui had been in town and hurriedly returned to Kahuku for the ceremony. She arrived flustered, but in time to witness the signing; in time to tearfully honor her son with a white ginger lei tied with a Raider-red ribbon.

"I'm so excited and so happy because this is a day I've been waiting for," said the 37-year-old single mother of six from La'ie. "I just thank God he has a chance to fulfill his dreams."

Soon after, her son wrapped her in a hug.

The ceremony lasted just 15 minutes, but proved to be a powerful moment for some players, including defensive end linebacker Walker Vave, who wiped away tears during the proceedings.

"Today is just a very emotional day," said Vave, who will attend Oregon State University, a Division I school. "This whole thing is for my parents. Getting a full ride is for my parents."

Vave's parents weren't able to attend because they were at work, but his 17-year-old sister, Nancy, stood behind him in support, often rubbing his back to console him.

"We've been so tight," she said, fighting tears. "Everything we do, everywhere we go, we're together. ... I'm just scared to let him go."

Ana Jones of La'ie and her husband, LaMarr, stood outside the gym before the ceremony with their son, Shosei Yamauchi, a Division I signee who plans to attend Troy State University in Alabama.

"It's opening doors for the kids here in Kahuku," said Ana Jones, 40, a clerk. "Hopefully it will pave the way for the rest of the kids, give our kids something to shoot for."

Kahuku High principal Lisa DeLong said she was ecstatic.

"It's a celebration because this is really the pinnacle of everything that I think the school communities work to achieve, as far as supporting students in the classroom and to be involved in co-curricular activities, and then moving on to that next step of college," DeLong said. "We're just proud of that accomplishment."

Jeremy Perry, offensive lineman and The Advertiser's All-State Player of the Year, had been agonizing until the last minute, putting his head on the table as he considered his choices — the University of Hawai'i, University of Arizona and Oregon State University. He signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Hawai'i, but didn't hand it in, apparently still uncertain of his decision.

His older brother George, a former Kahuku football player who graduated last year and will play for UH, came to watch the signing, saying he was glad Jeremy had chosen UH so that the brothers could play together, "not against each other." But who knew how things would end for the indecisive Jeremy?

As the event began, coach Siuaki Livai congratulated the boys and thanked them for their hard work. "We're very, very proud of each of you," Livai said.

Then principal DeLong took to the podium: "OK, are you all ready? Mr. Livai, are you ready? Go ahead and sign!"

As pens scratched across paper, Livai broke the silence with cheers and applause. Family and friends took pictures and shot video, then joined in.

Karlotta and Lewalan Carvalho of Hau'ula were all smiles. Sitting in the stands after the ceremony, they watched their son Waika Carvalho take group pictures with his friends. Waika, who intends to go to Dixie College, a junior college in Utah, wore a cigar-flower lei from his mom and dad.

"I'm happy his education is paid for," said Karlotta Carvalho, 40, a therapeutic aide. "That's a really big relief," she said with a laugh, "and I'm happy that he gets to pursue not only his education, but his football career as well."

Reach Zenaida Serrano Espanol at zespanol@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.