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FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Careena Onosai and Brashton Satele have become two of the best discus throwers in the state, thanks to hard work and the support of their parents.

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Family is the
Word of Life

Brashton Satele and Careena
Onosai are honored to follow in
the footsteps of their athletic parents

Following in a parent's footsteps can be a daunting challenge. But for Word of Life Academy's Brashton Satele and Careena Onosai, that challenge is not so much daunting as it is honorable.

"I always dreamed about being like my dad," Satele said. "Hopefully, I can get to his speed. He was fast."

As two of the top discus throwers in the state, Satele and Onosai have brought a lot of attention to their small team.

"When I started throwing, there was just me," the 17-year-old Satele said. "I guess now, the new throwers bring along their friends. It's getting better."

But neither student-athlete are strangers to the spotlight.

Satele and Onosai, whose families are very close, share many things. Both are athletic standouts in multiple sports for Word of Life. Both are headed to the University of Hawaii within the next two years. And both have the desire for competition in their genes.

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FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Word of Life athlete Brashton Satele will play football for the University of Hawaii this fall, following in the footsteps of his father, Alvis. Brashton's mother, Leeann, was a member of the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team.

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Satele's father, Alvis, is a former linebacker at UH. Come this fall, the 6-2, 240-pound Satele, too, will don the green and white, joining his cousins Mel Purcell and Hercules and Samson Satele on the UH practice field. His mother, Leeann (Pestana), is also a letter winner at the Manoa campus, having played on the Rainbow Wahine volleyball squad.

Onosai, 16, comes from an athletic family, too.

Her father is former NFL and UH offensive lineman Joe Onosai, who is also a pastor at the Word of Life church.

"He always encouraged me to do my best," said Careena Onosai, adding that she started throwing in the eighth grade at the encouragement of her father, who threw when he was in high school.

Onosai's older sister Talia, 19, plays volleyball at Menlo College in Atherton, Calif., while her younger sister Shayna, 15, also competes for Word of Life.

But while Satele and Onosai are proud to contribute to their families' tradition, they have started to create legacies of their own. On the field, Onosai and Satele have dominated their opponents.

Onosai won the discus and shot put events at the Ralph Martinson Invitational earlier this month, recording throws of 129 feet, 3 inches and 40-534. Both distances were more than 3 feet farther than the second-place finishers.

At the same competition, Satele's margin of victory in the discus was even more impressive. He won the event with a meet-record throw of 187-10, 35 feet farther than the runner-up.

"I feel so much more confidence this year," Onosai said. "My knowledge of the sport has grown over the last couple of years."

Last month, Onosai, a Star-Bulletin All-State middle blocker, committed to play volleyball at UH for the 2006 season. She turned down 60 Division I scholarship offers in track and field or volleyball for the chance to walk on to the Rainbow Wahine squad.

The 5-11 projected outside hitter said it was difficult to turn down the scholarship offers, but that ultimately, she decided to follow her dream of playing for the Rainbow Wahine.

"My heart's desire is in volleyball," Onosai said. "Just going to UH games, seeing all the support they get, it seemed cool. I always wanted to stay home."

Satele, a Star-Bulletin All-State first-team selection, was also pursued by several Pac-10 schools before committing to UH. He played linebacker and running back for Pac-Five. He took up throwing after quitting baseball in the eighth grade.

"When I started throwing, I sucked really badly," Satele said. "But when I started to throw far, and started to get better and better, I thought I should just stick with it."

Satele decided to stay home to play for Warriors coach June Jones. He said he is especially excited to work with new UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville.

"Ever since I was a baby, I dreamed about going to the university, and now I can," Satele said. "I get to live out my dream."

He added that he hopes one day to be drafted into the NFL.

For Onosai, her dream is a double feature of sorts. She plans to continue as a two-sport athlete in college by joining the UH track and field team.

Though both families are close-knit and have an abundance of athletic knowledge, there is one thing the Satele family will not discuss.

"We don't talk about track. We talk about football, basketball, but track they just leave it up to my coach (Rob Santos)," said Satele, whose mother is also Onosai's volleyball coach. "He's not even like my coach anymore. He's my family."