Handed a new life
A one-time kolohe, Paulay Asaita found friendship at Word of Life and a home at Saint Louis
By Paul Honda
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
He wasn’t a kolohe little boy.
He was a kolohe big boy.
“In
seventh grade, my dad took me out of public school. I was a bad kid,”
Saint Louis lineman Paulay Asiata said of his childhood in Kalihi.
Growing
up with a single father and two siblings, Asiata found himself sitting
in the principal’s office countless times at Central Middle School.
Transferring to Word of Life didn’t change the pattern at first.
“I got suspended a lot. Bad memories. My dad (Taeao) would have to pick me up,” said Asiata.
Now
6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, he is one of the state’s most highly coveted
offensive lineman. The change in attitude came at tiny Word of Life
under coach Joe Onosai.
“Freshman year was the
best year. I had lots of fun. I got to know Juda (Parker). I really got
to know all my friends,” said Asiata, who had yet to play football,
being much too large for Pop Warner weight limits.
He finally played as a sophomore.
“I took out my anger on the field,” he said.
That
camaraderie on and off the field came to a heartbreaking halt when Word
of Life’s school shut down this year. After considering ‘Iolani,
Asiata, who has a 3.0 grade-point average, followed Parker to Saint
Louis.
Click here to read full story!
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The Star-Advertiser kicked off the high school
football season with unprecedented coverage, featuring top players at
each position and counting down to the top teams in the state. See below
for past and upcoming stories.
AUG. 8 / SUNDAY
Defensive Linemen
AUG. 9 / MONDAY
Linebackers
AUG. 10 / TUESDAY
Defensive Backs
AUG. 11 / WEDNESDAY
Offensive Linemen
AUG. 12 / THURSDAY
Receivers
AUG. 13 / FRIDAY
Running Backs
AUG. 14 / SATURDAY
Quarterbacks
AUG. 15 / SUNDAY
Team Nos. 5-10
AUG. 16 / MONDAY
Team No. 4 Punahou
AUG. 17 / TUESDAY
Team No. 3 Saint Louis
AUG. 18 / WEDNESDAY
Team No. 2 Kamehameha
AUG. 19 / FRIDAY
Team No. 1 Kahuku
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