Something Tells Me This Season Is Going to Be Spectacular
May 19, 2017
Hawaii, Oahu — Honolulu, Kahuku CDP
Kahuku High School — Football Field
The More The Better.
It means the more you have, the better.
And that goes for a football team too.
The More Players. The Better Plays.
First of all, when you have more players, the quality of your practice changes. You can run a wider variety of drills and experiments. When you consider that football is a sport where getting hurt is just a part of daily life, last year's roster of 53 was an absurdly small number.
Above all, we're a high school, aren't we? Failing grades. Skipping class. Disciplinary action. Sometimes even crime. Over the course of a single season, players miss time for all sorts of reasons — some of them even get booted midway through. You need at least 60 to 65 guys. Minimum.
But then—
"Damn--! What in the world is going on here!!"
"We're gonna get killed."
Because this year, we had assembled a roster of—
"SEVENTY?!?!"
"We're screwed. The competition is gonna be brutal."
"HELL YEAH. Now we're talking."
A full seventy players.
And not just that—
"Hey, that's Kana'i."
"Mika's here too??"
"Zion. That's Zion."
—we'd packed the roster with kids famous across all of Hawaii.
At this point, you can't help but wonder.
"How on earth did you pull this off?"
"That's what I'm saying."
"Look, here comes Coach."
"Wait. THAT'S the coach?"
"He's, like, totally skinny??"
He wasn't exactly famous, but back in his junior college days, Coach Gavin Travis had been a 6'4" (193 cm), 260-pound (118 kg) linebacker. Now, more than twenty years into retirement, he was a middle-aged man who carried the same weight but had traded muscle for a gut — though judging with my own eyes, he looked like he'd dropped a good 40 pounds (18 kg) at least. That once-huge belly had melted clean away, and even his face had sharpened into something leaner.
"Everyone, eyes on me!!"
"Let's hurry."
"Yeah."
Curiosity could wait. First, we had to sprint to the coach. When we reached him, we knelt down without needing to be told. The newcomers hesitated for a moment, glancing around — but they soon followed suit and sat.
"A new season begins!"
....
"What we did last year — being Hawaii's champions — that's ancient history! We start from zero! Anyone who doesn't work hard won't play on my team, so know that you'll get your asses kicked straight out the door! But since today's the first day, I'll go easy on you. Everyone, sit wherever you like! There are a lot of new faces here, so I'll introduce you one by one!"
For every high school football team, the new season begins the day after graduation. That's the only way transfer students can join the team. If a transfer participates in practices at their new school before graduating from their old one, it's a rule violation and they can't play that season at all.
I took my seat next to Sekope and Loto and waited for the introductions of the new faces. And mostly, I soaked in my friends' reactions.
"Hi. I'm Kana'i Mauga."
"Damn it. They snagged HIM."
"Remember that guy? From Waianae, right?"
"Yup. The best linebacker in Hawaii."
Kana'i Mauga — last year's top defender in the entire state. He's rated as a D1 talent, which means he can go to an NCAA Division 1 school.
And then came the next one.
"Mika's here, so y'all can go fuck yourselves."
"MIKA!! Watch your mouth!!"
"Just being myself, Coach."
"Save that crap for Kamehameha! It doesn't fly here!"
That one-of-a-kind character was Mika Tafua, a Defensive End (DE). A weakside one, at that.
First, a DE is a defensive player. He stands at either end of the frontmost line of scrimmage in a 4-3 or 3-4 formation, responsible for shutting down rushing attacks. Like linebackers, they're split into strong (SDE) and weak (WDE): the SDE mainly stops the run, while the WDE goes straight for the quarterback.
It's not absolute, of course — the roles shift depending on the opponent's scheme. Mika was classified as a WDE because he was exceptional at sacking quarterbacks. In other words, the position that charges at the QB first. Along with linebackers, you could call guys like him my natural predators.
And after that came Zion Tupuola-Fetui. His position was Edge — a pass rusher. In football, edge players line up as defensive ends in a 4-3, or drop back to the outer linebacker spots in a 3-4. The goal is exactly one thing. Same as a WDE—
"All you QBs are dead."
