Pro football players to give back to youth

Advertiser Staff

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What: Hawai'i Youth Football Camp. When: Saturday and Sunday. Camps run from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days. Check-in is one hour prior to each camp. Where: 'Aiea High School. Who: Eleven pro football players will be conducting the camp. The roster includes: Joe Salave'a (Washington Redskins). Kerry Carter, Wayne Hunter and Itula Mili (Seattle Seahawks). Leo Goeas, Ma'ake Kemoeatu and Chris McAlister (Baltimore Ravens). Pisa Tinoisamoa (St. Louis Rams). Ma'a Tanuvasa (former Denver Bronco). Brian Ah Yat (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and Darnell Arceneaux (Hawaiian Islanders). Contact: Rick Sakata at (808) 896-2140. Registration, including the parental waiver, can be done over the phone or in person.

"If they can get anything out of it, at least know that school and education are really important and that no matter how good of an athlete you are, you'll find it hard to succeed," said Joe Salave'a, whose foundation is putting on the camp.

"The players will talk to them about staying positive, staying in school and being drug free," added Rick Sakata, who is helping coordinate the event at 'Aiea High School.

The camp is also working with the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers on a presentation to "put across a positive message" according to Sakata.

Sakata is expecting at least 800 participants at the camps on Saturday and Sunday. There will be two camps each day at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The Joe Salave'a Foundation has hosted camps with NFL players in American Samoa for the past four years, and this year Salave'a wanted to give something back to the community in Hawai'i.

"There was a need that I thought for the youth of the Hawaiian Islands," said Salave'a. "I want the kids to have fun in the game of football and be able to listen to the NFL guys and the guests coming to the camp."

He is one of nine NFL players working at the camp. Several of those players have Hawai'i ties including Wayne Hunter, Ma'a Tanuvasa and Pisa Tinoisamoa.

"I just feel fortunate and privileged that these guys are taking part of their offseason to work with the kids," Salave'a said. "It's a tribute to themselves knowing how important of a role they play in the lives of kids."

The camps are free and open to Pop Warner players, but Sakata said they could make exceptions if he is contacted ahead of time. He also said participants will play in shorts and shirts.

After the Hawai'i camps, the players are flying to American Samoa to put on another camp.