There was a time when Jesse Sapolu was in search of an identity.

He had played football at Damien Memorial his freshman year, and McKinley High his sophomore year.

When he arrived at Farrington High as a junior, he recalled: "I was searching for myself."

Sapolu said with the guidance of Farrington head coach Al Espinda, and assistants Harry Pacarro and Gordon Miyashiro, he soon began to mature as a person and excel as a football player.

"They sat me down and grounded into me I had potential to do something special," Sapolu said.

Sapolu, a 1979 Farrington graduate, later played for the University of Hawai'i (1979 to 1982) and spent his entire NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers (1983 to 1997) as a center and offensive guard. He is one of six 49ers who has four Super Bowl rings (1984, 1988, 1989, 1994).

On July 22, Sapolu and five others will be part of the second class inducted into the Governors' Hall of Fame at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.

"I wasn't sure Farrington had one," he said during a phone interview from his home in Orange County, Calif. "I was very pleased to receive the letter to inform me (on his induction)."

Sapolu has already received the highest honor for two other organizations.

"I was inducted into the Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame 10 years ago and the University of Hawai'i Hall of Honor six years ago," he said.

Sapolu, 47, lives in Orange County with his wife Lisa and four children, and serves as the 49ers alumni community relations' coordinator. One of his responsibilities is attracting corporate sponsors to purchase luxury suites at Monster Park.

His job also allows him to "keep in touch with teammates and the great players from the past."

Sapolu has worked with the 49ers the past 10 years and has been at his current position the past eight.

He also started the Jesse Sapolu Foundation, which offers grants to various groups, including Polynesian students in California, Honolulu Shriners Hospital and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Sapolu said he's in fine health despite having a heart valve replaced in 1997.

"My health is great," he said. "I had a leaking aorta valve as a young boy. I had to correct it with surgery. It's better now than when I played."

RECRUITING PROCESS

Sapolu, an All-State lineman at Farrington, said he was recruited by Michigan State, BYU, Oregon, Arizona State and Hawai'i.

He went on a recruiting trip to Arizona State with Saint Louis star Wayne Apuna, enjoyed the experience and was leaning toward committing to the Sun Devils.

That was before former Rainbows coach Dick Tomey made a recruiting visit to the Sapolu's home in Kalihi and sat on the floor.

"Sitting on the floor is the ultimate respect in the Samoan culture," Sapolu said.

The gesture by Tomey won over Sapolu's mother, and he decided to play for Hawai'i.

Apuna wound up playing for Arizona State.

GOOD TEAMMATE

The Rainbows went 29-15 in Sapolu's four seasons.

Sapolu was voted to the All-Western Athletic Conference first team as a sophomore, the All-WAC second team as a junior and All-WAC honorable mention as a senior.

One of his offensive line mates for two seasons was Jim Donovan, the current UH athletic director.

"He was the leader of the offensive line," said Donovan, who played for UH in 1981 and 1982. "He certainly was a mentor to me coming in as a JC transfer."

As juniors, Sapolu and Donovan were the starting guards. In his senior season, Sapolu moved to center.

"That really helped him be more attractive to NFL teams," Donovan said of Sapolu's versatility. "It helped him in his longevity with the 49ers. He was a very skilled drive blocker and pass blocker."

Donovan said Sapolu was humble, worked hard and was very competitive.

Donovan, who also was All-WAC honorable mention as a senior, added: "Lots of kids should look up to him and try to be a Jesse Sapolu."

'CHIP ON MY SHOULDER'

Sapolu was drafted by the 49ers in the 11th round (No. 289 overall) of the 1983 NFL draft.

"I knew off the bat rosters were at 45 (players)," he said. "There were no practice squads back then. You either made it or you're out."

Sapolu said he went to mini camp "with a chip on my shoulder. There were a lot of players picked before me."

He also had a lot of confidence.

"Dave Rimington, Nebraska; I felt like I was a better player than he was," Sapolu said.

Rimington was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the '83 draft. He was a two-time winner of the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation's top interior lineman.

The Rimington Trophy, awarded since 2000, is presented to the country's top center.

Rimington lasted seven years in the league — less than half as long as Sapolu — and didn't make any Pro Bowls. Sapolu made two Pro Bowls (1993, 1994).

MIGHTY NINERS

Sapolu played sparingly as a rookie and fought through injuries in his second and third seasons.

"People were surprised Bill Walsh kept me on the squad," Sapolu said.

Sapolu wound up starting 154 of 183 career games with San Francisco, and his offensive teammates included Joe Montana, Steve Young, Dwight Clark, Jerry Rice and Randy Cross.

Walsh, the late 49ers head coach, introduced the league to the West Coast Offense, and the team responded with prolific numbers for a lengthy period.

"He was an offensive mind before his time," Sapolu said.

While the 49ers offense ran smoothly, the players were feeling the pressure from their coach, according to Sapolu.

"A lot of us, including Joe Montana, weren't comfortable playing for him because he was so demanding," he said.

Sapolu added he and other players had more of a mellow "father-son relationship" with Walsh after their football careers.

Sapolu won two Super Bowls under Walsh (head coach from 1979 to 1988) with the other two coming under George Seifert (1989 to 1996).

Sapolu is regarded as one of the most popular players in team history.

"I led quietly and stepped up. The fans appreciate that," he said.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED

Sapolu is pleased with the increasing number of Samoan players in the NFL.

"When I came out, it was once in a while you played a team with a Samoan on the roster," he said. "Now, the flood gates are open and it's only going to get better."

Sapolu returned to Hawai'i late last month to play in the June Jones Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic on the Big Island, and then traveled to American Samoa to help with Jones' football academy. Jones was the head coach at Hawai'i from 1999 to 2007.

Sapolu said he visits Hawai'i "three or four times" a year.

In today's game, there are many more 300-plus-pound offensive linemen compared to when Sapolu played.

Many say the current players are bigger and faster.

Sapolu, who was listed at 6 feet 4 and 271 pounds during his playing days on the Internet, disputes the "faster" part, and added he ran 40 yards in 4.8 seconds, while 49ers guard Guy McIntyre ran a 4.7.

PARTING ADVICE

The six inductees will bring the Governors' Hall of Fame to 11 members.

Sapolu and Wally Yonamine (class of 1945; football and baseball) will be the only athletes honored.

"For me to be selected with some of the people like Yonamine; it's an honor to be in that group," Sapolu said.

His advice to Farrington students and youth in general is: "Be comfortable in your skin. Success comes in different facets. Whether you're a janitor or pro football player be the best at what you do and be happy inside. That's success."