"Unbelievable! Every single one of them, with their mouths…"
Coach clearly wasn't thrilled with the transfers who cursed so casually, but I'd had my palms out toward Sekope and Loto since a while ago. The two of them had curved their hands into little beaks and were diligently slapping my palms.
We were clapping right now because our stomachs were about to burst. Our teammates were genuinely that loaded. The corners of my mouth refused to come down.
And there were more.
Maika Mari Teraagi (Offensive Tackle). Siaosi Lauhingoa (Defensive Tackle). Sedrick Lapeta (Defensive End). Fatu Atuaia (Inside Linebacker).
Every one of them an elite Hawaii player. Every one of them a transfer.
"Damn--!! Is this real?! Is this actually real?!"
"You guys are lucky."
"Huh?"
"You barely have to compete."
"Come to think of it, you got two of them yourself?"
"Ugh. I already feel outclassed."
"Don't be like that, Sam. You're good too."
After the introductions, the friends who'd gone a little gloomy were like kids struck by lightning out of a clear blue sky. The competition had just spiked without warning. The linebacker corps had it especially rough. Last year we'd mixed 4-3 and 3-4 defensive schemes, but we'd been criticized for lacking pressure on the quarterback — so it seemed Coach had poured his recruiting efforts into the defense and hand-picked only the best. There were three weakside linebackers alone, so it made sense that Samson, who played the same position, would feel this deflated.
But I was the one who had to lead this team. So I encouraged Samson.
"You've grown insanely fast, Samson."
"Whew— Fuck. That's next week, right?"
"Yep. Today I'm leaving everyone alone."
"And I still need to show you what Muscle Men is."
"We'll start easing into it next week."
I had no desire to torture the new guys on a Friday, so I planned to hold the first Muscle Men session starting Monday.
"Damn it. I'll show them what I've got then."
"That's the spirit, Sam. You can do it."
Watching Samson reignite, a thought hit me.
HELL YES! I LOVE COMPETITION!
It was only the first day of the new season, and already I could hear the sound of laziness evaporating all around us, burned away by pure competitive fire.
THIS is it! This is exactly it! This is how a team gets better!
Human beings are, by nature, fragile. And because they're fragile, they turn to evil. To survive, you exploit others — or you trample them with dirty tricks. Proving yourself with skill? That's genuinely hard. That's why we need fences — things that hold us in so we don't wander off course. Family. Society. Those are what make humans human.
In that sense, the competitive storm that swept through Kahuku today would, I hoped, lead everyone to decide to build their skills and win playing time — instead of exploiting their teammates or stepping on them. That's why me, Sekope, Loto, and the rest of the returning players—
"We're the pillars. You got that?"
We had to help the newcomers blend into our ranks and become teammates, friends, family.
"Moi?"
"Yes Sir."
"Come with me. New play book."
"Oorah!"
New season. New play book. Adrenaline was surging through me like crazy.
May 22, 2017
Hawaii, Oahu — Honolulu, Kahuku CDP
Kahuku High School — Weight Room
This was never the plan. I never saw this coming. Not even in my wildest dreams.
"LIFT! I SAID LIFT!!"
"You soft-ass bitch!! Is that all you've got?!!"
"LIFT IT NOW!!"
I swear to heaven, I truly meant to take it easy. Why does a first impression have to follow you forever? What I hadn't known was that our Muscle Men's reputation(?) had spread clear to other high schools. Some of the transfer students had dreamed of becoming Muscle Men themselves, and on day one they dumped booster after booster into their systems.
"HA--!! You motherfucker!!"
"Two more!! TWO MORE!!"
"I… I can't."
"HURK!"
With kids retching all over the place, the transfers filled half of the plastic tub we'd set on the floor. Whether they filled it themselves or made someone else do the filling — in both senses of the word.
"Damn--! Dude, those guys are no joke."
"A bunch of maniacs just showed up."
"Isn't that what we wanted?"
"I didn't know they'd be THAT crazy!"
No, hold on. If they're this insane, how am I supposed to look like the crazy one?
"You trippin'? I told you that's what I wanted!"
"Fuck! I'm the vice-captain, I've gotta keep up!"
