Posts by Michael Lum
2011 Awards Banquet Set For December 4th
1176 days
by Michael Lum
in General
To commemorate the season, our last one in the WAC, the Na Koa Football Club takes great pleasure in presenting the annual Alec Waterhouse Memorial Football Awards Banquet. We hope you join us as we celebrate the end of the 2011 regular season to honor the 2011 University of Hawaii Warrior Football Team!
Date: Sunday, December 4, 2011
Place: Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Hawaii Ballroom
Time: 5:30 PM No –Host Cocktails / 6:30 PM Dinner and Awards Program
Cost: Adults @ $100, Children (4-12 years) @ $50, Children 3 and below free
Reservations deadline: November 28, 2011.
Reservations and payments may be made by completing and returning the 2011 Banquet Registration Form to the Na Koa Football Club.
If you have any questions, please contact Joyce Lau at (808) 956-4513, or email joyce@nakoa.org
Na Koa Member Spotlight: Scott Kaulukukui
0177 days
by Michael Lum
in General
We think of our families often during the holidays. And one family has been associated with University of Hawaii football for more than 75 years…the Kaulukukui Family. This week’s Na Koa Member Spotlight comes from Scott Kaulukukui, who is also the 2011 President of the Na Koa Football Club. From our family to yours…Happy Thanksgiving!
Name/Hometown: Scott Kaulukukui, Honolulu, Hawaii
Current City: Aiea, Hawaii
Company/Position: HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, Senior Vice President – Communications Group
Who is your role model and why? My Dad, Solomon Kaulukukui, Sr. He is a very humble well respected man who accomplished a lot both athletically, and his work at the Hawaii Army National Guard.
Name one thing you’re passionate about. Making sure my special needs son is taken care of when he grows up.
What is the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to and what made it the most interesting? I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to many places, but probably in the middle of nowhere in Alaska and Canada to go salmon fishing. I’m not much of a fisherman, but went around 6 times.
One thing that most people don’t know about you. It’s more about my dad and his teammates from when they played from 1946-1950. They dubbed themselves the “Locker Room Gang”. Although the dads who played with my dad, Harry Kahuanui, Johnny Dang, Kiyoshi Matsuo, Bobby Crowell, Andrew Choo, and others have passed on, to this day, 65 years later, the families still get together for a Holiday Party and other family events.
How long have you been a UH football fan? Since I was old enough to know football, being that my dad, Uncle Joe and Uncle Tommy played for UH. I remember seeing Mike Biscotti play Quarterback in the early 70s!!!
When did you join Na Koa and why did you join? Maybe 8 years ago(?)…and I joined because I wanted to support the program that was so good to my Dad and my Uncle. Our family connection to UH Football goes back over 75 years. Someone helped them when they played, and it’s my turn to giveback.
Why would you encourage a UH football fan to join Na Koa? All monies donated goes directly to help the football program. Much of what is funded helps put the student in the student-athlete part of football.
Who is your all-time favorite University of Hawaii football player? Beside my dad? Haha….There were too many throughout the years.
What is your favorite memory of University of Hawaii Football? Going with the reported 15,000Hawaiifans to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Despite the outcome of the game, the whole experience was awesome!!! It was one of those….”You just had to be there!”
11/22/11 Lunch Report
0178 days
by Michael Lum
in General
With no film available to show the Na Koa meeting crowd, Director of Player Personnel George Lumpkin resorted to a history lesson. And who better to do it with 38 years of involvement with the University of Hawaii as a player, graduate assistant and many coaching positions under his belt?
Lumpkin first harkened back to his Defensive Coordinator days in 2004 where he spun a tale of two young, underweight defensive ends Melila Purcell and Ikaika Alama-Francis who were just learning their craft. Where Leonard Peters, CJ Allen Jones and Matt Fuga were coming around.
That defense attacked with aggression, but was ineffective against the run lamented Lumpkin. The players were new, limited in size and experience, but they played hard.
A team scored 69 points against them, another tallied 70 on their way to a 4-5 record. Then they were down to three games left and had to win them all in order to qualify for a bowl game: Idaho, Northwestern and Michigan State. “No one in the State believed we could beat Northwestern who was in the middle of the Big 10, much less Michigan State who was doing well,” said Lumpkin.
That team believed, qualified for the Hawaii Bowl and beat UAB to finish with an 8-5 record. Then people forgot the 69 and 70 points scored against the Warriors and the 4-5 record.
“I want you to be encouraged about this season, I believe we will win two games and go to the bowl game.” We coaches have to teach the players to believe and do their very best. The players have to remain positive and think about how we can win versus how we cannot win,” Lumpkin averred.
“When we need support the most, we get the least support, that’s just how it is when you lose. We have to win (to bring back the fans).” Lumpkin also expressed his appreciation for the faithful who attended the game saying their volume motivated the players.
“The ball didn’t bounce our way, we lost games by 1, 3, and 4 points, we didn’t make some plays. No matter how the ball bounces we still coach our young men on dealing with setbacks.”
Lumpkin said, “Athletics is the best way to prepare for life. Athletes understand things don’t always work out, but they keep trying and they achieve.”
Lumpkin reported this season the team suffered “12 surgeries, and 4 broken somethings” making for 16 injuries that “you don’t come back from.” The most I have ever seen he said.
The team will adjust to David or Shane and move on. We are never going to quit or give up” Lumpkin vowed.
Asked about the future, Lumpkin assessed various positions.
Linebackers: Returning is Art Laurel, Daryl McBride, and George Daily-Lyles. We also have Freshman Kendrick Van Ackeren, JC transfer Brenden Daley, and Farrington High School graduate, Justin Vele.
Defensive Line: Returning are Haku Correa and Geordon Hanohano. We have Boyd Yap, Desmond Dean, Tavita Woodard, and we would like to recruit some Defensive Tackles from the Junior Colleges.
Defensive Backs: Returning are Mike Edwards, Mike Sellers, Kawika Ornellas, Dee Maggitt, and Brian Clay who have all seen action this year.
Offensive Line: We would like to recruit two JC, and two high school Offensive Tackles. (NOTE: an offensive line run down was included in the November 14 luncheon report). “We will be fine.”
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