Wouldn’t it be something if there were a football player who pays his way to school, enthusiastically embraces a no-glory role, and considers community service a privilege?
Meet the University of Hawaii’s Micah Kaonohi-Kaihenui, who was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list. The award recognizes players for excellence in community service, academics and athletics.
Since joining the Rainbow Warriors as a walk-on in January 2023, Kaonohi-Kaihenui forks over $12,924 each semester for tuition, books and school expenses. That amount includes a student fee, which presumably covers the cost of watching himself play.
The Kamehameha alumnus initially was a defensive end. But special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield, who had moonlighted as the tight ends coach, convinced to Kaonohi-Kaihenui to switch to a slot blocker. In 37 snaps last year, he was not the target of any pass.
“Waiting for that moment,” he said, smiling. “I’m going to keep practicing. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll always have faith in my boys. I’m fighting for the team.”
That selfless demeanor caught the attention of the Wuerffel committee. Since high school, Kaonohi-Kaihenui has been heavily involved in community projects. His compensation? “To see someone smile or laugh, it just gives you that good feeling,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Kaonohi-Kaihenui and UH defensive back Kainoa Ontai are volunteers with Access Surf, a program in which they help disabled people participate in ocean activities. Because of his size and strength, the 5-foot-11, 255-pound Kaonohi-Kaihenui transports people into the ocean and onto surf boards.
“There are people missing arms and legs,” he said. “They just want to have that feeling of being in the water. They want to have fun. When they catch a wave, it’s so amazing. They go crazy. When I take them back in, they say, ‘Thank you so much.’ It reminds me why I’m passionate about it, how I love to do things for the community.”
He also is a volunteer with 808 Cleanups, where he plants native greenery while removing invasive species. Most of the work is on Oahu’s West side, although the Windward-reared Kaonohi-Kaihenui focuses on Waimanalo and Sandy’s.
“You can look at a picture from 10 years ago and now, and it’s a huge difference,” he said. “It’s because of how people are committed to this thing.”
Kaonohi-Kaihenui, who is 30% Hawaiian, said his parents and grandparents taught him to take care of the land.
While removing invasive plants in Waimanalo, his group found items such as tires and lamps. Often the homeless will bury possessions in the sand and then recover them after authorities complete sweeps of areas. “All we can do is keep working,” he said.
His grandmother prepares food that Kaonohi-Kaihenui and other volunteers distribute to homeless families.
“That’s the thing about my grandma, she loves to buy food for the homeless,” he said. “It’s not community service. We love to help out people without expecting anything back.”
Kaonohi-Kaihenui said the Warriors are involved in several community projects. He has participated in reading and Q&A sessions at elementary schools; cleaned the Koko Head Trail; and participated in food drives for those affected by this year’s Kona Low. An event at the Stan Sheriff Center collected 3,000 pounds of food and accessories. The UH football team also had a food-collection drive.
When he was a kid, Kaonohi-Kaihenui said, he would have preferred to stay home and play video games.
“It came to the point where I made my own decisions,” he said. “I wanted to help out. It’s how I feel about the community. I love helping out. I’m passionate about it.”
Kaonohi-Kaihenui, who has a degree in psychology, is pursuing a master’s in sports psychology. “I want to help people,” he said.
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