Special addition

One of our favorites from the 2007 Warriors was Francis Maka, a reserve DE/OLB and key special-teams player. Maka played two years at UH, earned a degree in mathematics, and enjoyed a substantial career in arena football. It all started with Maka’s desire to join the Warriors primarily as a specialist. Everyone has a role, and UH offered Maka a scholarship to set wedges on returns and dismantle blocks.

Through the years there have been many Warriors whose best roles have been as role players — Ryan Keomaka, Jordan Monico, Josh Donovan, Dejaun Butler … In every successful band, not everyone can be a lead singer.

All of which brings us to Aoese “AJ” Oto-Lemamea, who joins the Warriors in July as a walk-on safety. Lemamea is regarded as a hard worker and hitter who found several ways to contribute to Fullerton College’s 2016 JUCO national championship last year. The hope is Oto-Lemamea will help UH as a hybrid safety who can play in the box and compete on special teams.

“I would love to play special teams,”said Oto-Lemamea, who is 5 feet 11 and 205 pounds.”Anything to help the team.”

Fullerton teammate Emil Graves is part of the Warriors’ 2017 recruiting class. Oto-Lemamea’s paternal grandmother lives in Hawaii, a factor in his UH decision.


As an NCAA qualifier out of high school, Oto-Lemamea will have three years to play two UH seasons.


He said he moves to Hawaii on July 21, five days ahead of the opening of training camp. In the meantime, he continues to train. One of his workouts is to jog from his Oxnard home to Port Hueneme Beach, where he will run and do footwork drills on the sand.

“I like to hang out with my family and work out,” he said.

COMMENTS

  1. Ipu Man June 29, 2017 8:30 am

    Footprints in the sand…


  2. PONO June 29, 2017 10:08 am

    Mahalo for walking on. They earn everything they get.


  3. DaveLetterMan June 29, 2017 11:05 am

    Morning Tsaikos!
    Thanks to Aoese for making the commitment.
    Just got notification that Kavapalu, the 6’8″ 340 lb giant, is following me on twitter. Noticed his picture has him wearing a UH tshirt.


  4. A-House June 29, 2017 12:37 pm

    ST & others:

    is Kavapalu a 2016 or 2o17 commit? OL or DL? blind side OT? find more players like your self who is interested in Hawaii — football, basketball, softball, volleyball, swimming/diving, etc.

    will he attend summer camp?

    Dave LM: keep that young man interested in UH.

    49ers should move their current RT to RG [ former Florida gator ] — feet too slow allowing DEs to brush by and hit or rush QB — believe he’s in the 6′ 8″ range and 330#s.


  5. A-House June 29, 2017 12:42 pm

    anyone notice the OL running blocking schemes on their own?

    get their “timing” going, correcting each other, etc. — like shadow boxing

    pre-camp depth chart soon?


  6. A-House June 29, 2017 12:55 pm

    ‘ rambling Rose, rambling Rose ‘
    ‘ why you wander, heaven knows ‘

    ‘ up on the roof top click click click ‘ — down the chimney goes ST Nick

    ‘ born too late, — oh, why was I born too late ‘

    ‘ roses are red my love, violets are blue ‘

    ‘ i was waltzing with my darling ‘

    ‘ que sera sera, —- what will be will be ‘

    bring back the good ole days — filling up Aloha Stadium


  7. Willie June 29, 2017 1:41 pm

    Special Teams make up 1/3 of the game. It can make immediate impact to turn the tide both ways all be time. Impact special team player who was big time, Semeri Ulufale. I think he was a walk on too. Loved his energy, sacrificing his body on kick off coverages!


  8. Maddog50 June 29, 2017 2:30 pm

    Oto-Lememea will see the field very early this season. This young man has a “nose”


  9. Maddog50 June 29, 2017 2:31 pm

    Lemamea-


  10. Da Punchbowl Kid June 29, 2017 3:00 pm

    Wedge busters have to be a lil mento to do the job well. I know, because I was one myself way back when. I will never forget the time a blind side hit sent me on a huli-maka-flip head over heels to the turf at the old stadium.

    Welcome to the Warriors, AJ! Just geev ‘um!


  11. cappie the dog June 29, 2017 4:20 pm

    6.

    When I was a child, my uncles and aunties left behind all their vinyl. I remember a KPOI promotional album that featured “Born Too Late”(The Pony-Tails).

    I wish I was born eight or nine years earlier so I could see the Fabulous Five. Why is there no evidence of these great early seventies teams. Was KGMB like Colonel Tom Parker and recorded over the tape? No Elvis outtakes; no Artie Wilson taking it to the hole.


  12. isleboy June 29, 2017 4:58 pm

    Try this link to You Tube….KPOI Oldies but Goddies album

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt4suFcLoMM


  13. cappie the dog June 29, 2017 4:59 pm

    6.

    The Bobby Vinton Show
    Shields and Yarnell
    Pink Lady
    Sha-Na-Na
    Solid Gold
    “The Car” on HBO.

    This is the 70s on steroids.

    Didn’t “Solid Gold” bring about the advent of dance troupes we see performing at basketball games?


  14. islandman June 29, 2017 7:15 pm

    cappie, Lobster roll at McD’s $9.99, sold out at some places.


  15. amela June 29, 2017 7:37 pm

    Wasn’t wedge busting and throwing your body sideways into it illegal? Rule to avoid injuries to both sides?


  16. 3-Prong June 29, 2017 10:07 pm

    Eh DPK, none of that FieldTurf stuff with rubber pellets back then eh!! Felt like thin Astroturf on concrete,…remember?


  17. 3-Prong June 29, 2017 11:00 pm

    Dpk, I need to read more carefully. Honolulu Stadium eh? hehe sorry. Grass was softer at least!


  18. Maddog50 June 30, 2017 4:15 am

    Just booked flight for Wyoming game looking forward to meeting up with Lance Tanaka and family, also have tickets and travel arrangements for UNLV.
    Looking forward to
    Finalized game times
    Updated roster with any additions and subtraction
    New Helmets
    New Uniforms
    Improved season ticket sales
    Competitive winning season
    Right around the corner it all starts
    Go Warriors!!!!


  19. ALLAN June 30, 2017 12:17 pm

    SOME OF THESE BLOGGERS ARE ALMOST AS OLD AS I AM.


  20. Stephen Tsai June 30, 2017 12:49 pm

    New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=43909


Comments are closed.