Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 2007 — HELE! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HELE!

when a group of boys approached him with the idea in 2005. It was a stroke of luek that the school then secured a grant of slightly under $25,000 from OHA to cover the cost of uniforms and basic equipment. The goal of using football as a vehicle for promoting Hawaiian language and culture also got a boost when the school brought aboard consultants such as lua practitioner (and Wengler's unele) La'akea Suganuma, who has mentored the football team in the art of kū'ē 'aiha'a, the traditional dance of Hawaiian warriors. Now taught to Nā Koa team members, it is meant to build physieal skills of agility and balance, while also galvanizing an all-for-one spirit. Wengler says it's a perfect warm-up exercise before kick-off.

In its short life-span, the Ānuenue football program has become a symbol of "the little school that could." The team involves virtually 80 percent of Ānuenue's kāne high school students. Plus, it has spawned a wahine cheerleading squad and plenty of parental support that is evident in the stands, where cheering is in 'Ōlelo Hawai'i. Perhaps most rewarding of all, says Wengler, is the outright admiration often expressed by opponents in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's White Division. Win, loose or tie, opponents often cross the field after games and volunteer eomments about the Hawaiian calls being "just so eool." With only a small pool of players to select from, it appears that Nā Koa players average smaller stature than their opponents. Nonetheless, college scouts are starting to show interest in Ānuenue's fledgling football team. Iust off the practice field, Olu'olu Nāone grins broadly behind the face-guard of his helmet as he remarks that he has several letters of interest from college coaches, whieh is why, he adds, he also spent part of his summer taking SAT prep classes. AlongsideNāone stands Kamaki Sherman, named "impact player of the week" by loeal sports station OC16 for his impressive

showing - including one touchdown - in the recent win over Waialua. Sherman is not dressed for practice because he sustained a collar bone injury in the contest, though he says he toughed it out and continued to play because he felt so good about helping his teammates. Continuing to help Ānuenue is also at the top of Sherman's future plans. After attending college, his ambition is to eome back and teach at the school, whieh he says is like one big team. "We count on eaeh other, because we have this pride about what we do here. We are reviving the Hawaiian language, in the classroom and on the football field. We are making a living language." S

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PĀ'ANI • SPŪRT

Top: Ānuenue's players make a successful TD sprint in their 28-27 victory over Waialua.

Middle: Ānuenue's cheerleaders kneel in respect as an injured player is helped off the field.

Left: Nā Koa players tuck tī leaves into their cleats for good luek.