By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Kamakalea Akiona stands 6 feet 3 and weighs 265 pounds, but walked in the shadow of others when it came time for All-BIIF football recognition.
The recent Kamehameha graduate never landed on the first team or received even honorable mention during his three years as a starting offensive/defensive lineman.
Still, Akiona, along with classmates Paki Iaea and Riana Arima, snagged a scholarship package to Pacific University, a Division III school in Forest Grove, Ore., and home to a ton of local products.
Akiona, who’ll be a defensive tackle, and Iaea, a wideout/DB, will join Kamehameha graduates Warner Shaw, Kennon Quiocho and Ina Teofilo on the Boxers’ roster.
Under Shaw, a first-year starting junior quarterback, Pacific (6-3) clinched a share of its first Northwest Conference title since 1952, in the fifth year since the program’s 2010 reinstatement.
There are no Kamehameha graduates on Pacific’s basketball roster, but Arima will be teammates with one local in Maia LaBoy, who’s from Maryknoll and sister of former UH-Manoa and NFL football star Travis LaBoy.
The Boxers kick off their season in November, and the game against Whitman College will be circled on the calendar for Arima, the BIIF Division II player of the year.
Casey Poe, a 2014 Kamehameha graduate, completed her freshman season for the Missionaries, and averaged 4.5 points and 18.5 minutes per game.
Arima, who had a 3.2 GPA, will major in medical technology with an eye toward a career as an X-ray technician, a job choice that came out of the blue.
“At first, I wanted to be a chef. When I was a little kid, I liked to play with toy food,” she said. “My aunty is a flight attendant and I thought it would be cool to have a job that travels. But in my junior and senior years, I was researching different jobs, and I wanted to go into the medical field to find a job where I’m helping people.”
Arima served as her own recruiting coordinator and contacted the Boxers (9-16, 5-11), who finished sixth in the conference and strained their neck staring at league champion George Fox (32-1, 16-0).
Whitman (16-10, 11-5) was fourth in the NWC, and the mention of Poe always brings back fond memories for Arima, who was coached by her dad Garrett Arima for three seasons with the Warriors.
Poe and Arima were key parts of Kamehameha’s great run: HHSAA state Division II titles in 2012, and ’13 and a runner-up finish in ’14.
“I contacted the coach (Sharon Rissmiller) first. She had not heard of me,” Arima said. “I sent a highlight and she liked what she saw, and from there we continued talking and she offered me to go there.
“It’ll be a lot different playing against Casey. She was a huge part of our team. It’ll be nice to see her on the court.”
The three new Boxers will likely join the school’s Hawaiian Club. And should Arima run out of spam or rice, she can borrow something from an old classmate.
“The biggest attraction was the amount of local students,” she said. “ I was not close with them (Akiona and Iaea), but when I found out we’re all going to the same college, we’ve kept in touch more.
“My family continued to push me to go away. Home will always be home.”
Akiona’s hero
Kamehameha coach Dan Lyons knew the importance of Akiona, who funneled ball-carriers to linebackers, and left a bigger imprint with his hard work and character.
He’s spending his summer working out at the school’s weight room, then following the footwork training technique the Boxers sent him.
“Bubba is a tremendously athletic young man who was integral to the success of our program last season (first BIIF title since 2010),” Lyons said. “He’s the type of young man who will be successful at anything he puts his mind to.”
Akiona, who had a 3.1 GPA, will major science and physics with a job as an engineer in mind.
He was raised in a single-parent household with two younger sisters. His mom Kalaimanuia Akiona works for Isemoto Contracting, and serves as more than a role model.
“My mom showed me what I can do in life,” he said. “She has three kids and she still works. She’s my hero. She’s dedicated, and has strong fortitude.”
Like Arima, he was pushed to hop on a plane and take a new adventure.
“My mom told me to get out of here. There’s so much of the world to see, and that I have to get out and see it,” Akiona said. “I’m looking forward to getting out and playing football. I want to start the college life already.
“My mom is the one who told me to get in football, and told me I would go far. And I guess I am.”