WIN A “FAMILY-TRIP” HAWAII VACATION

The Polynesian Cultural Center is sponsoring a family-style trip to Hawaii drawing for four that includes: 

– Round-trip airfare to Hawaii

– Hotel accommodations at the Marriott Courtyard Oahu North Shore

– Super Ambassador Luau Package tickets to the PCC

-A thrilling zip-line adventure by nearby Climb Works at Keana Farms

Participants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry to be eligible to win. Please go to https://www.polynesia.com/familytrip/index.html for the complete list of official contest rules.

The winner will be contacted on November 22, 2016.

PFHOF Names 2017 Finalists

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame — whose permanent exhibit is located near the front entrance of the Polynesian Cultural Center — has announced that 18 Finalists will be on the ballot for induction into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017. The list includes 15 players and three coaches/contributors. 

Vai Sikahema, one of our 2015’s  PFHoF inductees

The Finalists were selected from a field of over 200 nominees by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee composed of past head football coaches Dick Tomey (Chairman), LaVell Edwards, Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, ESPN SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett, NFL player personnel expert Gil Brandt, past NFLPA President and Inaugural Inductee Kevin Mawae and Hawaii sportscaster Robert Kekaula.  

“Special thanks to our outstanding Selection Committee, who has once again put forward an amazing group of Finalists for the Class of 2017,” said Dick Tomey.

The committee will meet again in the coming weeks to select the five members (four players and one coach/contributor) who will be inducted as the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

“On behalf of our Board of Directors, we congratulate the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Finalists,” said Jesse Sapolu, chairman and co-founder. “Each Finalist had an outstanding football career and are worthy of induction into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.”

This year’s inductees will be announced on October 12, 2016. They will be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend, to be held in Oahu and at the Polynesian Cultural Center on January 21 & 22, 2016.

The Class of 2017 finalists are:

• Junior Ah You (DE) Arizona State, Pro: CFL & USFL 12 years (Samoan). Ah You, who is from Laie, and his wife, Almira, are former PCC performers, and they currently operate their Tita’s Grill lunchwagon at the Hukilau Marketplace.
• Bob Apisa (FB/HB) Michigan State, Pro: NFL (GB) 1 year (Samoan).
• Herman “Buddy” Piikei Clark (OL) Oregon State, Pro: NFL (CHI) 4 years (Hawaiian).
• Riki Morgan Ellison (LB) USC, Pro: NFL (SF, OAK) 9 years (Maori).
• Ma’ake Tu’amelie Kemoeatu (DT) Utah, Pro: NFL (BAL, CAR, WAS) 9 years (Tongan).
• Chris Naeole (G) Colorado, Pro: NFL (NO, JAX) 12 years (Hawaiian).
• Alapati “Al” Noga (DL) Hawaii, Pro: NFL (MIN, WAS, IND) 7 years (Samoan).
• Niko Noga (LB) Hawaii, Pro: NFL (AZ, DET) 8 years (Samoan).
• Joe Fagaone Salave’a (DL) Arizona, Pro: NFL (TEN, BAL, SD, WAS) 8 years (Samoan).
• Dan Saleaumua (DT) Arizona State, Pro: NFL (DET, KC, SEA) 12 years (Samoan).
• Ma’a Tanuvasa (DE) Hawaii, Pro: NFL (STL, PIT, DEN, SD, ATL) 9 years (Samoan).
• Mosiula Mea’alofa “Lofa” Tatupu (LB) USC, Pro: NFL (SEA) 6 years (Samoan).
• Manu’ula “Manu” Asovalu Tuiasosopo (DL) UCLA, Pro: NFL (SEA, SF) 8 years (Samoan).
• Marques Tavita Tuiasosopo (QB) Washington, Pro: NFL (OAK, NYJ) 8 years (Samoan).
• Kimo von Oelhoffen (DL) Boise State, Pro: NFL (CIN, PIT, NYJ, PHI) 14 years (Hawaiian).

Class of 2017 coach and contributor finalists:

• Thomas Ka’auwai Ka’ulukukui, former head football coach at University of Hawaii (Hawaiian).
• John Manumaleuna, Southern California Advocate for Polynesian Youth (Samoan).
• Charlie Wedemeyer, former Head Football Coach, Los Gatos High School (CA) (Hawaiian).

Jeralee Galea’i wins women’s first place: Congratulations to PCC performer Jeralee Galea’i for winning first place in the women’s open division of the recent  Flaming Sword International Fireknife Competition. FYI, Jeralee — the only woman to enter the Polynesian Cultural Center’s 2016 World Fireknife Championship competition in May, took second place in the junior division (ages 12-17).

Story and images by Mike Foley
Mike Foley, who has worked off-and-on

at the Polynesian Cultural Center since

1968,  has been a full-time freelance

writer and digital media specialist since

2002, and had a long career in marketing

communications and PR before that. He

learned to speak fluent Samoan as a

Mormon missionary before moving to Laie

in 1967 — still does, and he has traveled

extensively over the years throughout

Polynesia and other Pacific islands. Foley

is mostly retired now, but continues to

contribute to various PCC and other media.