Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, which partners with the Polynesian Cultural Center in showcasing the organization’s permanent exhibit gallery near our front entrance, announced its roster of 25 finalists who will be on the ballot for induction into the PFHF Class of 2016. The 20 player finalists — including four with strong Laie and/or Kahuku High ties — in alphabetical order are:
Junior Ah You (DE) Arizona State; Pro: 12 years, CFL & USFL; Samoan | Bob Apisa (FB/HB) Michigan State; Pro: NFL (GB) 1 year; Samoan | Charles “Charlie” Teetai Ane Jr. | Herman “Buddy” Piikei Clark (OL) Oregon State; Pro: NFL (CHI) 4 years; Hawaiian | Riki Morgan Ellison (LB) USC; Pro: NFL (SF, OAK) 8 years; Maori |
Rockne Crowningburg Freitas | Ma’ake Tu’amalie Kemoeatu (DT) Utah; Pro: NFL (BAL, CAR, WAS) 11 years; Tongan | Brandon Manumaleuna (TE) Arizona; Pro: NFL (STL, SD, CHI) 10 years; Samoan | Chris Nae’ole (G) Colorado; Pro: NFL (NO, JAX) 11 years; Hawaiian | Alapati “Al” Noga (DL) Hawaii; Pro: NFL (MIN, WAS, IND) 6 years; Samoan |
Niko Noga | Troy Polamalu (DB) USC; Pro: NFL (PIT) 12 years; Samoan | Joe Fagaone Salave’a | Dan Saleaumua (DT) Arizona State; Pro: NFL (DET, KC, SEA) 12 years; Samoan | Vai Sikahema (RB/KR) BYU; Pro: NFL (AZ, GB, PHI) 8 years; Tongan |
The five coaches/contributors finalists are:
Thomas Ka’auwai Ka’ulukukui | Cal Lee Head coach, St. Louis High (HI); Hawaiian | Albert “Al” Lolotai | John Manumaleuna Southern California advocate for Polynesian youth; Samoan | Charlie Wedemeyer Head coach, Los Gatos High (CA); Hawaiian |
The PFHF Selection committee sifted through a list of over 200 nominees to come up with the roster of finalists. Members of the Selection Committee are coaches Dick Tomey (chairman), LaVell Edwards, Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil; past NFLPA president and inaugural inductee Kevin Mawae, ESPN sportcaster Neil Everett, NFL legend Gil Brandt and Honolulu sportscaster Robert Kekaula.
PFHF will announce the Class of 2016 honorees on October 7, 2015. They will be inducted at a reception and celebration dinner in the Hawaii Convention Center on Friday, January 29, 2016, and also at the enshrinement ceremony the next day, Saturday, January 30, 2016, at the Polynesian Cultural Center. PCC guests that day will get the opportunity to meet the inductees, who will also sign autographs.
Story by Mike Foley, image courtesy of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
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.
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