Jesse Sapolu and the Samoan International Media will host the third annual awards banquet for Samoan athletes, Jan. 31, at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The program will start at 5 p.m. Fete for Samoan athletes
Among the high school stars to be honored will be Herman Ho-Ching, the L.A. Times California player of the year, and Tony Tata, Hawaii's defensive player of the year from St. Louis.
"The emphasis of the event is to focus attention on student athletes, because we want to send a clear message to every young Samoan that excellence in sports and education are important values to our culture and people," said Sapolu, the 15-year NFL veteran of the San Francisco 49ers.
Besides Ho-Ching and Tata, scholar-athletes for both boys and girls will be honored.
Junior Ah You, inducted into the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame last year and sumotori Konishiki, Salevaa Atisanoe, will be recognized for their achievements.
Past honorees include Al Lolotai, Charles Ane Sr., Neff Maiava, Famika Anae and Dan Saleaumua.
The ceremony will be filmed to be shown later on cable-TV in Hawaii, California and Samoa.
For more information, telephone Daniel Aiono at 637-3530.
STRONG MEN, FIT WOMEN: The 24-Hour Fitness World Strongman Challenge and Ms. Bikini Fitness contest will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, at 1 p.m. at the Waikiki Shell, with four-time World's Strongest Man Magnus Magnusson of Iceland and former University of Hawaii football star Joe Onosai of American Samoa in the Strongman field.
Others set to challenge Magnusson are three-time Hawaii's Strongest Man Curtis Leffler, 1997 America's Strongest Man Mark Philippi of Las Vegas, Regin Vagadal of the Faroes Islands, Bruce Greig of Canada, Malcolm Lutu and Anthony Harris of Hawaii, Kiu Tiuta of Tonga, Anthony Leiato of American Samoa, Grant Higa of Oregon, Odd Haugen of Norway and Hawaii, and Scott Major of Pennsylvania.
The "Beauty and the Beast" contests have a total purse of $25,000 in cash and prizes.
HONOR FOR UH'S HAMM: University of Hawaii midfielder Jennifer Hamm was named to the All-Freshman West Region first team by Soccer Buzz, a college soccer magazine on the Internet.
Hamm led the Wahine in scoring with three goals and three assists.
ALL-AMERICA SAILORS JOIN UH TEAM: Sailing All-Americans Will James, a transfer from St. Mary's (Md.) College, and Garrett Woodworth, a transfer from the University of Rhode Island, have joined the University of Hawaii team.
The UH coed and women's teams will host the Rainbow Invitational Regatta Saturday and Sunday in Keehi Lagoon.