By the way. Why did you just go 'dude' and collapse? You're barely even half Black. And besides—
"Isn't Laehi's mom Black? That makes him half."
"…Shut up."
"Hehe. Idiot."
That's right. Among our roughly seventy players, we had Taz Rodriguez, of South American and Black descent — but not a single full-blooded Black player.
Welcome to Hawaii.
That's just how this place is. The Polynesians play football here.
Mika Tafua, drenched in sweat, came over grinning. He'd worked seriously hard today too.
"WHOO—!! FUCK!! This is awesome!!"
"Man. Can't tell who's been here longest anymore."
"Come on, Moi. I've been waiting for this, for real."
One thing was certain: our defense this year was going to be terrifying. With Sioele — on an Arizona State scholarship — leaving, the gap had been a worry, but a whole wave of even better players had arrived. Kana'i Mauga especially had me excited. We'd become fast friends.
And then there was—
"We gotta rep the gang! WE GOTTA!"
.
"Chase the money! But never chase the beaches!"
.
"He had a mask on. FUCK! Take the mask off!"
Um. The kid who plays Mask Off on repeat all day long — Enoch Nawahine — I'd become instant friends with him too. He looks like a friendly Hawaiian uncle from next door, but his soul is thoroughly steeped in hip-hop. Then again, doesn't listening to the same song get old?
Right on cue, Kaonohi shouted, clearly fed up.
"Enoch!! Please, for the love of God, turn that song off!!"
"WHAT?! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!"
"Crazy bastard! FUCK you!!"
"I'm already there!"
Our usual two-and-a-half hours of happy time. And when it ended—
"Alright. Dinner's on me tonight."
"WHAT--!!!"
I cast a spell that captured every heart in the room. Living in Paia, I'd managed to save up a bit of allowance. When I wasn't serving tables, Mom's restaurant customers would slip me bills, saying, "It's not a tip, it's allowance." Never knowing how to refuse, I'd tucked every bill into my pocket and squirreled them away neatly in my bank account. And since it was still break, weight training had wrapped up early in the afternoon. Perfect timing — it was dinner hour.
At the word "dinner," the kids stampeded toward me like primitives worshipping some animist god.
"MO-I! MO-I! MO-I!"
"Alright, you morons! Dinner's on ME--!!!"
"MO-I! MO-I! MO-I!"
So, hauling seventy mouths with us, we headed to—
A burger joint that had finally opened nearby. Kahuku Grill. It occupied a spot inside the famous old sugar mill nearby called the Old Kahuku Sugar Mill, where the owner had smelled — like a psychic — that Kahuku was about to blow up, and opened his burger shop. Since last spring it had become the hangout for students in the area. Standing before a part-timer whose jaw had dropped wide open, I proudly produced my card, then said, meaningfully:
"I'd brace yourself, if I were you. This place is about to blow up."
"…Huh?"
At my wink, the part-timer looked ready to faint.
Well, then. At least I know I'm handsome.
May 24, 2017
Hawaii, Oahu — Honolulu, Kahuku CDP
Moi's Residence
The aftermath of Monday's lifting session arrived at yesterday's practice. Coach looked sheepish as he told me:
A completely fair point. So I decided to scale back the Muscle Men sessions. Twice a week or so? We couldn't let them interfere with team practice. The belly can't be allowed to eat the navel.
And right now, I—
"Honolulu Swing… oh, here it is."
—was studying the team's new play book. I'd started in the morning, and somehow it was already evening. I decided to step outside for a good stretch and some fresh air. It was my first breath of outdoor air since morning.
"Hah—!"
May in Hawaii is the busiest time of year. The islands buzz with tourists, and festivals pop up everywhere. Just on the first, I'd gone with my family to a traditional festival on Maui. Mom had absolutely loved it — which made it even more fun for me.
Bzzzt—
Honestly. He's a sophomore now, and he hasn't changed one bit.
My playing time is about to start growing, and I honestly don't know when that guy will get his head on straight. Maybe because all his diligent chasing after girls back in freshman year paid off, Marcus gets invited to practically every party thrown by the kids who live along the road leading from Kahuku to Laie. Naturally, I got plenty of those invitations too — having me show up had become a way for the host to flex their influence.
