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. (OL) USC; Pro: NFL (DET) 6 years; Samoan	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 (OL) Oregon State; PRO: NFL (DET, TB) 10 years; Hawaiian	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 (LB) Hawaii; Pro: NFL (AZ, DET) 8 years; Samoan	Troy Polamalu (DB) USC; Pro: NFL (PIT) 12 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	Vai Sikahema (RB/KR) BYU; Pro: NFL (AZ, GB, PHI) 8 years; Tongan

 

The five coaches/contributors finalists are:

 

Thomas Ka’auwai Ka’ulukukui Head coach, U of Hawaii; Hawaiian

Cal Lee Head coach, St. Louis High (HI); Hawaiian

Albert “Al” Lolotai First Polynesian to play pro football; Samoan

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.

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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.