Kahuku grad Pula
running again
Former Kahuku High standout running back Mulivai Pula rushed for 139 yards on 11 carries and scored three touchdowns for College of the Sequoias in a 28-14 season-opening junior college football victory over San Jose City College last weekend.
One of 14 players from Hawaii on the Giants' roster, the speedy 6-foot-1, 230-pound Pula scored on runs of 22, 9 and 40 yards. He was a key element of Kahuku's two straight state championships as a junior and senior in 2000 and 2001.
Last year, some of the Giants' other players from Kahuku brought COS head coach Roger Kelly a tape of the Red Raiders' state championship two years ago.
"I said, 'Who's that guy?' " Kelly said, referring to Pula. "We found out he had signed with BYU but had left there and was living in California. We're sure glad to have him."
This spring, Pula orally committed to College of the Canyons, but changed his mind and transferred to COS, which is located in Visalia, a Central California community.
Pula attended Dixie State College of Utah last year, but didn't play football and still has three years of eligibility remaining after this season.
The other Hawaii players on the Giants' roster are: defensive back Bryson Au, offensive linemen Joseph Napeahi and Lyons Pearl, and defensive linemen A.J. Smith, Tomote Tolutau and Cole Wilkins of Kahuku; linebacker Edward Campbell, defensive back Sol Cuban, wide receiver David Kaihenui, defensive lineman Al Kauahi and offensive lineman William Salakielu of Kailua; and offensive lineman Raymond Taumalolo of Kaimuki and linebacker James Fisher of Ka'u.
Au is the one who helped the migration from Hawaii to Visalia.
"It's because of Bryson, basically," Kelly said. "He told these kids about us and they contacted us. We didn't make a visit, but the word gets out.
"Hawaii kids are so loyal and neat to be around."
Kelly plans to visit the Aloha State next year. He has met many of the Hawaii players' parents, who shower all kinds of food, candy and leis on him.
Hussein to train with high school runners: Defending Honolulu Marathon champion Mbarak Hussein will be in Honolulu next week to do training runs with defending state boys cross country champion Kamehameha on Thursday and state runner-up Punahou on Wednesday.
He will also be making school visits to discuss African culture and his life's experience as a professional runner. The winner of the 1998, 2001 and 2002 races will be at Le Jardin Academy on Monday, Epiphany on Tuesday, Iolani on Tuesday and Thursday, and Central Middle School on Friday.
The Kenyan native said this is a way of giving back to the community, which was so supportive through his eight Honolulu Marathon races.
The 39-year-old Kalenjin tribesman plans to attempt to become the first man to win the Honolulu Marathon four times on Dec. 14.
Football in Benjamin's blood: Former University of Hawaii assistant coach Guy Benjamin is back on the sidelines, this time as a volunteer assistant for Campbell High School.
Benjamin's previous football job was as the Hawaiian Islanders' head coach in their inaugural 2002 season, but health problems after several games caused him to hand over the reins to Chad Carlson. He once played for the San Francisco 49ers and served as a backup quarterback to Joe Montana.
Benjamin was hired as a teacher at Campbell prior to the start of the school year. He appeared in good health on the sidelines of the Sabers' 33-6 home loss to Pearl City last weekend.
"He provides valuable insight to our team," Sabers coach Tumoana Kenessey said. "He's a consultant for us, and he's helping us on both sides of the ball. As a coach, I'm always wanting to learn more, and he has a lot of expertise."
Running extravaganza: Some of the best cross country teams in the nation are coming to the Iolani Invitational on Sept. 20 at Kualoa Ranch.
Iolani girls coach Gregory Char is expecting teams from six states, including the nation's third- and eighth-ranked girls teams and 24th-ranked boys team.
Char, who follows the sport extensively in Hawaii, sees six-time defending state champion Kamehameha, Punahou, Iolani, Hawaii Prep, Baldwin, Kauai and Aiea as the top contenders for the state crown this fall.
In the girls campaign, Char believes Punahou, Kamehameha, Waiakea, Mililani, King Kekaulike, Baldwin and Kapaa are the main challengers to his defending state champion Raiders.
Individually, Keaau's Joshua Enos, Mililani's Ehren Ching, Iolani's John Yasuda and Kamehameha's Jeremy Kamaka'ala on the boys side and Iolani's Nicole Anderson, Kamehameha's Jessica Domingo, Waiakea's Tamarah Binek and Seabury Hall's Tia Ferguson on the girls side are among the state's top runners, according to Char.
The Star-Bulletin's Cindy Luis contributed to this report.
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