Siofele carries on brother's memory

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Joe Siofele paused and the sadness could be seen in his eyes when asked about younger brother John, who was killed two years ago today in a traffic accident.

On July 15, 2002, John Siofele, then 18, got in his 1991 Volkswagen Jetta and drove toward Honolulu on Farrington Highway in Nanakuli. His vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a Makaha-bound city bus at about 4:06 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He had a blood-alcohol level of .142, well above the .08 legal limit, according to the city medical examiner, and had been at a graduation party.

"It's always hard when you lose someone, especially your own sibling, but everybody is doing a lot better with the help of the Lord," Siofele said. "Everybody's doing good and hanging in there."

Tiki Sagapolutele, Siofele's brother-in-law and Hawaiian Islanders teammate, has tried to fill the void left by John's death.

"I lost my brother and Tiki takes the place of that," Siofele said. "Me and him we're really tight and have a good relationship. I love him."

Sagapolutele met Siofele's sister, Setema, while attending summer school at the University of Hawai'i in 1994, and they were married in 2000. Sagapolutele and the Siofele brothers grew very close and often talked about the game they loved.

"Our conversations every day were about football. A lot of old war stories," Sagapolutele said.

The Sagapoluteles' first child was born July 5 at Kaiser Hospital, and they decided to pay John the ultimate tribute by naming their son, John Keawe Fa'aolataga Afasene Sagapolutele.

"That's something special," Siofele, 23, said. "They say the Lord takes one away and gives one right back. For him and my sister to do that, I hold that close to my heart."

Sagapolutele, 31, often considered himself a big brother to the Siofeles, and enjoyed watching them grow into solid individuals.

"They're great kids, very smart, well taught at home, very humble and great people to be around," Sagapolutele said. "They taught me a lot even though with me being the older brother."

John Siofele was an honor student and leader in the campus ministry at Saint Louis School. He also was a football team co-captain, an Interscholastic League of Honolulu second-team selection as a defensive lineman and headed to UH on a football scholarship.

The last time the siblings met was shortly before John was killed when they worked out together in Arizona in preparation for the 2002 season. Joe was a star linebacker/defensive end for the Wildcats from 2000 to 2003.

John is laid to rest at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, where the family plans a visit today.

"It was very difficult, him being the youngest (of four children)," Sagapolutele said. "A lot of the achievements he gained in high school ... it just devastated the whole family and till this day we still feel the effects of his loss, but I don't think it'll ever go away. It brought our family a lot closer."

The Siofeles played for Islanders head coach Cal Lee while at Saint Louis.

Lee said John was a likeable guy who was always smiling.

"You never can forget about it, but you have to stay active and you've got to move on," Lee said. "As hard as it may be you have to move on and do things you need to do to keep busy."

Siofele was undrafted after his senior year at Arizona and had a free-agent tryout with the Cincinnati Bengals, but was released June 4. In three games with the Islanders this season he has four unassisted and five assisted tackles.

Sagapolutele is in his third year with the team and has played in seven games this season. He has recorded four unassisted and six assisted tackles, and has two receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown.

The only time the linemen played together this season was June 19 against the San Diego Riptide — Siofele's first game with the team. Sagapolutele was given last week off after the birth of his son.

On Saturday night, the Islanders (7-6) will play their final home game of the arenafootball2 season when they face the Louisville Fire (8-5) at Blaisdell Arena. Kickoff is set for 6:30.

"For now, I just want to come out here, run around and play with these guys, and my brother plays for them so it's always good to play beside family," Siofele said.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.

Withy-Allen expected to start again

Shawn Withy-Allen will start his third consecutive game at quarterback for the Hawaiian Islanders when they host the Louisville Fire Saturday night.

Last night, Islanders head coach Cal Lee said, "If we had a game tomorrow, it would be him (pointing to Withy-Allen)."

The MRI result on Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux's right knee yesterday revealed no ligament damage and he's listed as day-to-day.

Arceneaux participated in practice last night at Saint Louis School with a knee brace after missing practice Tuesday. He was injured in Saturday's game against Bakersfield.

Arceneaux started the first 11 games of the season, and Withy-Allen started under center July 3 at San Diego when Arceneaux helped out at a football camp that week in American Samoa.