The world of girls remains beyond my comprehension.
But then — you saw it, right? An American high schooler's party means beer at best, and at worst, vodka and drugs. Girls are a matter of taste, anyway. In college, you can meet far prettier, far better girls, and do things that are safer yet far more exciting — so I'm in no rush to go looking right now.
Sure, that's probably because my standards are absurdly high. Aunt Mel has confirmed this herself. She said my future was going to be exhausting.
But what can I do? Kendall Jenner. Bella, or Gigi Hadid. Those are the women I like. The kind you couldn't find here in Hawaii even if you washed your eyes out searching.
"Maybe I'll go for a run?"
Since I wasn't quite hungry enough for dinner yet, I decided to do a loop along the beach — and I could stop by Giovanni's on the way back. It took less than ten minutes on foot from school to the beach, which is why Coach sometimes had us run there.
"Moi! Where you headed?"
"Running again, boy?"
"Moi! Come get some fruit later!"
"Moi, will you be at church on Sunday?"
"Moi. Need some water?"
"Moi! Good luck this year!"
"Moi. How are the freshmen looking this year?"
I was only walking the short stretch from school to the beach, yet every minute or so someone called out to me. And every time, I found myself thinking the same thing.
The process of going from a stranger to a member of a community. Something I'd never known in my past life. Learning it fresh was a joy.
"MO-I! We're rooting for you-!!"
"Just leave it to me!!"
"WE LOVE YOU!!"
"ME TOO!!"
Oh, Hawaii. Oh, Aloha. I was so, so lucky to have been born here.
May 27, 2017
Hawaii, Oahu — Honolulu CDP
Waina Haina
It being Saturday, I'd come to Grandma's house. But then—
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't it just amazing?"
"…Hold on, let me call her."
Aunt Mel had just told me something earth-shattering. Namely—
— Moi, dear?
"Mom! Is it true?!?!"
—….
A long silence stretched out. And then Mom—
—Yes. It's true.
"Oh… my God."
My legs buckled beneath me. I collapsed right where I stood.
Why? Because — a sibling. A sibling. A real, honest-to-God SIBLING!
"How on earth— no, wait. Don't tell me. But HOW? When? HOW?!"
I know I just said I didn't want to hear it. But please understand me repeating myself — my brain is complete mush right now.
—I was feeling a little off today, so I went to the hospital, and, well. Here we are.
"Does Dad know?"
—What a question. He's sitting right next to me. Want me to pass you over?
"Yes. Please do."
Hawaii has always been a place for big families. So my parents wanted more children than just me — they'd hoped for at least four. But with no news for so long, they'd half given up. And today, they learned Mom was three weeks pregnant.
"What about the name? What are you going to do?"
—Hehe. Moi, isn't that a little early?
"Let me name the baby! Please, please, please. Pretty please??"
When I was little, Mom used to ask me, "Would you like a little brother or a little sister?" And I always answered, bright and loud: "Either one's fine!"
But I did wish for a sibling. I truly meant it. I had wonderful parents, a wonderful family, wonderful people all around. If that circle grew, I could only imagine it getting happier.
"I'm going to be the best big brother ever. I promise."
—I know you will.
"Wow— seriously. This is real, right? This isn't a joke?"
By the time I finally managed to hang up, Grandma and Aunt Mel were watching me with warm, knowing smiles. We naturally pulled each other into a hug, rejoicing together at the birth of our newest family member.
Ah. But wait—
"Mom's not going to be a geriatric pregnancy, right?"
"We'll have to be careful. Your father knows better than anyone how to take care of her."
"I heard about it, but she works here, after all."
"And there's plenty of other folks around to look out for her, isn't there."
"Right— that's true, but still."
I wasn't worried just because Dad wouldn't be by Mom's side on weekdays. Just like Grandma said — we had so much family. Uncles and aunts, too. And every customer at the restaurant watched out for Mom. So there was not a single reason to worry.
At Uncle Iwai's text, I couldn't help breaking into another bright smile.
A sibling, of all things. Somehow—
"You know that thing I said?"
"?"
"I don't think we're going to lose this season."
Because our season this year—
—is going to be absolutely spectacular.