On scholarship ADVERTISING On scholarship Who: Maraea O’Connor School: Kamehameha Sport: Volleyball College: Western Nebraska By KEVIN JAKAHI Hawaii Tribune-Herald Maraea O’Connor’s dad is 6 feet 5, and her mom is a former Miss Hawaii with a golden singing voice.
On scholarship
Who: Maraea O’Connor
School: Kamehameha
Sport: Volleyball
College: Western Nebraska
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Maraea O’Connor’s dad is 6 feet 5, and her mom is a former Miss Hawaii with a golden singing voice.
The 6-foot Kamehameha senior got her height from one parent, James O’Connor, and the good looks from another, Desiree Moana Cruz.
But the best gift O’Connor got from her parents was her resiliency, something that has always carried her on the volleyball court.
O’Connor recently signed a scholarship with Western Nebraska Community College, a highlight and testament that the best rewards are earned, not given.
“It feels pretty great. I never imagined myself getting a full-ride,” she said. “It seems surreal. I’m really happy. It feels like a relief.”
She has a 3.3 grade-point average and hopes to get into corporate law. Her dream job is to work for Kamehameha someday.
Her dad is a police major, and her mom works in the tourism industry, and is the daughter of legendary singer Ernie Cruz.
“They were really happy and proud,” O’Connor said. “The first thing my dad said was that I’m going to work the hardest I ever have in my life.”
That’s because the Cougars are no ordinary junior college program. They’re a powerhouse and last won the national title in 2010, and one of the players was Kuulei Kabalis, a 2009 Kamehameha graduate.
O’Connor has been playing club ball six years for HI Intensity coach Carla Carpenter-Kabalis, whose other daughter Kalei also played at Western Nebraska. Kuulei later played at Kansas State, and Kalei at Washington State.
“Coach Carla is like my second mom. She’s invested a lot of time in me, and I’m thankful for that,” O’Connor said. “I wasn’t really a good player in elementary school. When I started playing for her, she was teaching me all the mental tools, and helping me develop confidence.
“After I got more confidence, I worked on technical skills. I’m really thankful to her for being where I am now. She was always there for me, not only volleyball. She really helped me with the whole college thing and made sure I’m OK.”
Middle of nowhere
The population in Scottsbluff, Neb., is a little over 15,000 people, and when O’Connor visited the corn country school she found it much to her liking.
“It’s a small community. The program has won the region 16 years in a row and two national championships,” O’Connor said. “I did online research, and after two years a lot of girls went to Division I and Division II schools.
“Kuulei basically told me it’s a good place. You can focus on school and volleyball and it’s in the middle of nowhere. You get in, get out, work hard and focus. It’s a nice environment.”
Last month, HI Intensity played in the Las Vegas Classic, a tournament that doubles as a huge scouting ground for college coaches.
At the senior showcase before the tourney, O’Connor impressed enough with her versatility, hitting from the right and left posts and setting, that other offers landed on her table.
“There were 250 coaches at the showcase. The gym was filled with college coaches,” O’Connor said. “During the tournament, the place was flooded with a lot of schools. I didn’t know some schools were watching and they emailed me. It was pretty cool.”
O’Connor later went to another showcase on Oahu, where Western Nebraska coach Binny Canales told her he had eyes there.
That gave O’Connor a warm feeling that someone 3,400 miles away in the land of corn and potatoes wanted her to play college ball.
O’Connor was a four-year member on the most talented Kamehameha team in school history for any sport. The Warriors have won the last five BIIF titles.
Last summer, Kaiulani Ahuna and Zoe Leonard were on the USA Volleyball women’s junior A1 training team. Junior setter Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker was on the USA girls youth A1 team.
Ahuna signed with Eastern Washington, Leonard with Dartmouth, and Jeyci Kaili with San Diego Christian College, an NAIA school. Makekau-Whittaker verbally committed to Cal State Northridge.
Best reward
Despite her height, hitting power and ball-handling skills, O’Connor only started in her senior year.
“I would start the season motivated, get down on myself, but I always thought that I’ve got to stick it out,” she said. “I had to keep hustling, even if I sat on the bench.
“Being on the bench made me a better person. What helped me was I didn’t want to become complacent. I knew I had to keep working hard.”
It was a three-year roller-coaster for O’Connor, who relied on her HI Intensity club work to recharge her batteries.
“Going into my senior year, I said that I was just going to do it this year. I realized I could be a leader and make a difference this year,” she said. “I’m pretty proud of myself but I’ve still got a long way to go. I’m where I am because of everything I had to go through.
“I’m just really happy closing my high school career with a scholarship, knowing where I’m going. I’m very thankful and really happy.”
To submit an On Scholarship candidate, email kjakahi@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
