POLYNESIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME..."TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL AND POWERFUL"
Nearly 600 guests attended the Inaugural Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony, which was held on January 23, 2014 at the Hawaii Convention Center.
The
Inaugural Class included Kurt Keola
Gouveia (Hawaiian ancestry), Olin
George Kreutz (Hawaiian ancestry), Kevin
James Mawae (Hawaiian ancestry), Tiaina Baul “Junior” Seau, Jr. (Samoan ancestry), Jack Thompson (Samoan ancestry), Herman
John Wedemeyer (Hawaiian ancestry) as player inductees and Ken Niumatalolo (Samoan ancestry) as a
coach inductee.
ESPN
SportsCenter Anchor Neil Everett and former NFL player, Philadelphia TV News Anchor
Vai Sikahema served as Masters of Ceremonies for the Enshrinement.
In honor of the Inductees a $2,500 scholarship, designated for a female or male student athlete from the Polynesian Triangle, was presented to their alma mater. Inductees also received a Hall of Fame ring and a custom Hall of Fame jacket.
In honor of the Inductees a $2,500 scholarship, designated for a female or male student athlete from the Polynesian Triangle, was presented to their alma mater. Inductees also received a Hall of Fame ring and a custom Hall of Fame jacket.
To quote the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the Enshrinement was a "tremendously successful and
powerful event..."
http://quickreads.staradvertiserblogs.com/2014/01/25/who-should-be-in-next-class-of-polynesian-football-hall/
http://quickreads.staradvertiserblogs.com/2014/01/25/who-should-be-in-next-class-of-polynesian-football-hall/
The Polynesian Football
Hall of Fame also announced that its new home would be located at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). The
permanent exhibit will share the history of Polynesian football and honor its
greatest players, coaches and contributors.Steelers Pro Bowl Safety and Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors member, Troy Polamalu made the historic announcement....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGZUa-Ib1bE)
As part of this partnership, both the PFHOF and the PCC will contribute substantial
funds and resources to the project. Scheduled to open January 2015, the costs
including construction and marketing will be several hundred thousand dollars. The
exhibit will be located at the entrance of the highly popular Ha Theater. Plans are also underway to develop youth and community educational
initiatives.
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Special thanks to ESPN Sportscenter anchor Neil Everett for producing and narrating the Enshrinement videos. (Inductee videos are below)
KURT
KEOLA GOUVEIA
(WATCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLNmnXCivX4)
Linebacker … Brigham Young University … Led his high school team to three consecutive State Titles and named Player of the Year (Offense & Defense), first in Hawai’i history … Hawai’i Sports Hall of Fame … 1984 NCAA Champion … Washington Redskins (1986-1994 & 1999), Philadelphia Eagles (1995), San Diego Chargers (1996-1998) … 13 seasons … Selected by Redskins in 8th Round, 213th player overall (1986 NFL Draft) … Two time Super Bowl Champion (1987, 1991) … Born September 14, 1964 in Honolulu, HI.
Center … University of Washington … All-State and SuperPrep All-American … Hawai’i Sports Hall of Fame … First Team All-Pac 10 … Morris Trophy winner (1997) … Consensus All-American (1997) … Chicago Bears (1998-2010), New Orleans Saints (2011) … 14 seasons … Selected by Bears in 3rd round, 64th player overall (1998 NFL Draft) … Six Pro Bowls (2001-2006) … Four times named All-Pro (2001, 2004-2006) … 2000s NFL All-Decade Team … Born June 9, 1977 in Honolulu, HI.
KEVIN JAMES MAWAE (WATCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FQF1VCGwto)
Center … Louisiana State University … LSU Sports Hall of Fame … Seattle Seahawks (1994-1997), New York Jets (1998-2005), Tennessee Titans (2006-2009) … 16 seasons … Selected by Seahawks in 2nd round, 36th player overall (1994 NFL Draft) … Six Pro Bowls (1999-2004) … Eight times named All-Pro (1998-2002, 2004, 2007 & 2008) … Ed Block Courage Award (2009) … 2000s NFL All-Decade Team … All-Time Jets Four Decade Team … First Polynesian to serve as NFLPA President (two terms) … Born January 23, 1971 in Savannah, GA.
Linebacker … University of Southern California …
Unanimous First Team All-American … San Diego Chargers (1990-2002), Miami
Dolphins (2003-2005), New England Patriots (2006-2009) … 20 seasons … Selected
by Chargers in 1st round, 5th player overall (1990 NFL Draft) … 12 Pro Bowls
(1991-2002) … 10 times named All-Pro
(1991-2000) … Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Winner & AFC Player of
the Year (1994) … 1990s NFL All-Decade Team … Chargers 40th & 50th
Anniversary Teams … Chargers Hall of Fame … Number 55 is retired by Chargers …
Born January 19, 1969 in San Diego, CA … Died May 2, 2012.
Quarterback
… Washington State University … Three times named All Pac-10 … Named First Team, Second or Honorable
Mention All-American three times … Finished Ninth in 1978 Heisman Trophy voting
… Graduated as most prolific passer in NCAA History (7,818 yards) … Led NCAA in
nine different offensive categories (1976) … Cincinnati Bengals (1979-1982),
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1983-1984) … Six seasons … Selected by Bengals in 1st
round, 3rd player overall (1979 NFL Draft), highest Polynesian ever selected …
Number 14 is retired by WSU … Nicknamed The
Throwin’ Samoan … Born May 19, 1956 in Tutuila, American Samoa.
Halfback … Saint Mary’s College … Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame
… Consensus All-American … Finished Fourth in 1945 Heisman Trophy voting … First
Polynesian to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (1979) … Los
Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1948, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1949 … Two seasons … Selected
by Dons in 1st round, 9th player overall (1947 AAFC Draft) … Led AAFC in punt
return yardage (1948) … Later starred as Sergeant/Detective “Duke” Lakela in television
series Hawaii Five-O … Nicknamed Squirmin’ Herman, Flyin’ Hawaiian & The
Hula Hipped Hawaiian … Born May 20, 1924 in Hilo, HI … Died January 25,
1999.
Head
Football Coach, United States Naval Academy (2007-present) … Seven seasons, 70
games … Regular season record: 43-27 … Five Bowl Appearances … First person of
Samoan ancestry to be named a collegiate Head Coach and winningest Polynesian
FBS Head Coach in history … 40 wins in first 5 years are most in Navy History …
First Service Academy coach to win the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy in his first
two years as Head Coach … Attended the University
of Hawai’i … Born May 8, 1965 in Laie, HI.
