Mules Look To Another Good Year

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Hoku Kama catches some air while taking part in football conditioning drills at Leilehua High School. Photo by Nathalie Walker, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Hoku Kama is used to delving out his share of punishment from his safety position. As he and his Leilehua teammates look ahead to football season, they also know they’re likely to be on the receiving end of a few hits themselves.

“We have a big target on our chest this year,“said Kama, a senior,“but that has made us work harder.”

The months without a game to prepare for can wear long on prep football players this time of year - those long hours in the weight room and conditioning sessions under the sun’s glare - but Kama and Co. had the luxury of seeing their work pay off big-time last fall when they delivered the school its first-ever state title. That kind of result would motivate any team to stay the course.But Kama’s flawless work ethic has always been his strongest suit, according to his father, Ed, who is in his fifth season as Leilehua’s offensive line coach.

“I can’t take credit for his effort,” said Ed Kama, who enjoyed a stellar playing career himself at Linfield College,and before that at McKinley High.“The bottom line is that what he does is up to him. His work ethic is what coach Nolan has instilled in all of the kids - the ability to do your best, which is all you can ask.”

When the Mules officially open fall camp Monday, much of the attention will be on their defense, led by end Jaydon Cuesta and Kama, who will anchor the secondary. Since switching from quarterback to safety in sixth-grade while competing for the Pop Warner Wahiawa Thunderbolts, Kama has been a steady performer on the field.

“I like the position of safety,“said Kama, who is 5-foot-11, 165 pounds.“I like pressure, and playing safety puts a lot of pressure on you.You’re the last resort. I love to read (a play) and hit people. I really had to work hard to learn the game of football. I asked the coaches a lot of questions. When I got into high school, I became more serious about it.”

Although Kama also starred on the Mules’ basketball team under Keith Spencer, football has largely been an all-consuming experience, to hear him tell it.

“Football usually takes up all of my time. I have football in my mind every day. When I’m not (playing), I mostly eat, sleep and rest up.”

In the Kama household, God comes first and family follows close behind, according to Ed Kama. But football has always had its place. Ed is one of the most decorated players to come out of Linfield, and he made the school’s
Hall of Fame in 2005. His brother-in-law, Aiea High’s Wendell Say,is the dean of Hawaii prep football coaches. Ed’s older son, Kekoa, starred at Leilehua in 2003-04 and drew the father back into the game after a 20-year hiatus by arranging an interview with Nolan Tokuda.

“I came home from work one day and he told me he’d set up an interview for me himself and that he wanted me to coach at Leilehua,” recalled Ed, whose family also includes wife GloryAnn, son Kaulana and daughters Chaslee and Cherish.“Being a part of the program at Leilehua has brought the whole family together. They get just as excited as everyone else on game day.”

Ed Kama said Leilehua’s cohesiveness spurred its late-season run of 2007, noting Tokuda’s “One Team, One Family” philosophy. “The love we had for each other brought us through,” he said.

Should he have the season coaches expect, Hoku Kama could have a chance to play college football. He carries a 3-0 grade-point average, opening his options even further.

“We always focus on the game we’re about to play and take it step by step,” Hoku said. “Whether or not I make it, I treat every year as if it’s my last year in football and give it my all.”

“My wife is a teacher at Mililani Mauka Middle School, and she always tells him, ‘Do your part in school and that’s what will open doors for you,’” added his dad.