AYUMI NAKANISHI / ANAKANISHI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii offensive lineman Shayne Kajioka, right, changed his diet and lifestyle to shed 85 pounds and become quicker and better conditioned. He and teammate Matthew Manuma recently ate breakfast at the Stan Sheriff Center dining room.
Heavy-duty lineman He had no real desire to play football. He wasn't particularly interested in the sport. His knowledge was limited to being a Miami Dolphins fan because he was impressed with Dan Marino.
Kajioka, Hawaii's 6-foot-3, 305-pound guard,
Expect fireworks against Nevada tonight
dropped 85 pounds to not only get quicker,
but to stay on the team
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com"I didn't know what his position was," said Shayne Kajioka. "I just knew that he threw the ball."
So when the St. Louis School football coaches spotted Kajioka on campus his freshman year -- it's hard to overlook a 6-footer nearing 300 pounds -- Kajioka had just one question about coming out for the junior varsity team.
"Can I play quarterback?"
The answer was no big surprise.
"They said no and sent me over with the linemen," Kajioka said. "My chance to outshine Timmy Chang got shut down right then."
Offensive lineman Kajioka and quarterback Chang were teammates at powerhouse St. Louis and are together again at Hawaii. While sophomore Chang is trying to re-establish himself as one of the premier passers in the country, junior Kajioka is working on shedding the image of a heavy-duty lineman ... emphasis on the heavy.
The 6-3 Kajioka has dropped some 80 pounds since last season, going from a hefty 390 to his current playing weight of 305. It wasn't easy, but if he wanted to continue playing for the Warriors and perhaps the pros, he had to do something.
No more 10 Egg McMuffins for breakfast, as he had in high school.
"Coach (June) Jones knew I was too heavy to play," said Kajioka, who has started all five games this season at left guard. "He wanted me to be a lot quicker. He told me I had to get my weight down if I wanted a chance here, if I wanted to stay on the team.
"Back in high school, I didn't care about the weight. In high school, it was all about size."
Heading toward sumotori-size, Kajioka made a lifestyle change with his eating habits. Originally, he went with the Atkins Diet (high protein, low carbs) while stepping up his workouts.
The extra running wasn't as hard as giving up the rice and macaroni salad. But he was frustrated with how slowly the pounds came off.
With encouragement from family and friends Kajioka began to lose pounds while toning up.
AYUMI NAKANISHI / ANAKANISHI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii offensive lineman Shayne Kajioka, who used to consume 10 Egg McMuffins for breakfast at St. Louis, has cut back drastically on his eating habits.
He has steadily improved his 40-yard time from a 5.5 to a respectable 5.2. His goal of 5.0 is within reach.
"Five-flat would be great," said Kajioka. "That's NFL speed. That's where I'd like to be in a few years."
A few years ago, former St. Louis School head coach Cal Lee saw the potential in Kajioka. He still does.
"I told him when he graduated from here (St. Louis), he could go to the next level," Lee said. "And if he works hard he can go to the next level after that. And if he does, his agent is me. I told him a handshake is good. So I'm really pushing for him."
Pushing is a good way to describe what UH offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh does every day in practice. In Cav's eyes, the NFL is still down the road.
"Let's wait and see how he matures as a player," Cavanaugh said. "He's still learning the game, but I knew from his high school tapes when he played left guard, right guard and tackle that he was a smart player.
"I remember in the beginning he was just a big fellow with good foot speed and quickness for his size. The key was, he saw there was a starting spot when Brian Smith and Manly Kanoa left. And he wanted to play. I'm not surprised that he's been able to do this. It's very interesting to watch him at training table. He's a smart guy and he's making smart choices. It's a total makeover."
Kajioka has good technique, but knows he needs to improve. He needs to come down on his punches, get anchored with his feet and stop reaching for opponents.
"He just has to trust his technique," Cavanaugh said. "If he plays with leverage, he moves guys around. He's got a lot of power.
"I've had him for four years and he's a real pleasure to coach. It's kind of neat to see him grow up ... and lately, not grow out. He's the first St. Louis guy we've had on the offensive line since I got here (1999)."
One of his O-line mates is impressed as well.
"Shayne's worked very hard," said Warrior senior center Lui Fuata, one of the "Local 5" products on the offensive line. "I remember when he visited as a recruit. He was 380. I thought it was impossible for him to lose all that weight and get into playing shape.
"He's proved us all wrong every year. This year was a testament to his conditioning when he made all the 220s. He's stepped up on the offensive line and proves himself day in and day out. He's a very inspirational person when you look at what he went through over the years here."
Kajioka said he has also learned he can have the occasional scoop of rice or mac salad. Moderation is the key.
"In the end it comes down to how much you work out," he said. "I'm a lot quicker now and condition-wise I can run a lot longer."
Kajioka hates to run, which makes his weight-loss program even more impressive. There were days when he'd run three times a day and do some water exercise in the pool.
"Running is not on my agenda," he said. "Running three times a day got to me, but that was the best way to lose weight.
"There were times when I stepped on the scale and it was, 'Man, forget this.' It was hard, standing in line and watching people get rice and ice cream. I was going crazy. But I knew I had to do it. It was a lifestyle change. I had to buy new clothes. And I feel good."
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