Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 1985 — 1935 UH-UCLA Game Recalled [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

1935 UH-UCLA Game Recalled

It was exactly 50 years ago on Nov. 15, 1935, that a young University of Hawaii halfback named Tommy Kaulukukui returned a kickoff 103 yards for the then Rainbows' only points in a 19-6 loss to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in the Los Angeles Coliseum. The UH football team today is known as the Rainbow Warriors. Office of Hawaiian Affairs T rustee Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr. is the same Tommy Kaulukukui who dazzled fans with his football heroics in his playing days from 1934 through 1937. Unele Tommy, as he is more affectionately known today, was a sophomore in that game with UCLA when he accounted for 314 total yards rushing, passing, returning

punts and catching passes. Kaulukukui and the rest of his teammates were two-way

players those days. He played safety on defense, making many tackles from that position.

Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr. UH Halfback in 1935

In addition to his electrifying kickoff return, Unele Tommy also had a 45-yard punt return, scored another touchdown from eight yards out but a penalty nullified the score and completed eight passes for 78 yards. He lost but four yards from scrimmage and scampered 20 yards eaeh in two scrimmage plays. He was recognized for his 1935 exploits by the All- America Board of Football who sent him a letter, plaque and card of merit giving him All America rating "for exceptional playing during the season of 1935." Unele Tommy played his college football under the astute coaching of Otto (Proc) Klum in whose honor Klum gym in the current UH athletic complex was named.